[FAQ] Is the SuperFuel protein made from grass-fed whey?
Question: Dr. A, I've heard that grass-fed dairy is better than conventional dairy for my health. I'm wondering if that's true and if the whey protein in Fit Father SuperFuel comes from grass-fed cows?
Answer:
The cows that produce the whey in SuperFuel are grass-fed cows (although not exclusively grass-fed their whole lives). We are huge proponents of grass-fed beef/dairy vs conventional when it comes to consuming whole foods like beef, milk, cheese, etc. When it comes to whey though, the difference between "exclusively grass-fed" vs. "conventional whey" doesn't matter from a health perspective.
Here are the quick facts:
- Grass-fed dairy is healthier than conventional dairy, because it's higher in anti-inflammatory omega 3 and CLA.
When it comes to whey, this factor is completely negated, because all of those healthier constituents are naturally found in the milk fats... and the process of making any whey removes all those fats leaving only the protein.
- The amino acid profiles in the protein are identical from grass-fed and not exclusively grass-fed cows.
- Whole (intact) grass-fed dairy also has the benefit of ensuring that the organic feed is not contaminated with pesticides. Again, those pesticides are largely fat-soluble (stored in fat), and the rigorous processing that creates the whey (a derivative of whole, intact dairy) also removes as any trace pesticides that may be in the dairy.
- One absolute benefit of organic/grass-fed whey: it contains more of a few bioactive peptides (beta-lactoglobulin, lactoferrin, and lysozyme) than conventional whey. This was discovered in a 2012 review in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, researchers analyzed whey protein from both conventional and organic farms in Poland (see study). These bioactive peptides are helpful in increasing the immune system.
- Perhaps the #1reason to buy grass-fed whey is for ethical reasons, which is a very valid position. Grass-fed cows are typically treated much better than not-exclusively grass-fed cows.
Summary: We are big proponents of whole, intact grass-fed dairy/beef. When examining the whey-creation process, we're OK with using whey from a cow that's not exclusively grass-fed because it doesn't change the health profile of the protein - although there are some modest advantages to using cold-filtered grass-fed whey to get the bioactive peptides that are health-promoting.
Keep getting after it!
-The FFP Training Staff
*DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. This FAQ content is for informational purposes only. See our full terms & disclaimer here. Always talk with your healthcare provider about questions you may have.