Whether you're a bodybuilder looking to maximize a workout or just someone looking to add more protein to your diet, you've probably heard about denatured protein. And, even if you haven't, you've probably tried a protein shake or a protein bar that contained denatured protein. Though it may not sound like it, a denatured protein can be very beneficial if you're looking to aid the protein absorbance in your body. But first, you need to know exactly what a denatured protein is and how it might be able to help you.
What Is a Denatured Protein?
There are many different forms of protein that you can consume. Soy protein, for instance, is a fast protein that supplies you with plenty of protein. However, it does not offer many benefits to bodybuilders. Whey Protein Isolate, on the other hand, is known to taste better than other forms of protein and is easier for you to digest in the stomach (and, no surprise here, it also costs more than most other types of protein!). A denatured protein is slightly different than both of these though.
Denatured protein is also known as a whey hydrolyzed protein. When you hydrolyze a protein, what you're doing is basically changing the structure of the protein permanently. The peptide bonds that are present in protein are broken. However, despite the change in the structure of the protein, denatured protein still contains all of the amino acids that are found in other forms of whey protein. As a result, denatured proteins are still nutritionally beneficial. They are especially beneficial to bodybuilders who use denatured proteins. They help aid in protein absorbance and protein digestion since the protein is already broken down.
In essence, a denatured protein is already broken up before entering the body as opposed to being broken up in the stomach by acids. Therefore, it is still helpful to you if you are looking to give your protein levels a boost.
How Denatured Protein Helps
When bodybuilding or simply working out, denatured protein--and any form of protein, really--is nutritionally beneficial. After you finish a workout, your body has to absorb new protein in order to repair and add any mass to the muscles that you just used. Whether you take a whey protein, a denatured protein or another form of protein, protein digestion takes place in the stomach. Because denatured protein is already broken apart structurally, it will be able to get to your muscles quickly. The protein that you put into your body will be used to maximize your workout by rebuilding your muscles and giving them the energy they need to come back stronger.
Choosing between Denatured Protein and Other Forms of Protein
When it comes to protein, you need to be aware of what type of protein you use in order to get the best results. If you're currently using denatured protein and not seeing positive results, it's not necessarily because denatured protein isn't nutritionally beneficial. Rather, denatured protein may not digest properly in your specific body. Talking to a trainer about the ways that protein absorbance and protein digestion take place in the body could give you a better idea of how to pick the right protein for you.
