BY STEVE BORN
This time of year, many of us have to work extra hard to avoid unwanted weight gain. That's because our bodies want to insulate in an effort to stay warm, which unfortunately makes putting on unwanted pounds nearly effortless.
Hammer Nutrition has two excellent products - Appestat and Phytolean - that are designed to help reduce appetite safely and naturally, stabilize blood sugar, block the digestion and absorption of starchy carbohydrates, and help reduce fat absorption.
While these two products should be on your must use list this winter, there's another powerful Hammer Nutrition weight loss product that you may not have thought of: Hammer Whey Protein. Yes, the same Hammer Whey Protein that you depend on to help rebuild lean muscle tissue, provide relief from inflammation, and support strong immunity also aids help protecting against weight gain.
Here's why:
1) HORMONAL EFFECT OF WHEY PROTEIN
The hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) acts as a regulator of appetite. Several years ago, two studies showed that CCK was largely responsible for the feeling of fullness or satiety experienced after a meal, and that it helped in controlling appetite. Both studies included and compared whey protein and casein protein beverages. In the first study, researchers noted that the whey group participants consumed significantly fewer calories than the casein group participants did. In a second study, the participants consuming the whey protein beverage reported a greater sense of fullness and satisfaction than those consuming the casein protein beverage.
2) WHEY PROTEIN'S INFLUENCE ON INSULIN SENSITIVITY
Research shows that whey protein helps increase insulin sensitivity (how responsive your cells are to insulin). In one study, comparing whey protein and beef protein, the results showed that the whey protein caused a significant increase in insulin sensitivity versus the beef protein, with a 40% decrease in plasma insulin concentration. The researcher concluded whey protein is more effective than red meat in reducing body-weight gain and increasing insulin sensitivity. Whey thus appears to be an ideal protein source for promoting healthy blood sugar regulation and supporting weight loss. In another study, comparing the results from whey protein in drinking water and plain drinking water, the whey protein-drinking group showed improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity over the water-drinking group.
3) BCAA'S AND WEIGHT LOSS
In addition, the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA's) in whey protein have been shown to help decrease risk of weight gain. There is no richer source of BCAA's than whey protein isolate, and in a large study of nondiabetic men and women from various countries, researchers found that increased intake of BCAA's was associated with a lower adjusted risk of being overweight.
The "Reduce the Risk of Weight Gain - Branched chain amino acids may help" discusses this in greater detail. You can find the article on page 20 in Endurance News #74.
SUMMARY
For muscle tissue repair, anti-inflammatory properties, immune system support, and more, whey protein isolate - Hammer Whey Protein - has no peer in the world of protein powders. We can now add weight loss aid to whey protein isolate's resume, so make sure you're using Hammer Whey to help you achieve your weight management goals. Each scoop contains 17 grams of whey protein isolate with no fat and a mere 1 gram of carbohydrates. At only 70 calories per serving, you don't need to be worried about overdoing it calorie-wise.
Hammer Whey Protein is 100% grass-fed whey protein isolate. It is completely devoid of unnecessary and unhealthy ingredients, and has no antibiotics or hormones. Bolstered with six grams per serving of the multi-beneficial amino acid, glutamine, and loaded with immune-enhancing factors, including beta-lactalbumins and alpha-lactalbumins, Hammer Whey Protein is the best whey protein powder on the market.
REFERENCES
Hall WL, Millward DJ, Long SJ, Morgan LM. Casein and whey exert different effects on plasma amino acid profiles, gastrointestinal hormone secretion and appetite. Br Nutr. 2003 Feb;89(2):239-48.
Belobrajdic DP, McIntosh GH, Owens JA. A high-whey-protein diet reduces body weight gain and alters insulin sensitivity relative to red meat in wistar rats. J Nutr. 2004 Jun;134(6):1454-8.
Shertzer HG, Woods SE, Krishan M, Genter MB, Pearson KJ. Dietary whey protein lowers the risk for metabolic disease in mice fed a high-fat diet. J Nutr. 2011 Apr 1;141(4):582-7.
