What is The Best Time To Take Whey Protein

If there’s one supplement that really has paved way to what has now become a multi-billion dollar industry, it’s whey protein.

The by-product of cheese production, there is little doubt about whey proteins ability to enhance muscular growth and improve recovery times. The only contention? The best time to take it.

A Bit of Science to Start with

Whey protein has become a much sought-after source of protein for bodybuilders and athletes over the last 3 decades for several reasons. With a complete amino acid profile, it’s typically now held up as the benchmark protein by which others sources are measured against.

It’s highly bioavailable (meaning you absorb its contents well), is rich in glutamine for recovery, Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) for muscle building, and has a full spectrum of Essential Amino Acids (EAA’s). There’s little argument over its efficacy as an effective supplement.

Whey protein is typically classed as a ‘fast-acting protein’, in the sense that it’s digested and absorbed rapidly by the body and is able to spike muscle protein synthesis quickly upon ingestion.

What is The Best Time To Take Whey Protein Supplement

With whey being fast digesting in nature, it stands to reason that it’s utilized primarily around times where there’s an urgent need for a quality source of protein.

1. Immediately Upon Waking

Let’s start with the obvious.

After a long nights sleep, the body wakes up starved of amino acids. Now is the best time to consume a fast-acting source of protein to set the tone right for the rest of the day.

A quick whey protein shake consumed during this period will immediately boost protein synthesis and help negate the effects of cortisol (a stress hormone) during the morning and switch you back into an anabolic state. 

If you train in the morning it becomes even more important to consume a quick acting protein like whey before.

Lab tests have proven that muscle protein synthesis is much higher when you consume protein in the morning just before you train.

Try to consume around 30 grams of whey protein during this period.

2. Pre-Workout

Taking whey protein just before your workout (45 minutes beforehand) ensures that you won’t start to degrade muscle tissue excessively and utilize amino acids for fuel. 

Instead, a quality surge of BCAA can even help enhance your performance and recovery times between sets.

Again, a 20-30gram serving is optimal for most, even if you are an athlete who’s above 200lbs. The BCAA content is sufficient within this dosage to enhance intra-workout performance for all athletes, irrespective of body mass.

I workout in the morning and my morning shake is also my pre-workout shake.

3. Post-Workout

It’s a standard procedure for most athletes to consume best whey protein supplement as soon as they are done with their session.

Not only do the amino acids found within whey halt catabolism (muscle wastage), the leucine-rich protein also kick-starts the recovery process.

Post-workout has long been renowned as a key window of opportunity. This is because the body is depleted and in desperate need of nutrients to replenish it.

Muscle protein synthesis can be elevated significantly, and whey protein is the perfect combatant to fight off fatigue and drive nutrients directly towards rebuilding muscle tissue.

Consuming more protein during this time has proven to be quite beneficial, many athletes double up their standard dosage of whey protein post-workout and will typically consume anywhere between 50-60grams of it.

I usually take about 40 grams whey protein with water post workout.

4. Just Before Bed

“Before bed? Wouldn’t it make sense to use a slow digesting form of protein, such as casein?” one might reasonably ask.

Here’s a neat little trick for getting even more out of your whey protein. Despite its fast-acting nature, you can significantly slow down the absorption rate by combining it with a source of fats.

Pairing it together with a healthy form of fats such as milk and or peanut butter allows you to get the immediate surge in muscle protein synthesis from the whey, while simultaneously allowing the potent amino acids to trickle slowly into the bloodstream for the hours you’re asleep.

To get the most out of a dosage before bed, consume at least 40grams of whey protein combined with your choice of fats in order to ensure your body is adequately fueled overnight with optimal amino acids.