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Great new ways for guilt free cheating with ETB’s whey pure isolate.

Check out this great new video featuring IFBB Pro and ETB Athlete Dean Michael along with ETB Promo Model Sergio Rizutto.

IFBB Pro Dean Michael Teaches ETB Promo model Sergio Rizzuto a little secrete on how to cheat on his diet WITHOUT CHEATING! ETB Protein FROSTING??? you got to see it to believe it!

• Whey pure isolate helps repair body cells, muscles and bones Whey pure isolate is a rich source of naturally occurring branched chain amino acids, which are important for those who have an active lifestyle. The body requires higher amounts of these amino acids during and after exercise because they quickly become in high demand throughout the body. Low BCAA levels contribute to fatigue and should be replaced in one hour or less—hence the popularity of those post-workout shakes at the gym. “Whey protein shakes do serve a purpose, plus they taste great,” adds White.  A recent study at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada found that, despite being at rest, subjects who consumed whey pure isolate had nine times greater muscle repair and growth than those who ate other types of protein (casein and soy).  After exercise, the same whey group saw a 122 percent greater muscle protein synthesis compared to the casein group and 31 percent greater than the soy group.
• Whey pure isolate may posses anti-inflammatory or anti cancer properties Some preclinical studies in rodents have suggested that whey protein may offer the same anti-inflammatory relief as certain prescription medicines. Other studies have found that whey pure isolate might reduce some tumor cells, But human data is lacking and much more research is needed.
• Whey pure isolate can help dieters loose weight Adding whey pure isolate to your diet can help jump-start a weight loss program. It’s a key ingredient in many weight loss and meal replacement products because it has little fat or carbohydrates. A double blind 12-week study performed at the Minnesota Applied Research Center tested two groups of patients, each cutting out 500 calories per day. The subjects who consumed a whey protein isolate drink 20 minutes before breakfast and 20 minutes before dinner lost significantly more body fat compared to those patients who did not have protein shakes. Other studies have found that subjects who combine protein-rich foods and exercise increase their metabolic rate and naturally burn more calories each day. Whey protein is also proven to help manage weight by curbing hunger and creating a feeling of food satisfaction.

One last note when looking for value on your whey pure isolate whey protein is check out the protein mix.  ETB’s whey pure isolate whey protein uses only the highest quality pure isolate whey protein when many of the leading brands are cutting the whey pure isolate with a concentration matrix that reduces costs.

ETB is a sports nutrition company committed to clean and lean athletics.  For more information about the products please visit us at www.etbfit.com or on Facebook @ETBfit.

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What is whey?

Whey

In previous articles, we have spoken ad naseum about whey composition and the sources from which whey is derived.   By way (no pun intended) of a reminder, when talking about whey we are actually referring to a complex ingredient made u

p of protein, lactose, fat and minerals. Protein is the best

known component of whey and is made up of many smaller protein subfractions such as: Beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins (IgGs), glycomacropeptides, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and minor peptides such as lactoperoxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin.  Each of the subfractions found in whey has its own unique biological properties.  Ok by now you may just be incredibly bored but stick with us as this will get highly informative for you.

These subfractions remain some of the most promising components of disease prevention, improving immunity and overall health.  Over the past few decades, whey protein powders have evolved several generations from low protein concentrates to very high protein isolates.  ETB uses only the highest standard of protein pure whey isolates

and the most advanced form of processing to ensure that the integrity of the subfractions are maintained in every serving without compromise to the overall taste and effectiveness of the whey protein.

What’s so great about whey?

Whey protein has become a staple supplement for most bodybuilders and other athletes, and for good reason: it’s a great protein with a wide variety of benefits. Whey has more recently caught on with the anti-aging/longevity-minded and wellness communities.

The list of ailments for which whey can allegedly prevent is growing aided by the many studies illustrating that whey may potentially reduce cancer rates, combat HIV, improve immunity, reduce stress and lower cortisol, increase brain serotonin levels, improve liver function in those suffering from certain forms of hepatitis, reduce blood pressure, and improve performance.  And despite the fact that whey has an exceptionally high biological value rating and an exceptionally high Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) content, we will only focus on the proven benefits for which we can attest and can not substantiate the methods or findings of clinical studies.

