Whey protein provides an easy and convenient way to boost your daily protein intake, helping you to build muscle, increase strength and burn fat too. But on top of that, it contains various biologically active compounds that provide a number of health benefits. These include lowering blood pressure, improving blood sugar regulation and reducing symptoms of stress and depression.

It has also been shown to decrease intestinal permeability, reduce inflammation, improve immune system function and help protect against cancer.

Whey protein is very high in the amino acid cysteine, which raises levels of glutathione – the body’s master antioxidant. And this is the likely explanation for many of these benefits.

Whey protein is one of the two main types of protein found in milk (the other one being casein), and it is usually produced as a by-product of the cheese making process. When a coagulent (usually renin) is added to milk, it causes it to separate out into curds (which are used to make cheese) and whey – the liquid portion that contains the whey protein.

The protein is extracted from the whey by filtration, and it is then dried to form a powder. Whey protein is actually a mixture of several different globular proteins, and it has the highest biological value of any protein source - even higher than eggs.