With so many different protein powder choices out there, it can be difficult to decide which to buy that best fits your needs. Do you go with a whey protein concentrate (WPC)? Do you go with a whey protein isolate (WPI)? Do you go with a casein? Do you even know the difference between them all? The answer may be easy to decide if you consider using a blended protein powder.
In this article, I want to dive deeper into why a blended protein powder may be exactly what you need to maximize your results.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new dietary supplements into your current regimen.
What Are the Differences Between Protein Sources?
When you look at all of the protein sources out there, three are spoken about the most often (including in blended protein formulas) – whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and casein protein.
While many will simply say, “They’re all sources of protein,” and not put any more thought into it, they all serve very different purposes. The reason you use a whey protein isolate is very different from the reason you would want to use a casein protein.
If you look at the label and all the sources say 20g of protein, many would consider it moot, which is better or worse, depending on your goals, if, at the end of the day, it’s still 20g of protein across the board.
Without getting too deep into things, the amount of protein you yield from that 20g can differ from each source of protein mentioned. Whey protein isolate (WPI90) would be your best bet in actually yielding the most protein from the bunch, but that alone isn’t the only reason why you should understand the differences in protein sources.
Whey protein isolate is an extremely fast-digesting protein source and yields the highest protein content upon consumption. Whey protein concentrate (WPC80) is right in the middle (yet still slightly faster-digesting than most protein sources). And casein is a slow-digesting protein that can take hours to be digested and absorbed.
So, where does that leave us? Post-workout, many consider a whey protein isolate to be superior – and they’re right. It is a more quickly digesting protein and helps kickstart recovery more rapidly than something like casein protein.
Flipping the script and looking specifically at casein protein, you may find that due to its anabolic properties through the slow release of amino acids, it makes for the perfect protein to consume before bed when you’re going to be fasting for several hours.
Since all sources seem to have their specific place and use, what’s the point of a blended protein then? Let’s dig into why this may be a fantastic option to add to your supplement regimen.
Blended Protein Powders Are the Best of Both Worlds
Let’s think about this for a minute…
When you have multiple things that have many benefits, it just makes sense to put them together, right?
I mean, look at peanut butter and jelly. Is peanut butter good as a standalone product? Heck yeah, there are a ton of people who grab a spoon and eat it directly out of the jar. Is jelly good as a standalone? Absolutely. Add them together, and it’s magic. Why would protein sources be any different?
Combining sources and creating a blended protein powder is truly the best of both worlds.
When you take both fast- and slow-digesting proteins and combine them, you provide your body with immediate amino acids to aid in recovering torn-down muscle fibers from training, as well as the ability to have a sustained and slow release of amino acids over the span of the next several hours.
Blended protein powders serve many purposes when you think about how they can be used.
For instance, if you have trouble meeting your protein requirements through your diet on a daily basis, using a blended protein can be incredibly beneficial. Combine that with the fact that many people are hungry between meals, and you can use a blended protein powder as a snack between meals to help you stay satiated and curb your hunger and appetite.
Then consider the advantages of using a blended protein powder at night. If you sleep for the recommended seven hours each night, that’s a seven-hour span you’re going without taking in any food.
If you want to remain in an anabolic state and avoid potentially turning catabolic and risking muscle wasting, a blended protein that provides an immediate supply of amino acids with sustained release throughout the night from casein is an ideal nighttime protein source to help improve recovery and increase your muscle-building results.
Lastly, let’s look at the price point.
Of the three sources of protein we mentioned in this article, whey protein isolate will be the most expensive. If you were to take in 20g of a straight isolate versus 20g of a blended protein utilizing whey protein isolate and casein, you’d notice there is a drop in the price. This alone may be a good enough reason for many people to consider utilizing a blended protein powder.
Blended protein powders are multifaceted and serve many uses. You need to look at your wants and needs and decide for yourself whether a blended protein is right for you. But with that being said, it’s hard to argue the fact that blended protein formulas aren’t incredibly useful.
Author Bio:
Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is a globally recognized health, fitness, and supplement industry expert with over 25 years of hands-on experience. He is the founder of Weik Fitness and one of the most prolific writers in the space, known for translating complex science into clear, actionable content. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Penn State University and multiple industry certifications, giving his work both academic credibility and real-world authority. His writing has been featured on thousands of websites and in 100+ magazines worldwide, including FLEX, Muscular Development, Iron Man, and Muscle & Fitness UK, and he has authored 30+ published books. Trusted by leading supplement brands and media outlets alike, Matt is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and reliable voices in health, fitness, and sports nutrition.