What is Grass Fed Whey Protein?

Whether going to the gym or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of proteins. And you might have heard the word ‘whey’ mentioned once or twice in that protein conversation.

I’m not here to talk about regular or traditional protein. I want to talk about grass fed whey protein – the best grass fed whey protein in fact – and why it is so different from standard whey protein.

This won’t be a sales pitch or me rambling about how this is the best thing in the world. No.

I’ll lay out all the facts for you, so you can make an informed decision on what you think is best for you and your body.

I’ll tell you what grass-fed whey protein is, what the benefits of grass-fed whey are and what the difference is between asking for regular protein and grass-fed whey protein. That section will likely blow your mind.

I’ll also go into detail about what you are buying: Is it just pure protein, or is it filled with fluff stuff? Will there be artificial or natural sweeteners or no sweeteners at all?

Because what is the point of going through all this trouble to buy some high-quality and healthy protein, only for it to be sweetened with something that will counteract all the benefits you might be getting otherwise?

What Is Grass Fed Whey Protein?

Grass fed whey protein is a protein that we get from cattle that is pasture raised and pasture fed as opposed to cows that are raised in confined areas such as slaughterhouses, milking houses, dairy farms, or any dairy plants. 

While I stand behind the ethical treatment of animals – I’m not here to preach about that. We are talking about what will ultimately be good for our bodies.

Cattle raised in confined spaces, as described above, will be so compacted that the farmers have to give them antibiotics to fight bacteria and disease simply by being in close quarters with each other.

When you take pasture-raised beef or pasture-raised cattle, you almost always don’t have that proximity problem. 

1. So Why Is Every Cow on the Planet Not Pasture-Raised?

Well, that comes down to cost – it is costly. And it also requires a lot of land. You need more space per cow than you would need on a typical dairy farm. That is also why grass-fed whey is more expensive than regular whey protein.

2. So Why Am I Talking About Antibiotics as if They Were Terrible?

Antibiotics aren’t harmful – we wouldn’t have the society we live in now if we didn’t have them. 

The problem with this is as we consume antibiotics, even if they come through the food we eat – we will start creating resistance toward them. And once we gain antibiotic resistance, they will stop working efficiently when it comes to our bodies – and thus, we will be prone to more diseases in the future.

Antibiotics also affect our gut biome. When we jeopardize our gut biome, we directly affect the nutrients we can absorb.

If you’ve ever been taking antibiotics for something, the doctor would suggest you take a probiotic and lots of fibers to stimulate the natural flora in your guts again.

Well, a lot of the time, when you eat non-pasture-fed beef, you are ingesting those same antibiotics into your body.

Research done in 2019 suggests that food treated with antibiotics will have the same antibiotics transferred to humans via ingestion in smaller amounts. And they will affect your gut flora.

Ok, next topic!

2 Grass Fed Whey Protein Benefits

✅ No Antibiotics Used

Grass fed cattle that are raised on pastures do not need antibiotics as cows in a more confined place would need. 

This benefits you greatly because when you consume food previously treated with antibiotics, you mess up the natural fauna inside your gut.

✅ Happy Cow, Gives a POW!

Grass-fed cows produce milk with better ratios of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids and have a better overall nutrient profile. 

How to Find the Best Grass Fed Whey Protein?

1. Look for Labels

Grass-fed is not the same as pasture-raised. Look at the protein product’s label on the packaging and make an informed decision based on your findings. 

Tips From the Champ

If you want more nutrients and better-quality whey protein, then you need to look for grass-fed and pasture-raised. Because cows can be grass fed on dairy farms, they also need the stress-free environment that pastures provide to be of higher quality.

Oleksiy Torokhtiy

Olympic Weightlifting Champion

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If you can see only one of the two, then pick pasture-raised – pasture-raised cattle are likely grass-fed, while the other way around – not so much!

2. Check the “Nutrition Facts” Label at the Back

You want to avoid whey proteins with fluff-stuff such as soy or flour – grass-fed or not. There is no point in trying to reap the benefits of grass-fed whey only to counteract them by consuming sugar.

3. Look Out for “Protein Isolate”

Whey protein isolates are amazing in recovering your muscle tissue quickly – think of them as pure protein. But you lose other benefits from grass-fed whey protein like Omega 3 fats and other beneficial nutrients.

If you want Omega 3 and other nutrients, go for a regular grass-fed whey protein. And take an isolate when trying to gain muscle definition quickly or lose weight.

