Many people out there haven’t heard of this protein yet, but Casein has been hitting the pantries of athletes, bodybuilders, and physique competitors for years now. There is definitely a lot of controversy around casein and whether it’s better than whey protein, or even a good protein supplement at all. We’re about to take those arguments head on and talk about whether casein is right for you and why it’s so good.
Starting at the beginning, Casein is a milk based protein, much like whey. It’s found in milk products like cheese, butter, and ice cream, but also in certain lunch meats. But the major difference between casein and whey is the timescale. Casein has been made popular by it’s slow release of amino acids into the bloodstream. That’s where casein gets the nickname the Nighttime Protein because it is slowly released as you sleep, aiding in muscle recovery throughout the night.
There are definitely some other benefits of casein that make a strong case for it’s success. Casein is great for lean muscle retention and building. One of the hardest parts of increasing muscle and toning up while trying to shed fat is that you often end up losing muscle mass along with the fat. Casein helps to counteract that, and has been shown to help retain muscle while on a calorific deficit (or diet).
Casein is considered an extremely high quality protein. By that I mean its chemical make up and effect on the body. Casein is one of the gold members of the protein club. On a more personal level, casein also helps promote colon health. Taking high quality proteins, like casein, is an effective way to keep your body healthy and fueled on the right stuff.
If you’re training hard, trying to tone up and shed fat, and want to decrease muscle recovery time, casein may be a great addition to your nutritional regime. Always check with your doctor/nurse before any change in your nutritional conglomerate, but there is certainly something to be said for making casein a part of your daily protein intake.