One of whey’s major effects is its apparent ability to raise glutathione (GSH). The importance of GSH for the proper function of the immune system cannot be overstated. GSH is arguably the most important water-soluble antioxidant found in the body.  Because GSH is known to be essential to immunity, oxidative stress, and general well being, and because reduced levels of GSH are associated with a long list of diseases, whey has a place in anyone’s nutrition program. Reduced GSH is also associated with over training syndrome (OTS) in athletes, so whey may very well have an application in preventing, or at least mitigating, OTS.

Different types of whey

Most of the confusion surrounding whey appears to be in understanding the different types of whey: concentrates, isolates, ion exchange, and others.  More so than any other article, below we take a much deeper dive into the subtle differences in protein composition but ones you will want to be very familiar with in order to ensure that you get the ultimate nutritional bang for your nuck..

Whey Protein Concentrates:

First generation whey protein powders contain as low as 30-40% protein and high amounts of lactose, fat, and undenatured proteins. They are categorized as a whey concentrate and are used mostly by the food industry for baking and other uses. Modern concentrates now contain as high as 70-80% protein with reduced amounts of lactose. This is achieved through ultra-filtration processing, which removes some lactose, thus elevating the concentration of protein and fat in the final product. Although much maligned by companies who have invested heavily in marketing isolates, a well made concentrate is still a high quality source of whey protein, though it will contain higher levels of lactose, ash, and fat then an isolate.  Be very conscious when buying concentrates as not all whey concentrates are created equal.  When shopping for whey, $34.95 can either buy you a high end 2lb whey isolate like ETB or for the same money a low end concentrate.  You work too hard for your $34.95 to let it go to companies who spend millions in marketing and minimal amounts in formulation.  ETB has one of the lowest marketing budgets in the industry in order that we reinvest that same money to bring you some of the highest quality whey products on the market.

To micro filter or ion exchange the whey

Whey Protein Isolates (WPIs) generally contain as much as 90-96% protein. Research has found that only whey proteins in their natural undenatured state have biological activity. Processing whey protein to remove the lactose, fats, etc. without losing its biological activity takes special care by the manufacturer. Maintaining the natural undenatured state of the protein is essential to its anti-cancer and immune-modulating activity. The protein must be processed under low temperature and/or low acid conditions as not to “denature” the protein. WPIs contain >90% protein content with minimal lactose and virtually no fat.

Does that make it the best choice for an isolate? No, but many companies still push it as the holy grail of whey. Ion exchange is made by taking a concentrate and running it through what is called an ion exchange column to get an “ion exchange whey isolate.” Sounds pretty fancy, but there are serious drawbacks to this method. As mentioned above, whey protein is a complex protein made up of many sub fraction peptides that have their own unique effects on health and immunity. Some of these subfractions are only found in very small amounts. In truth, the subfractions are really what ultimately makes whey the unique protein it is.

Due to the nature of the ion exchange process, the most valuable and health-promoting components are selectively depleted. Though the protein content is increased, many of the most important subfractions are lost or greatly reduced. This makes ion exchange isolates a poor choice for a true third-generation whey protein supplement, though many companies still use it as their isolate source due to the higher protein content. Ion exchange isolates can be as high as 70% or greater of the subfraction Beta-lactoglobulin, (the least interesting and most allergenic subfraction found in whey) with a loss of the more biologically active and interesting subfractions. So, the pros of an ion exchange whey is for those who simply want the very highest protein contents per gram, but the cons are that the higher protein content comes at cost; a loss of many of the subfractions unique to whey.

So now let’s look at the micro filtered whey isolates. With the array of more recent processing techniques used to make WPIs-or pull out various subfractions -such as Cross Flow Micro filtration (CFM®), ultra filtration (UF), micro filtration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), dynamic membrane filtration (DMF), ion exchange chromatography, (IEC), electro-ultrafiltration (EU), radial flow chromatography (RFC) and nano filtration (NF), manufacturers can now make some very high grade and unique whey proteins.

Although the term “cross flow micro filtered” is something of a generic term for several similar ways of processing whey, The CFM® processing method uses a low temperature micro filtration technique that allows for the production of very high protein contents (>90%), the retention of important subfractions, extremely low fat and lactose contents, with virtually no undenatured proteins. CFM® is a natural, non-chemical process which employs high tech ceramic filters, unlike ion exchange, which involves the use of chemical reagents such as hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. CFM® whey isolate also contains high amounts of calcium and low amounts of sodium.  This is where ETB excels and rises above most other products on the market.

