Slow Release Protein Powder

About Slow Release Protein Powder

Slow Release Protein Powders are blends from a range of sources, such as casein protein from milk and egg albumin. Slow release proteins made up of large complex protein molecules of a high molecular weight. This simply means that the protein, on a microscopic level, is large and complex, and will take time to digest.

An example of a fast-release protein is whey protein isolate, which is rapidly digested and absorbed. However, the down-side of a fast-release protein powder is that the biological effects wear off fast. If a protein takes a longer time to digest, absorption happens over a greater length of time. This leads to a prolonged elevation of blood amino acid levels, though at a lower concentration than can be achieved by a rapidly digested protein. This is great for anyone who is not able to consume protein shakes with much regularity, sometimes misses meals or for anyone wanting to keep anabolic throughout the night.

Once mixed in water, Slow Release Proteins are thicker and more filling than fast release protein. This is due to the fact that they hold water with more ease. Given this, they tend to sit in the stomach for a longer period of time and take longer to digest, perfect for curbing food cravings and an out-of-control appetite. This makes them a popular choice for inclusion in weight loss protein shakes and meal replacements.

Slow Release Proteins such as casein and egg contain the nine essential amino acids, as well as a host of non-essential amino acids. These are still high quality proteins, just the structure of the protein is a little different from a fast release protein like WPI. Often, Slow Release Proteins are mixed with fast absorption proteins, such as whey protein isolate, to offer a fast hit of amino acids while the slower release protein is acted upon by the digestive processes. However, a blood amino acid spike will never be as high or fast when a fast-release protein is mixed with a slow release, caused by the interaction of the proteins in the digestive tract.

If your goals is to increase muscle protein synthesis throughout the night, to suppress hunger and increase the feeling of fullness, or to sustain you over a longer period of time during the day, a Slow Release Protein may be just the protein powder for you.