• What Is Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate?

With the isolate, you get a protein content of 85% or more in a serving of whey protein. That also means you get less lactose, cholesterol, and fat. Some products like this go even further to remove everything but the protein. What you’re left with is a pure unadulterated form of whey protein.

The whey protein isolate is sourced from 100% grass-fed cows.

While it is accurate that cattle that pasture-raised cattle have much more Omega 3 fast, which is fantastic in counteracting the harmful Omega 6 fats that we usually get from ‘everyday food,’ or let’s be honest here – from junk food.

So, if Omega 3 fats are so unique, why would I ever get an isolated protein over a non-isolate whey protein product? It would sometimes help if you also had that fat and cholesterol. 

• What About Non-Isolate Grass Fed Whey Protein?

If you want to gain muscle mass or bulk up, go with whey protein, but if you want to lose weight or get leaner, then definitely go with the whey protein isolate.

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

• Serving Size: 32.96 grams
• Price Per Serving: ~$1.8
• Protein Percent Of Weight (%): 85%
• Proteins: 28 grams
• Carbohydrates: 1 gram (depends on flavor)
• Fat: 0.5 gram (French Vanilla only)
• Added Sugar: 0 gram
• Calories Per Serving: 120
• Recommended By Athletes: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Terron Beckham, Paul Sklar

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I’ve used this one before and keep returning to it.

This one, you might’ve caught it in the name, is a whey protein isolate. So, let’s quickly get that out of the way.

Back to the product:

Transparent Labs 100% grass fed whey protein isolate comes in eight different flavors – and there are some really unique ones. I personally love Chocolate Peanut Butter, but you can pick whichever one you like the most.

The whey isolate is sourced from 100% grass fed American cows. It has no additives. Almost completely pure protein.

In terms of servings, combine each scoop with 6-8 ounces of cold water (or any beverage of your choice). Adjust the liquid quantity to produce the desired flavor and consistency. Drink 1-3 scoops daily for the best result.

It dissolves in water very easily, so that won’t give you any trouble at all.

I’ve tried many different brands of whey protein and whey protein isolate and some I had trouble digesting. With this one, I never had any issues, and that is a big plus in my book.

Should You Buy Grass Fed Whey Protein or Regular?

With grass fed whey protein you are paying more money in order to make sure that there are no antibiotics in the product.

Grass Fed Whey FAQ

Does Grass Fed Whey Protein Build Muscle?

Regular whey protein helps build muscle. Organic grass fed whey protein does the same, just much better. 

It has much more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than non-grass-fed whey. CLA may promote muscular development and metabolism, aiding in weight reduction.

Is Grass Fed Whey Protein Easier to Digest?

Other than that, if you are lactose intolerant, you might find it harder to digest because grass-fed cows have a higher amount of nutrients – some of it is also lactose. So, keep that in mind.

A good alternative is grass-fed whey protein isolate. This way, you would get pure protein without any other nutrients. This type of grass-fed protein will be digested and absorbed most quickly.

Does Grass Fed Whey Protein Cause Bloating?

Whey protein is derived from cow’s milk and contains lactose, a milk sugar. Whey protein isolate can reduce lactose, although some lactose may remain. 

Lactose intolerance is a common issue that can cause stomach distress, bloating and gas.

Conclusion

While grass-fed might sound a bit hippy, it doesn’t matter what it sounds like when it comes to your health. 

Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is a winner in my book, which is why it’s listed as a recommendation.

It is an excellent grass fed whey isolate powder that completely changes your gym game. Or any exercise for that matter. While you might not see or feel the benefits immediately, it will take a little while to see why using this product was a great decision!

If you have already used whey proteins or have just now decided to buy them, please share your thoughts and impressions via the comment section below. I would be delighted if you’d share your experiences and tell me how you found grass-fed vs. non-grass-fed whey!

Also Read:

• Ensure vs Premier Protein
• Collagen Protein vs Whey Protein
• Protein vs Bcaa
• Protein Bars vs Shakes
• Mass Gainer vs Whey Protein
• Best Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
• Difference Between Soy and Whey Protein

References:

1. Does Dietary Consumption of Antibiotics by Humans Promote Antibiotic Resistance in the Gut Microbiome? // National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31512932.html
2. Pasture Raised Advantage Nutrition Study // Meet Industry Association: https://www.mia.co.nz/nutrition/research/the-pasture-raised-advantage-nutrition-study.html
3. All photos are made by our Torokhtiy Media Team