So another week passes and yet we’ve seemingly found new ways to try and explain this very complex whey protein.  In summary, it really isn’t as complex as we like to make it out to be some days, and all you really need to know is where to buy high quality whey isolates at reasonable costs so that you and your hard earned money are not taken advantage of by the power of Madison Avenue marketing.  Whey is great stuff and for more information we hope that you visit us at www.etbfit.com or on Facebook @ETBfit.

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Protein and Cardio

Protein is not just for weight lifting anymore!

Whey protein is most often associated with muscle and body building.  As an avid runner, I often feel neglected when it comes to whey protein especially when standing next to some of our Team ETB athletes.   A such I thought it would be good take a look at the other side of whey protein as a vital nutritional source for cardio enthusiasts and endurance athletes.  Whether you are doing a casual jog through the neighborhood, a spin class at your local gym, or an ironman competition, whey protein plays an important role in our nutritional regimen just as much as in a bodybuilder’s regimen.  When it comes to cardiovascular exercise, it can be difficult to know if protein drinks would be nutritionally beneficial to your workout or have a detrimental effect. With the right balance of nutrients, form of protein and amount of calories, a protein shake can enhance the effect of your cardio routine.Running can put an equal, albeit slightly different, demands on our diets.

First of all, as a runner or cardio enthusiast, it is never a good idea to skip a meal. It is an even worse idea to replace a meal with a long run. While you may feel light on your feet at first, you can bet that lack of proper nutrients will cause you to stop your run short.  Your body needs lots of fuel to function efficiently, so make sure to feed that body properly! As we’ve explored in our previous article, depending on the amount of your training it is recommended that you have 0.9 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. Take your protein after training, because it is hard to digest before training and your body will put it to good use in repairing muscle.  When you partake in an exercise routine, your body is breaking down and rebuilding muscles to be stronger and leaner. Your muscles feed off amino acids, which are known as the building blocks of protein. After a cardio routine, the body can use the amino acids from protein to help rebuild the muscle and speed recovery time. If you are using protein to supplement a cardio routine, consume the protein within a half-hour before or after exercise

In addition to a good diet, there is an important protein supplement that is the secret weapon of cardio enthusiasts and top endurance athletes: Whey Protein. This special protein rebuilds muscle and is fast absorbing. It provides the body with a complete array of amino acids that are essential for muscle rebuilding. This is why so many runners use whey protein to help their body recover and rebuild muscle after a run. Whey is great for fast recovery to allow runners to take their training to the next level. Protein supplementation also ensures that runners will have adequate daily protein intake required for maintaining a positive nitrogen balance, which is necessary for muscle growth.

When considering post-workout meal options, it is important to prepare for some additional muscle gain. The first hour after your workout allows your muscles to absorb protein most efficiently and therefore leads to improved muscle growth. Whey Protein is a preferred protein for runners due to the low calorie content with optimum benefits per calorie.

Many top runners drink a whey protein shake after each workout in order to help with muscle recovery. Effects are typically felt right away with decreased soreness the next day and over time with visible muscle growth and overall higher energy levels.  Solid food is equally important as a supplemental meal.  The solid or ‘real-meal’ should be consumed about 2 hours after the supplemental one to slow the process of gastric emptying.

Whey protein is one of the most underestimated and overlooked supplements for endurance exercises. All athletes can benefit from whey. It helps prevent muscle breakdown after stressful training because it has a complete amino acids profile for muscle recovery. It is the fastest digesting of any protein source, and also very low in calories, which helps with fat burning and weight loss. This is why runners should always seriously consider whey protein supplements, even if they are only taken after a running session.

For more information please visit www.etbfit.com or like us on Facebook @ETBfit

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Are you getting enough whey protein

Are you getting enough whey protein in your diet?

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As any athlete will tell you, post workout recovery is one of the most important components of a workout and/or diet regimen.  In fact, the post workout recovery meal can often be one of the most rewarding elements of the workout and by far the most well deserved meal of the day.

The post workout recovery does not have to be a meal per se, but it is absolutely vital in your health and wellness regimen.  Whether you are dieting to lose weight, lifting to gain weight, or training for a particular event, the post workout recovery meal is an essential element of success and a great celebration of a job well done, not to mention a great excuse to take on-board some of the carbs that you might be avoiding in other parts of the day.

