When it comes to protein supplements, there is a debate raging over whether soy protein or whey protein is more beneficial to you in terms of muscle gain. On the one side you have proponents of soy protein whom tout it as the far superior product, capable of being absorbed faster than whey protein and aiding in the gaining of muscle more effectively. On the other side you have the advocates of whey protein who state that soy protein has no effect on muscle mass and actually hurts testosterone production. Let us take a look at both-
Soy protein is a derivative of the soybean plant native to Asia. For 5000 years the bean has been harvested in Asia and is renowned for its health properties as well. Chemically, the soybean is comprised of 38% protein and has all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot naturally produce. Soy protein has branched chain amino acids, which are known to aid in the development of muscle mass. Furthermore, Soy is rich in B complex vitamins, zinc, iron, and potassium. Although some scientists claim that Soy consumption can lead to infertility and poor digestion, no studies have conclusively verified these claims.
Whey protein is derived from the cheese making process and is filtered out from the milk when cheese is produced. Whey, similar to Soy, has branch chain amino acids which are crucial in the building of muscle. Similar to Soy again, it can be found in a concentrate form as well as isolate, with an isolate being almost pure protein. Unlike Soy, there aren’t many if any documented downfalls to whey consumption and in fact it has been seen to increase your body’s immune system.
All in all, there isn’t any conclusive evidence or empirical data to back up any negative claims about soy protein. Also, there aren’t any negative drawbacks to whey protein either and in fact both proteins have health benefits to coincide with the gain of muscle. Both seem to accomplish the same feat, with neither clinically shown to be superior.
Protein is a peculiar nutrient in the sense that the body absolutely needs it for growth as well as health issues, yet the body has no way of storing it in its current form the way it does fat or carbohydrates. When you consume protein, some of it is diverted to the repair of muscles and tissue, some is broken down into a fuel source, and whatever isn’t used in the first two processes is turned into fat and stored. Due to this inability to store protein in its natural protein form, it is necessary to accurately determine the most opportune times to consume protein in order to gain muscle.
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