Over the past six months, we remain in the grips of a global pandemic, coupled with the approach of flu season. This got us interested in finding ways to boost the immune system naturally and searching for effective, reliable ways to stay healthy this winter.
Paired with the deluge of health advice (anecdotal at best and contradictory at worst) on the internet right now, it is easy to become overwhelmed and feel frustrated. At such times, instead of drowning in digital information, we need to look into research-based sources for answers such as best grass-fed whey isolate.
In this article, we aim to educate about the immunity-boosting properties and how the different components in whey protein isolate, come together to keep you healthy year-round.
Best Grass-Fed Whey’s Immune-Boosting Properties
You may wonder what’s the deal when it comes to grass-fed whey? It contains vital nutrients that prove critical to immune health. These nutrients include:
- Glutathione
- Cysteine
- Lactoferrin
- Leucine
- Conjugated linoleic acids
- Antioxidants
How does each of these nutrients boost your immune system, protecting you from viruses and bacteria? Let’s take a closer look at the importance of each nutrient.
1) Glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is a powerful antioxidant your body can’t do without. Naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables, it represents an incomplete protein (tripeptide) composed of non-essential amino acids.
These amino acids include cysteine, glutamate (glutamic acid), and glycine.
Your body stores glutathione, but these stores get depleted over time. Factors contributing to depletion include:
- Aging
- Poor diet
- Healing from injuries
- Sedentary routines
Athletes and health enthusiasts often supplement glutathione to support their fitness journey. After all, increased levels of glutathione come with many positive impacts. These include:
- Reduced cellular inflammation
- Protection against cognitive stress
- Improved immune function
But the benefits don’t stop there. Increasing your glutathione levels also supports detoxification. GSH binds to pollutants in the body, producing a water-soluble compound. This process permits your body to remove carcinogenic substances through natural waste channels. These waste channels include urine, sweat, and bile.
In a nutshell, elevated GSH levels enhance cell operations leading to a reduction in pollutants. Increased GSH decreases the risks associated with cell mutations. And GSH removes free radicals from the body. GSH is found in everyday foods such as cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, walnuts, and almonds.
What’s another excellent source? Grass-fed whey. It’s also the most convenient one on the market today. Grass-fed whey also contains high cysteine levels, an amino acid vital to the production of GSH. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of cysteine to the body.
2) Cysteine
Cysteine is considered a non-essential amino acid. Yet, don’t let the title fool you. It still fulfills many essential roles in your body.
A stand-alone supplement, cysteine, has even gained attention as an emergency room treatment. Cysteine binds with toxins like acetaminophen (a.k.a. Tylenol overdose), preventing liver damage during overdoses. As a result, cysteine supplementation has become a popular safeguard for the liver in recent years.
But one of the most compelling functions of cysteine relates to the synthesis of GSH. Without cysteine, the body would prove incapable of producing glutathione naturally. And we’ve already learned about the vital importance of GSH to the body’s immune system and functions.
Remember, supplementing with GSH isn’t nearly as effective as your body’s natural process of creating it. That’s why consuming protein powder offers a double-whammy of protection.
Where can you find cysteine? A variety of high protein foods. These naturally occurring sources include:
- Poultry
- Lentils
- Oatmeal
- Tuna
- Brussels sprouts
If you’re not a massive fan of veggies, then relying on grass-fed whey represents the better option. It ensures you’ll still get the optimal amount of cysteine every day.
What’s more, the cysteine concentrations found in vegetables can’t compare to the concentrations in grass-fed whey protein. In other words, you’d have to consume fruits and vegetables in daunting quantities, even to come close to your daily requirements.
3) The “Super Protein” Lactoferrin
Another vital component found in grass-fed whey protein is lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is an incredibly powerful immune and digestive enhancer. As a result, it’s often referred to as a “super protein.”
Lactoferrin supplementation has proven beneficial in the following areas:
- Antimicrobial
- Endotoxin binding
- Bone growth
- Immune modulation
- Iron source
- Prebiotic
In terms of antimicrobial effects, lactoferrin supports gut health. It can also be used in the care of oral hygiene and wounds. Lactoferrin combats the negative impacts associated with the western diet that contribute to diabetes and obesity. It also fights the negative impacts associated with anemia. It’s a natural iron-binding protein and it is now being studied as a potential prebiotic agent.
It supports general bone health and can even prevent osteoporosis. It has well-known anti-inflammatory qualities as well as immune-boosting properties, too. As a result, it’s even become a favorite of the skincare industry in recent years.
This “super protein” has even proven useful in the fight against COVID-19 infection. Because it strongly binds iron, it creates an iron-deficient environment that discourages bacterial growth. It also prevents pathogens from sticking to surfaces.
As a result, it limits viruses such as COVID-19 from colonizing the human body. Especially in the places where they like to reproduce, such as the intestinal lining, lungs, etc.
4) Leucine
One of the nine essential amino acids, leucine, is vital to your health. As one of the three branched-chain amino acids, it can’t be produced by your body. As a result, you must rely on dietary sources for a steady supply of this nutrient.
Once consumed, leucine fuels skeletal muscle construction. It also enhances performance, ramps up strength, and improves endurance.
As for immunity? It plays a beneficial role in immune function.
When the immune system responds to an infection or foreign antibody, your body activates T cells. To ready these cells and ensure they can fight a germ invasion, you need to activate mTOR, and what’s an excellent way to activate mTor? Leucine.
As a result, supplementing leucine can improve the efficiency and response of your immune system. It can also decrease your chances of getting sick. It proves especially crucial amid a pandemic. Grass-fed whey represents an excellent source of branched-chain amino acids, such as leucine.
Remember, our bodies must rely on diet alone to supplement this vital nutrient. Fortunately, a grass-fed whey isolate supplement represents a convenient way to ensure high levels.
5) Conjugated Linoleic Acids
Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) are fatty acids vital to a healthy immune system function. They have been shown to reduce body fat percentages while increasing protein levels when consumed with a healthy diet. CLAs also affect inflammatory cytokines. Researchers now believe CLA represents a preventative for rheumatoid arthritis in humans. It has also shown great promise for diabetic management and glycemic control, especially for type II diabetes.
Other studies point to its ability to ease symptoms for those suffering from asthma and allergies. The latest research suggests that it reduces over-responsive airway inflammation, a contributing factor to fatalities from COVID-19.
This fatty acid has also been shown to modulate both innate and adaptive immunity. It enhances specific immune responses while reducing the negative impacts of inflammation. It also supports detoxification and improves liver health and function.
Where can you bone up on CLAs? Grass-fed animal products prove the richest in CLAs, making grass-fed whey an excellent source of this vital nutrient.
6) The Immune-Boosting Properties of Antioxidants
Another vital nutrient for the immune system remains antioxidants. These nutrients play an essential role in immune system maintenance, particularly as we age. Numerous studies demonstrate that eating a diet rich in antioxidants supports healthy immune function.
What many people don’t realize, however, is that whey protein provides a rich source of antioxidants. Research demonstrates that grass-only diets can significantly impact the overall antioxidant content of dairy products and beef.
Ready to learn more? Get your hands on the best grass-fed whey on the market.
Improve Your Immune System
We have more reasons than ever before to optimize our immune systems. After all, they represent the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses such as the flu and COVID-19.
Fortunately, we also have more options when it comes to improving our immune systems. That said, if you’re interested in a one-stop-shop for immune boosting, then look no further than grass-fed whey. From CLAs to antioxidants, there’s no better source for health-boosting nutrients.
Are you looking for more health advice to keep you in tip-top shape? Explore our blog now for the tips you need to lead your best life.
