Have you ever looked up the dictionary definition of the word “nutrition?” No worries, we did it for you.

nu·tri·tion

n(y)o͞oˈtriSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

What does this “process” look like for a lot of Americans? Heading to a drive-thru? Unwrapping a candy bar? Guzzling a soda (don’t worry, it’s diet)?

The ways in which we’ve chosen to nourish ourselves have gone far beyond what is “necessary for health and growth,” and veered into the territory of “what tastes the best and is convenient...and maybe has caffeine since I’m dragging.”

Weight crisis in America

Maybe that’s why so many Americans—and, well, people in general—are overweight. Unhealthy habits have been on the rise for the past few decades, so much so that nearly 30% of the world’s population is considered overweight.¹

Look, we get it. Sometimes there’s just so much going on—from your career, to your housework, to your family time, to your “me” time—that the extra steps it would take to really nourish your body with real, whole foods just aren’t realistic. And packaged food is everywhere: it’s convenient, it’s cheap, and it’s tasty...because it’s packed with sugar, salt, and fat.

Meal Replacement alternatives

If you’re really committed to high nutrition standards (applause!) then you might have tried other ways of making your nourishment more convenient, specifically protein bars and/or shakes.

But if you read the ingredients, you’ll realize that many of these products are actually flawed themselves. They might be missing key nutrients. They might have a high sugar content. They might contain artificial colors and synthetic sweeteners. Oh, and then there’s the fact that they taste like blended chalk, and are about as satisfying.

All of that is the bad news. The good news is that there’s a better whey. No, that’s not a typo (though it is a pun). Whey is a protein source that is getting a lot of buzz in the health world, and for good reason.

As a product that is high in protein but low in fat, whey can be an important tool for helping people reach their health and fitness goals.

Let’s take a closer look at some of whey’s most impressive benefits, along with a great source of whey you’ll have to taste to believe.

How Can Whey Protein Powder Help with Weight Loss?

It’s lean and mean. Whey protein may be especially effective for weight loss because it’s considered a lean protein: that is, its protein content is high while its fat content is low. So you can consume a good amount of whey protein without also consuming a lot of fat.²

Burn, baby, burn (calories)! Another way that whey protein can help with weight loss is by increasing caloric expenditure. That’s just a fancy way of saying that whey protein can possibly help you build lean muscle which in turn helps you burn more calories.

Decreasing appetite. Whey protein, plus the full serving of prebiotic fiber, also does a good job of helping you feel full,³ so you eat less. If overeating has been your downfall, whey just might be your answer. Additionally, whey actually helps you feel full more quickly than other types of protein do, so whey, specifically, is a good option for improving satiety.⁴

All of that to say, if you’re looking to drop a few pounds, adding protein to your diet is a great way to do it, and whey might be the best option for keeping fat intake low.

Other Whey Protein Powder Benefits

Weight loss is one (really great) benefit of whey protein, but it’s not the only one. Whey protein is healthy in other ways, too.

Beneficial nutrients. Whey contains beneficial nutrients besides protein, including lactoferrin and immunoglobulins. It’s also high in the amino acid cysteine, which can lead to many health benefits in the body.

Supporting muscle. Ready to get really pumped about whey? Well, not only does whey have all those great weight loss benefits mentioned above, but it can help you lose that weight even while you maintain muscle.

Of course, just upping your whey intake alone isn’t enough to support muscle, but when combined with resistance training, whey protein can help muscle better than weight lifting alone.⁵

Why is that? Well, the amino acids in whey protein are important for muscle support. Among these is leucine, a branched-chain amino acid that stimulates protein synthesis and helps support muscle.⁶

And because of whey’s low-fat content, you can maintain that muscle without packing on the pounds. It’s for anyone that wants to improve their body fat percentage.

Achieving well-balanced nutrition. Protein is one of the building blocks of good nutrition. In fact, for your average 2,000 calorie diet of a sedentary person, the recommended daily amount of protein is 20-25 g. Of course, this need can vary widely based on your age, weight, lifestyle, and health and fitness goals.

Whey protein is a particularly effective source of protein because it contains all the essential amino acids the body needs, along with muscle-supporting amino acids like leucine (see above).⁷ So if you’re looking to up your protein intake, whey is one of your best options.

What is the best whey protein powder?

Looking for any meal replacement can get really complicated, and can involve a lot of trial and error (remember the liquid chalk?).

Well, at Plexus^®, we’re all about taking complicated out of the equation and giving you better ways to find health and happiness. And that’s why we’re so excited about Plexus Lean™ Whey.

Lean Whey takes everything we’ve always loved about meal replacement options—the convenience and the benefits—and takes it all to the next level. Alongside our delicious Vanilla Lean Vegan option, Lean Whey is the answer to tasty, convenient, clean nutrition.

Plexus Lean Whey contains 15 g of rBGH-free† whey protein, giving you all the great benefits of whey protein we’ve already discussed.

But Lean Whey gives you a lot more, including bioavailable (read: more easily absorbed) forms of 24 vitamins and minerals, including methylated folate (5-MTHF). In other words, where other meal replacements leave nutritional gaps, Lean Whey fills them all in.

It also fills you up! Not only does the whey protein do its job in helping you feel satisfied, but Lean Whey also contains fiber, which helps you feel full, even though you’re consuming fewer calories. With only 5 g of added sugar, Lean Whey gives you satisfying nutrition while helping you lose weight.^

When you’re thinking about nutrition, you can’t forget about gut health. Lean Whey checks this box, too, with prebiotic fibers to promote the growth of good gut bacteria, and digestive enzymes to support digestive health and nutrient absorption.

You might try Lean Whey for the nutritional benefit, but you’ll keep coming back to it for the taste. It’s available in two incredible flavors—Milk Chocolate and Creamy Vanilla that seriously channel their inner dessert. No grit allowed.

Let’s review: nutrition, gut health, weight loss^, a satisfying serving, convenience, and a delicious taste. Oh, and all the great benefits of whey protein. We’re pretty sure this is the best meal replacement or healthy snack out there. Just sayin’.

Now that you know your way around whey, the only thing left is to try it for yourself. Try out Lean Whey and discover real nutrition, real benefits, real health, and real happiness.

(Looking for a plant-based source of protein? We’ve got you covered! Plexus Lean is also available in Vegan varieties, which utilize pea, rice, and ancient grain protein for a smooth, creamy meal replacement that’s healthy, filling, and made to accommodate any lifestyle!)

And if you’re ready to think outside the shake, we’ve got a lot of different, delicious recipes that use Lean to add a little protein boost to your day. You know what they say: there’s more than one way to whey—so check out our Yummy + Share page for delicious, unconventional recipes that will take the power of protein beyond the shaker.

Some of our favorite Lean recipes:

• Berry Vanilla Shake
• Toasted Almond Brownie Bites
• Fudgy Plexus Lean Brownies
• Plexus Lean Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream

References/Sources:

1. http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/nearly-one-third-world%E2%80%99s-population-obese-or-overweight-new-data-show
2. http://blog.nkdnutrition.coom/what-is-lean-whey-protein/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27809945
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-protein-for-weight-loss#section3
5. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20110315/whey-protein-may-help-build-muscles
6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whey-protein-101#muscle-mass-and-strength
7. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whey-protein-101#protein-and-bcaa

Disclaimers:

^When combined with a reduced calorie weight loss diet plan

†No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBGH-treated and non-rBGH-treated cows