You may have been wondering what the difference is between our bone broth sports proteins and the more traditional whey protein and which option you should choose for your health goals…
What are bone broth and whey protein made of?
Bone broth is considered to be one of the most ancient food sources on the planet and an exceptional source of nutrition. Made from simmered animal bones, it is an elixir that not only tastes great but provides numerous nutrients and beneficial compounds. By slowly boiling the animal bones you draw out minerals, collagen, and other compounds that help
to support our overall health. Our bone broth comes in a convenient powder form, making it easier than ever before to consume this nutrient rich food.
Whey protein powder is derived from milk and a by-product of the cheese and dairy industry. When cheese is produced, the fatty parts of the milk coagulate and the whey is separated from it.
Essential Amino Acids our body needs
Bone broth and whey protein contain a different ratio of amino acids as they are derived from different sources. Amino acids are the “building blocks” of protein. Essential amino acids must be obtained via the diet, since the body can’t make these on its own.
Amino acids have many important roles, including to form muscles, bones, connective tissues and cartilage, support energy and metabolism, and more.
Whey protein is quick digesting, and contains all the essential amino acids. It is usually recommended before or after exercise as it contains a high amount of branch chain amino acids (BCAA's) which your body breaks down during exercise, and are required for muscle synthesis. Foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy and well-rounded plant based diets will provide a full range of BCAA's so if you are eating a varied and balanced diet you should be getting enough without the use of an additional whey protein powder.
Bone broth has a different amino acid profile to whey protein and muscle meats, in that it contains much higher levels of the anti-inflammatory amino acids-glycine, proline and hydroxyproline-which we tend to not get adequate amounts of in our modern diets. These amino acids are required to build collagen within the body, amongst many other processes.
Collagen is particularly important as we age and our production of it declines.
It is vital for structure and maintenance, so bone broth can be valuable to support your hair, skin and nails, gut, bone health and joint health. Collagen is hard to come by in the diet, unless you are making and consuming bone broth on a regular basis, so we generally tend to get less of these amino acids in the diet versus those found in whey protein.
The main differences between the amino acid profiles of whey and bone broth is that whey contains all 9 essential amino acids, while bone broth has 8. However, as long as we are consuming a well-balanced diet, we should be able to make up for this, and bone broth is rich in three amino acids that are generally lacking in whey and plant-based proteins, and are also not found in typical meat products.
Whey vs Bone Broth protein: Sport performance and recovery
Whey protein is often seen as an essential sport performance supplement, but collagen rich bone broth can be as
beneficial for exercise performance and recovery.
If you are time crunched or on-the-go then whey protein powder can be a convenient way to increase your protein intake. Although studies suggest that whey proteins dosage of BCAA’s is generally too low for maximising recovery and muscle synthesis compared to a BCAA supplement. The evidence on whey protein for muscle and strength is mixed, and the results may vary greatly between individuals.
Bone broth is rich in collagen which has been shown to help the
healing of joints, muscles and ligaments following injury. It is also ideal pre and post-workout as it has good amounts of glycine and arginine which are key amino acids used to synthesise creatine, which helps with muscle mass, strength and performance during high-intensity bursts of exercise.
The amino acid glycine in bone broth, also combines with glutamine and cysteine to create glutathione-our master antioxidant-helping to
protect and defend the body against cellular damage and free radicals which we produce in high amounts when exercising intensely.
Bone broth can also be very beneficial post-workout for hydration and replacing lost electrolytes, as well as being a great source of protein for recovery. The collagen and glycine content may help with muscle tissue recovery, as well as digestive support and immunity if you are highly active.
Bone broth is rich in anti-inflammatory amino acids, glycine and proline, which have been shown to help speed the recovery process and reduce inflammation; allowing muscles and joints to heal quicker, and enabling us to recover faster and get back to training quicker.
Bone broth also has additional benefits from its glycosaminoglycans glucosamine and hyaluronic acid for helping skin to look hydrated and healthy, and supporting joint health, and the formation and repair of connective tissues.
Taste
Bone broth and whey tend to both have quite creamy textures and blend smoothly into anything including shakes, smoothies, and baking. You can use bone broth protein and whey protein interchangeably in recipes.
Quality is critical. The key here is to look at added ingredients, things that may improve the taste or texture. Many whey proteins tend to contain added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other undesirable ingredients.
Our bone broth proteins are great tasting and contain just 4 simple ingredients per blend, with no fillers, anti-caking agents, sweeteners or artificial flavourings.
Digestion and other benefits
Whey protein is absorbed quickly into the gut, however it can cause digestive issues in those sensitive to lactose or dairy products. Bone broth is more anti-inflammatory, and is generally recommended as part of many gut healing protocols to support digestive health.
Bone broth and whey protein share many benefits but collagen rich bone broth offers the benefits for sports performance and recovery and a whole lot more. Bone broth may additionally help to support gut health, hair, skin, and nails and injury prevention and recovery.
Why you should choose protein powder with collagen
Our bone broth powders are Organic, avoiding any nasties like GMOs’, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. They also contains no sugar or sweeteners, their ingredients list is super simple.
Where the bone broth really stands out in the protein market though, is that it is not just isolated protein, but contains many complementary nutrients. Bone broth is rich in collagen which is vital to support all the structures in our body-especially for those who are active-helping to support joint health, bone health, and protect against wear and tear.
Bone broth also contains Organic calcium, magnesium and other minerals which are important for bone health, muscle tissue and more as well as complementary nutrients like glucosamine and hyaluronic acid to support joint health, protecting against degeneration, and helping recovery after training.
Harness the benefits of this ancient food and make this primal protein your new daily staple for connective tissue support, sports recovery and overall well-being.