This article hopes to dispel some of the myths and mythology of the post workout recovery meal for our readers and offer guidance on the oft mercurial meal!

So let’s start with a myth about post workout recovery meals.  It’s often been said that chocolate milk is the perfect post workout recovery as it tends to deliver a good carb to protein ration.  And while anyone could hardly be blamed for relying on even the slightest scientific research that shows chocolate milk is good as a post workout recovery, the reality would suggest something significantly different.  It is true that chocolate milk comes with a good carb to protein ratio, but the reality is that it also comes with high fructose corn syrups, sugars, fats, and all the side effects of dairy. OK, so I will stop bashing the sustenance of every boy and girl between the age of 4 and 10 and instead turn the focus to the better ways to replenish and refuel in your post workout recovery.

At ETB we spend a lot of time comparing diets, pre-workout, intra workout, and post workout recovery sustenance.  We’ve covered everything from juice diets, to Paleo diets, to endurance diets and while there are not too many similarities, there is one constant which emphasizes the importance of post workout recovery and the post workout recovery meal.  Confused by all the hype and marketing around some of these diets, we turned to some our ETB athletes and some of our favorite athletes across the US and Europe for their own guidance.   Like many of the diet and workout regimens that we cover, here too we found that our favorite athletes all agree on the need for post workout recovery and the optimization of the post workout recover.

In the spirit of keeping things simple, we’ve listed some of the athlete’s top tips for you to decide what works best for you in the post workout recovery process.

1.  Timing is everything. All the athletes agree that the optimal post workout recovery meal is between 15-60 minutes immediately following your workout.  In this window your muscles are ready to be spoiled and get all the post workout recovery nutrients that you can give to them.  Eat (or drink) your recovery meal right away, within the first half hour after the workout is complete.

2.  Love your liquids. This is so simple, even I figured out how to optimize the post workout recovery, and yet for some reason I still see people sitting down to a big meal as their post workout recovery.  Here’s how basic this is.  Blood does most of the work in your body.  If blood is too busy trying to digest a solid meal in your stomach then by default it’s not bringing the needed nutrients to your muscles.  You want the post workout recovery to be easily digestible so that the blood can grab the nutrients and deliver it straight away to your muscles.  This will also ensure that your body is burning the post workout recovery meal almost as quickly as you are consuming it.  Keep a ready mixed shake of ETB’s post workout recovery or Grizzly protein ready to go immediately after your workout.  Your muscles and metabolism will thank you!

3. Consume .75 grams of carbohydrate per pound of bodyweight, and include protein in a 4:1 or 5:1 carb-to-protein ratio. OK, even my eyes glaze over when I read advice like this.  But on further review, it’s actually really simple to come up with the perfect post workout recovery.  In its simplest form all this is telling you to do is mix some high glycemic carbs (raisins, dates, and yes even a few gummy bears would suffice) along with your slow release carbs like fiber in addition to your protein intake.

I get so mad when I see people who use just protein as a post workout recovery strategy.  We make the darn stuff and it still bothers me.  Immediately following a workout you will need some carbs.  That is why ETB engineered the All American formula of protein which has 3g of carbs of which 2g are sugar and 3g of fat.  If that wasn’t enough we then engineered an extreme post workout recovery product called ETB Recovery (original, I know).  In this highly specialized product athletes get 35g of protein along with a good dose of fast and slow release carbs and finally, the all-important amino acid complex which is critical to the post workout recovery.

4.  Hydrate. Any athlete will tell you that water is the source of all performance.  If our athletes are not hydrated properly they can’t perform properly.  The standard intake that we are always taught is 8 12oz glasses of water a day.  That’s fine if you are just trying to exist in a hydrated state, but if you are training, then you need to onboard more water than the average person owing to the dehydrating effects of your workout.

Water unto itself is not a post workout recovery strategy, rather it’s a needed source of sustenance throughout the day, during your workouts, and even in your post workout recovery meal.  Unless you have a calendar shoot tomorrow and you are due to be on the front cover (I for one don’t have that issue) there is absolutely NO reason to dehydrate yourself. Drink water or die….pretty straight forward.

