Casein Vs. Whey Protein | What's the Difference?

Want to get more from your training and recovery time? This is where many people look for a convenient protein source to get them started. Supplementing your diet with protein can be a great way to help you achieve the results you want. The question is, which protein is better to consume to help reach your goals – whey or casein?

Two of the most popular proteins available are whey and casein. They’re both high-quality complete proteins rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) making them a great tool for muscle growth and repair.¹

Read on further to find the main difference between both and how to take them.

In this article, you'll find:

What is Whey?

Whey is a high-quality source of protein found in cow’s milk and it can be processed in various ways to produce three main forms of whey:

1. Isolate

2. Concentrate

3. Hydrolysate

The difference between each variation is mainly the level of fat and carbohydrates. Concentrate tends to have slightly less protein and more fats and carbs, while isolate and hydrolysate are more processed to get a higher level of protein and lower levels of carbs and fat. Whey is much higher in leucine content than casein protein. Leucine is one of the most beneficial BCAAs required for muscle growth and recovery. As a result, taking whey after a workout can help in preventing excessive muscle breakdown and in promoting muscle synthesis.¹

Whey protein is commonly found in powder form and comes in more flavours than you could ever think of, such as sticky toffee pudding and salted caramel. It is a multi-use supplement meaning it can be used as a shake with water or milk or added into foods such as porridge or bakes.