Native whey isolate, protein powder for muscle mass

We recommend taking one scoop a day of Native Whey Protein Isolate, diluted in your drink of choice (preferably water).

The hour after your workout is probably the best time to take it as this is when amino acids are absorbed best by the body. It’s referred to as the ‘anabolic window’ (2). But native whey isolate can also be taken before your training session (increasing the body’s amino acid reserves) and during training (to enhance performance).

Make sure you also consume other sources of protein on a daily basis and maintain a varied, balanced diet in general. But if you are allergic to dairy products, are lactose-intolerant, have kidney or liver problems or are taking medication which might interact with your protein powder, avoid whey, or consult a health professional before taking it.

As part of your training programme, we’d recommend adopting these 4 measures to boost the efficacy of whey in building muscle mass:

• follow a programme of resistance training: this consists of using weights, machines, resistance bands or your own bodyweight to create resistance which forces the muscles to contract. The goal is to to stimulate muscle growth and increase strength. Aim for gradual progress, increasing the loads and training volume to continuously support muscle hypertrophy (in other words, the increase in muscle tissue size) ;
• pay attention to your diet: spread your protein intake across the day (3), eating small, regular protein snacks, rather than 3 conventional meals. Protein should not, however, exceed 35% of your daily energy intake as this is counter-productive and could even be harmful to your health. Eat carbohydrates before exercising for optimal energy levels during training sessions and to promote protein synthesis (insulin secretion stimulates the entry of amino acid into cells). Make sure too that you avoid processed foods and excessive sugar consumption : they contribute to fat mass gain at the expense of muscle mass gain;
• get sufficient rest: allow your body enough time to recover by factoring in rest periods between your exercises and sets, as well as rest days in your training programme. Try to always get a good night’s sleep, 7-9 hours a night, as recovery is essential for muscle tissue repair and muscle growth;
• finally, learn to manage your stress: stress is bad for muscle hypertrophy as it increases levels of cortisol, a catabolic hormone which can inhibit protein synthesis and promote muscle breakdown. So allow yourself periods of active relaxation, such as regular meditation sessions.

In someone following a training programme, muscle mass develops from an alternating cycle of protein destruction and production.

During a weight training session, small tears occur in muscle which the body will repair during the post-exercise period: this is muscle anabolism. It requires all 20 proteinogenic amino acids, which enter cells via cell membrane transporters.

With Native Whey Protein Isolate, the assimilation of these amino acids is optimised, enabling them to reach the muscles easily and quickly activate muscle reconstruction (4-5).

The body’s protein levels undergo constant renewal: every day, around 300g of protein is broken down and needs to be replaced. The body produces around 220g of new protein from degraded protein and has to find the remaining 80g from the diet. However, these needs increase in the event of physical activity :

• muscle contractions require more energy (which they draw first from creatine, then from glucose in muscles, then carbohydrates, fatty tissue and protein) ;
• training results in inflammation which causes damage to muscle and tendon proteins;
• when muscle fibres break, the body may seek to build muscle mass

While 0.8g/kg/day of protein is recommended for sedentary individuals, regular exercisers and those who participate in endurance sports need 1.2-1.6 g/kg/day (20%-25% of total daily intake) and those engaged in sports involving strength or bodybuilding 1.8-2g/kg/day (6). When intake is inadequate, the body will use the amino acids of functional or structural proteins, resulting in atrophy of muscle mass.

If you’re a fan of bodybuilding and would like to use other products good for muscle development, here are 3 supplements which can maximise the effects of whey:

• well-known to sportspeople, creatine boosts physical performance in short, high-intensity exercise. It helps to replenish ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the main source of energy used by the muscles during intense exertion (try, for example, 3-Creatine) ;
• ursolic acid is also worth considering for its putative role in muscle hypertrophy and performance (try the supplement Ursolic Acid) ;
• and ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate is considered a good accompaniment to resistance training and muscle recovery (try Ornithine Alpha Ketoglutarate (OKG)).

This powdered supplement is offered in the purest form possible, unflavoured and unsweetened. When you choose this product, you are paying for and consuming active ingredients only, with no unnecessary additives (no sweeteners, artificial flavourings or added sugars). You can therefore consume it in the most natural way possible by simply mixing it with water, or you are free to personalise it : adding the sweetener of your choice, replacing the water with another drink (such as fruit juice), etc.