Whey Protein Isolate vs Concentrate: What’s the Difference?

This is a very common question I get from a lot of my Instagram Fans, so I am going to try and answer this question through this article. Protein powders, Protein bars and drinks are some of the most popular dietary supplements. All these have a common type of protein called Whey. The real source for Whey is from dairy. Whey mainly comes in two types: whey isolate and whey concentrate.

What Is Whey Protein?

Much of the protein found in protein bars, drinks and powders is derived from milk. When milk is processed to form cheese or yogurt, the remaining liquid is called whey. This liquid contains the fast-digesting proteins commonly referred to as whey protein. Before processing, about 20% of the protein in milk is whey and the other 80% is made up of the slower-digesting casein proteins.

What’s the Difference Between Whey Isolate and Whey Concentrate?

The main difference between whey isolate and concentrate is that whey isolate undergoes more processing, which results in a higher protein content with less carbs, lactose and fat. Whey isolate is typically more expensive than whey concentrate.
The chart below shows the main differences between Whey Isolate and Whey Concentrate.