5.  Replace lost electrolytes. When you sweat, you lose electrolytes, the little conductors that transmit electrical impulses throughout your body.  So you need to replace them; some good sources of electrolytes are fruit and good sodium like sea salt.  If you are still reading then you’re probably thinking “yeah, yeah, yeah whatever we all know that from the Gatorade ads”.  Well let me tell you the importance of those little electrical impulses by telling you what happened to me the other week.  It was an ordinary Tuesday morning and it was a mild Carolina winter day so I donned the shorts and long sleeve shirt, laced up my running shoes and went out for a 5.5 mile run.  Like any other day, I took my shower, had my breakfast and headed off the office without having hydrated or done any post workout recover….now you’re thinking how stupid is this guy seeing as he makes the stuff….and yes you might be right.  I was doing a speaking engagement later that afternoon in-front of about 80 people when I collapsed mid way through the presentation hitting my head on a concrete floor and landed myself in the emergency room with a concussion.

It won’t shock you to know that my blood sugar was low and I was very dehydrated.  The dehydration effected the electrical impulses around the aorta and I suffered what’s vaso vagal syncope, a condition when the aorta goes into turbo drive and shunts all the blood out of the top half of your body into the lower extremities.  This was a very timely and painful reminder to always hydrate throughout the day and do not under estimate the importance of the post workout recovery.  Truthfully I don’t know which was worse, the concussion that kept me out of commission for over a week or having to listen to my mother constantly remind me to re-hydrate…neither is a pleasant experience so please do not underestimate the power of water.

6.  Don’t forget your adrenal glands. Under the stress of an intense workout (or from caffeine if you included that in a pre-workout drink), your adrenal glands work hard to release hormones to help you perform.  To help them recover, add a teaspoon of ground maca, a Peruvian root that packs the added benefits of better sleep and increased libido.  Bonus!  To be totally fair, I have long made fun of one of ETB’s top athletes who has always extolled the virtues of maca by reminding him that the Mayan’s were wrong about end of the world and they are wrong about maca.  Unfortunately for me and my ego (who are of course always right), the reality is that maca is good for you and goes a long way to replenishing those over worked adrenal glands as part of the post workout recovery.

Ok, so now you have seven pretty simple steps to follow in your post workout recovery strategy.  However, don’t forget that you will still want to eat about 1.5 to 2 hours following your post workout recovery meal.  The good news is that this is where you can eat more substantive foods like chicken, lean meats, salads, etc.  And lest I remind you, don’t forget to sleep!!!!  Rest is a key component in any athlete or dieting enthusiast’s post workout recovery.

Now stop reading and go train! Have no fear, Eat The Bear!

For more information about ETB and ETB’s protein, pre workout, post workout recovery, and branch chain amino acid products please visit us at www.etbfit.com or like us on facebook @ETBfit.

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We often get asked about what drives supplement pricing and more specifically the retail pricing for whey protein.  The truth is, as a dairy based product, the answer goes pretty far back in the farming value chain and actually starts even before the farmers get a hold of feed for their livestock.   We might all be guilt at times of an easy bias that blames greedy farmers and greedy retailers selling whey protein but the reality tells a very different story.  In this blog we will explore the effects of supply and demand in the dairy market as well as helping you determine the best value for your money when assessing whey protein isolates for your diet and/or training program in 2013.

The dairy market is making times tough for the supplement industry. Whey protein contributes to a large portion of the supplement industry’s sales, but with dairy prices rising, consumers are often left confused as to pricing vs value.  You will recall from prior blogs that the production of pure whey protein isolates are a derivative of diary and more specifically the cheese making processes.  To better understand this, we have to look at all inputs to cheese making and not just the price that people pay online or at their nearby supplement store for their whey protein.

As there becomes heightened demands for dairy based products including milk, cheese, yogurts, etc….so too does the price of those inputs begin to rise.  Long before the whey protein processes can even begin, farmers are being forced to pay higher prices for livestock feed, which contributes to roughly half the price of dairy based products.  It’s not difficult then to imagine that these pricing pressures are passed down the line throughout the remainder of the whey protein value chain until such time as it hits the shelf at the store.  In looking at some key dairy graphs it is very easy to see the effects that this pricing pressure has had across the board and ultimately how it impacts us as consumers.

In the first chart, we examine the pricing differential of raw whey long before it is processed and made ready for whey protein powders.  It’s clear from the data below that in every instance of key dairy pricing indicators that are often bench marked to whey protein the raw pricing for protein and retail pricing for the other ingredients have doubled and tripled respectively since 2010. To underscore this steady annualized pricing impact we also examined other dairy pricing that goes into whey protein formulation, but from the perspective of the end consumer at the retail level.  It is easy to see that the impact is across all aspects of the dairy industry and not isolated (no pun intended) to whey protein.

