Where There’s a Will to Be Healthy, There’s a Whey

Ultra-healthy and Naturally Free of Lectins

You’re health-conscious. And that’s why you’re reading this. So, you no doubt are no stranger to whey protein. But what you may not be as familiar with is grass-fed whey protein. (Yes, there is a difference.)

During the whey protein-making process, the protein is separated from the carbs and fat. High-quality whey protein from organically-raised grass-fed cows hits a health trifecta. It’s rich in leucine, glutathione, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a good type of omega-6 fatty acid. All three do a yeoman’s job of boosting muscle growth and helping your body heal itself.

If you’re a carnivore, we’ve got good news: grass-fed beef can have similar benefits. That said, most nutritionists would say it’s best consumed in moderation, whereas whey protein can be taken daily.

Grass-Fed Whey Is Way Cool

Let’s start with leucine, one of nine essential amino acids that we homo sapiens gain from the food that we ingest. It plays a major role in protein synthesis as well as a boatload of metabolic functions.

Next up is glutathione, an antioxidant produced in cells. You’ll want this guy hanging around because it prevents damage to a whole mess of key cellular components.

The hero of the group is CLA. It really kicks butt when it comes to supporting weight loss, which it accomplishes by inhibiting the production of body fat while preserving muscle. CLA has also been known to fight cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, inflammation, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

What’s more, grass-fed whey protein contains no antibiotics, pesticides, hormones, and GMOs. And it boasts more omega-3 fatty acids, which make your brain, heart, and skin oh-so-happy.

More Bang for Your CLA Buck

At the heart of all these health benefits is the fact that when cows chow down on grass, the CLA levels in their systems are anywhere from 300 to 500 percent higher than in those bovines whose menu features unnatural grains, like corn. That said, when you consume milk or meat from the former, you’re really getting the most bang for your CLA buck.

Full disclosure: CLA is also available in supplement form.

Fuller disclosure: Foods that naturally contain CLA are much, much better for you. That’s because the CLA in supplements is made by chemically altering sunflower and safflower oils.

Whey Protein Is Naturally Lectin-Free

Grass-fed whey protein is naturally lectin-free. Dr. Gundry has hypothesized that dairy products that come form corn- and grain-fed cows may contain lectins, as the cows are consuming a diet that is extremely high in lectins. 

Protein Bars: The Easy Way Get Your CLA Every Day

An easy route to take is protein bars. And while there are a few brands that contain grass-fed whey, you should take a good look at MariGold Bars, which Human Food Bar rated #1. They provide a whole lot more than just grass-fed whey protein: They’re the only bars out there that are also lectin-, sugar-alcohol-, and preservative-free, low in sugar, and jam-packed with prebiotic fibers, such as inulin, which are perfecto for your microbiome. (And they taste yummy.)

If you’re avoiding lectins don’t miss their lectin-free collection and if you’re keto, these bars are for you. Just looking to get your grass-fed whey on? You have even more bars to choose from. Human Food Bar readers can get $10 off MariGold bars by using promo code HFB10 at checkout, or clicking on any link above.

For a deep dive into the best protein  bars, check out my reviews of bars that are lectin-free, keto-freindly and low-FODMAP.

So, remember, where there’s a will to be healthy, there’s a whey–as in grass-fed whey protein.