ETB has long been committed to price stability for it’s consumers.  In fact since the inception in 2012, ETB’s pure isolate whey protein formula has been priced the same and we offer almost twice the amount of pure isolate whey protein per serving than the any competitor.  ETB’s pure isolate whey protein has long reigned the most price competitive gram for gram in each serving….lending itself to the slogan “You never compromised, neither did we”.  Equally, ETB’s All American formula of whey protein has never been priced higher than $29.95 for a two pound container which, gram for gram is one of the top three values on the shelf beaten only by our own pure isolate whey protein and Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Whey.  By keeping overhead costs very low we have been able to ensure that our customers experience no price movement over the last two years despite inputs that are two to three times more expensive for the whey protein manufacturing process.

Whey Protein vs Milk Retail

Whey Protein vs Butter Retail

Whey Protein vs Yogurt Retail

www.ETBfit.com has laid out whey protein prices in a very easy to read chart that compares leading whey protein brands from the perspective of value per serving rather than overall costs.  Yes, Snicker bars are cheaper than protein shakes, but that does not make them a good value if you are trying to support your diet and training regiments with high quality ingredients.  It’s also important to note that not all whey protein powders are born equal.

In the table below, ETB’s Grizzly Pure Isolate whey protein is the only one that uses an nano/micro-filtered pure whey protein isolate as its primary ingredient with no other whey protein concentrates.  This is what has long set ETB’s Grizzly whey protein apart from its peers on the retail or online shelf.  Other brands that we believe to be of high quality, high value and a good taste include Optimum Nutrition and Scivation.

Whey Protein Comparison Chart (based on 2lb containers of whey protein supplements and publically available information):

Equally important when selecting a whey protein is to look at the percent of protein per serving.  In every serving of ETB’s Grizzly pure isolate whey protein, 92.6% of each serving is pure whey protein isolate which does not leave much room for any filllers, fats, sugars, metals, etc.  This is why ETB’s Grizzly pure isolate whey protein only has 5 ingredients vs some of the leading brands that use 15-20 ingredients.

As the price of whey protein increases, we have found that the concentration levels of protein per scoop is decreasing as companies try to substitute lower cost ingredients in lieu of whey isolate.  This is easily visible by looking across the ‘percent protein’ line on the above table.  In doing so it’s clear that many companies are only 45-65% pure isolate whey protein with the remainder of the scoop being low cost fillers, sugars, etc.  In the case of Muscle Milk, one would need to consume twice the servings just to get half as much whey protein as ETB’s Grizzly whey protein, Optimum Nutrition, or Scivation’s whey protein.

One last note when looking for value on your pure isolate whey protein is check out the protein mix.  ETB’s pure isolate whey protein uses only the highest quality pure isolate whey protein when many of the leading brands are cutting the whey protein with a concentration matrix that reduces costs.

All in all, and in the opinion of this writer, we like ETB Grizzly Pure isolate and All American whey protein, Optimum Nutrition and Scivation whey proteins for quality, value and taste.

ETB is a sports nutrition company committed to clean and lean athletics.  For more information about the products please visit us at www.etbfit.com or on Facebook @ETBfit.

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whey protein

The results are in!  Whey protein is the primary supplement that you should use when starting a weight training or dieting program.

Whey protein is a powerful muscle building and dieting tool.  In global studies, including one from the USDA, it showed that men and women drinking two whey protein shakes per day for 12 weeks (without dieting or exercising) actually dropped 5 pounds of fat and one inch from their waist!  The study further concluded that individuals drinking substitute supplements did not see any positive results in their body mass index or composition.

One of the most frequent questions that we get from new community members starting a training or dieting routine is “what is this stuff” and “how do I use it”.  There are no secrets and ETB’s Grizzly protein is the safest pure whey isolate on the market.  Whey protein isolates are of the highest quality protein powders and one of the most important ingredients in any dieting, weight loss, or work out regimen.  When made correctly, whey protein isolate powder provides the highest value of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) which are particularly important for achieving your goals.

ETB’s Grizzly protein is made using the highest quality process called micro/ultra filtration which eliminates all the impurities without denaturing the product.  Stated differently, ETB’s whey protein isolate has been filtered twice through the some of the most technically advanced micro-filters, separating or “isolating” it from any impurities while at the same time maintaining all the nutritional qualities of the whey protein. This is why pure whey protein isolate has the most protein per serving, the least calories per serving, has no fat, no sugar and less than 1g of lactose.

While doing any strenuous activity your muscles become compromised and need protein to rebuild.  That is why anyone engaging in regular exercise will have a natural demand for higher amounts of protein….it is you body’s way of saying “feed me”.  Whey protein is the best available way to meet these demands for your body.  Always be mindful to consume high quality proteins.  This is especially true for anyone who is lactose intolerant.  These are easily recognizable by whey isolates that are lactose free, low in sugar and low in fat.

Also, you don’t need a masters degree in chemistry to know if the protein is of good quality or not.  Simply turn the container over and look at the ingredients.  If there are more than five or six ingredients it is more likely that it’s low quality and low proportions of whey protein in each scoop.  ETB’s Grizzly Pure Whey Isolate and All American formulas are 92.6% and 72% of each 30 gram scoop which leaves little room to add anything that’s not good for you and we only use five ingredients versus the leading products that use 15-25 ingredients.

Taking whey protein after your exercise is the optimal time for your body to absorb it into the muscle tissue the fastest.  After every workout, your body has an anabolic window of opportunity where it absorbs the most nutrients directly into the muscle. Don’t miss the window, take your protein immediately after your workout!  That said, whey protein isolate can be used anytime and anyplace. Running late in the morning and don’t have time to cook a big hearty breakfast? Mix a serving of whey protein isolate with some fruit juice, yogurt and frozen fruit for a quick, well-balanced smoothie.

Let’s get real.  After a while even pure whey isolate, no matter how good for you, still gets boring.  You don’t have to be a professional chef to find unique ways to incorporate your protein powder into your everyday meals. Here are some quick options to consider:

• Stir your whey protein isolate into oatmeal or  yogurt
• Replace half of the flour called for in your baking recipe with whey protein isolate powder…protein cookies and pancakes are some of the most widely used reasons for ETB’s Grizzly Protein
• Mix together some whey protein isolate, raw oats, dried fruit, honey, and peanut butter for a quick, energy-packed snack for times when you’re too busy to stop to eat a meal

Daily doses of protein are imperative if you’re looking to improve your health and physique, but not all of us have the means or desire to consume half a cow or four chickens each day.  That’s where protein powder jumps in and does the trick.  Because protein, after all, is what it’s all about.

For more information about the best pure whey protein on the market, and other useful diet and work out information, please visit us at www.etbfit.com or on facebook @ETBfit

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1. How pure is the final product? Whey protein contains impurities such as lactose milk sugar and ash. Whey protein filtration concentrates average around 80% purity while ion-exchange isolates may reach purity levels that are 90% or better. Consequently, filtrated whey protein and whey derived from lactalbumin are cheaper than ion-exchanged isolates.  ETB uses the most advanced form of extraction and preparations to deliver a protein that reaches 92.6% purity in every 30g scoop.

2. To what extent have whey protein’s vital sub-fractions been compromised? Whey protein contains biologically active peptides, which have weight loss and muscle-building properties. These vital peptides are present in miniscule amounts in pre-processed form and, unfortunately, are filtered out of the final product or damaged by a high heat or acidic filtering process. A denatured protein no longer displays any biological activity.  ETB’s whey protein processes preserve peptides in the product through an ion exchange process resulting in a superior product than concentrated or ion-exchange isolate products.

ETB’s Micro/nano-filtration whey proteins are higher in purity than ion-exchange isolates and leagues ahead of whey protein concentrates in terms of purity: 90% to 94%. These are cold-processed, cross-flow and probably the finest whey protein on the market today. Special efforts are taken to ensure that the vital sub-fractions remain intact and biologically active peptides remain present. The protein is processed using low heat and the moderate temperature eliminates acidic chemical conditions that damage and dilute protein potency. These expensive filtration techniques are specifically designed to remove impurities without filtering out the vital sub-fractions. What you’re left with is a whey protein that contains little in the way of impurities and offers the additional health benefits of a fully intact whey protein. This process ensures a higher percentage of critical branch-chain amino acids.

Rest assured of one thing: whey works. Every serious fitness and/or diet enthusiast needs supplemental protein and whey is the ‘Bentley’ of protein supplementation. Try consuming a whey shake at the conclusion of every intense weight workout or as a meal replacement and you’ll be supplying traumatized muscle tissue with exactly the amino acid profile needed to speed recovery and accelerate the repair and rebuilding process.

For more information about ETB, please visit us at www.etbfit.com or on Facebook.

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ETB Athlete Sadik Hadzovik

All Whey Proteins are not Created Equal

If you are using nutritional supplementation at all, chances are you are either using or contemplating the use of whey protein. No other supplement has generated more positive press in the past five years than ETB’s whey protein powder. The reasons are easily understandable; ETB’s whey protein is a bona fide nutritional breakthrough based on the highest standard of protein extraction and preparation resulting in a product that is more potent than egg whites, long considered the gold standard for measuring protein assimilation and potency.

So that’s the good news about whey protein. The bad news is that there are varying types of whey and not all whey proteins are created equal. At ETB, it’s important to us that customers understand our products and how it differs from anything else on the market.  Educated consumers are able to know the differences and are able to discern top shelf whey from cheap derivative products that mimic the real deal.  Equally, we want people to understand the premium product that they get from ETB at a price that is identical, if not better in some cases, than leading whey protein products.

We receive dozens of inquiries each month regarding whey protein and, let’s face it, anyone who has attempted to make sense of the various whey products by reading labels has ended up none the wiser. Trying to decipher the difference between a $20 product and a $40 product will leave anyone shaking his or her head as the choices are literally mind-boggling.

When it comes to assessing value, there are two issues of consequence…

1. How pure is the final product? Whey protein contains impurities such as lactose milk sugar and ash. Whey protein filtration concentrates average around 80% purity while ion-exchange isolates may reach purity levels that are 90% or better. Consequently, filtrated whey protein and whey derived from lactalbumin are cheaper than ion-exchanged isolates.  ETB uses the most advanced form of extraction and preparations to deliver a protein concentration that reaches 92.6% concentration and purity in every 30g scoop.

2. To what extent have whey protein’s vital sub-fractions been compromised? Whey protein contains biologically active peptides, which have weight loss and muscle-building properties. These vital peptides are present in miniscule amounts in pre-processed form and, unfortunately, are filtered out of the final product or damaged by a high heat or acidic filtering process. A denatured protein no longer displays any biological activity.  ETB’s whey protein processes preserve peptides in the product through an ion exchange process resulting in a superior product than filtrated or lactalbumin products.

Concentrate whey protein averages around 80% in purity. Whey protein concentrates have undergone the ultra-filtration process and tend to be the least processed of whey proteins. There are certain advantages to using a whey protein concentrate. They are relatively cheap (always a bonus!) and, because they are relatively “unprocessed,” tend to have most of their vital sub-fractions intact. On the other hand, they contain a higher amount of impurities and can cause bloating and gas. If you are lactose-intolerant, you’ll definitely want to stay away from a whey protein concentrate. ETB’s Grizzly Protein is NOT a concentrate and therefore clocks in at a higher level of purity.  So what is ETB Grizzly protein and why is it so much better than these other processes.

ETB’s Micro/nano-filtration whey proteins are higher in purity than ion-exchange isolates and leagues ahead of whey protein concentrates in terms of purity: 90% to 94%. These are cold-processed, cross-flow and probably the finest (and therefore the most expensive) whey protein on the market today. Special efforts are taken to ensure that the vital sub-fractions remain intact and biologically active peptides remain present. The protein is processed using low heat and the moderate temperature eliminates acidic chemical conditions that damage and dilute protein potency. These expensive filtration techniques are specifically designed to remove impurities without filtering out the vital sub-fractions. What you’re left with is a whey protein that contains little in the way of impurities and offers the additional health benefits of a fully intact whey protein. This process ensures a higher percentage of critical branch-chain amino acids.

Rest assured of one thing: whey works. Every serious fitness and/or diet enthusiast needs supplemental protein and whey is the ‘Bentley’ of protein supplementation. Once you arrive at a brand that works, try consuming a whey shake at the conclusion of every intense weight workout. You’ll be supplying traumatized muscle tissue with exactly the amino acid profile needed to speed recovery and accelerate the repair and rebuilding process.

For more information about ETB, please visit us at www.etbfit.com or on Facebook @ETBfit.com.

The post All Whey Proteins are not Equal appeared first on Eat the Bear - ETBfit.com - Sports Nutrition.