The answer depends on whether you should drink whey protein with water or milk depends on what will be best for your body’s needs.
There are certain advantages when mixing whey protein with water compared to using whey protein with milk.
We will take a look into the different areas of consideration before you decide to mix your favorite whey protein with either milk or water.
Whey Protein With Milk or Water: Advantages and Disadvantages
The first areas that we’re going to take a look into when you consume protein with water or milk are the advantages and disadvantages.
See below for the advantages and disadvantages when you mix whey protein powder with milk or water:
Whey Protein with Milk Advantages
Here are the advantages when you mix whey protein with milk:
- Keeps you full for a longer period curbing hunger pangs.
- Better texture and taste for your protein shake. Can even mask the taste of your whey protein.
- With extra carbs that give energy for your workout.
- Adds additional protein for you to achieve your daily protein goal.
Whey Protein with Milk Disadvantages
Here are the disadvantages when you mix whey protein with milk:
- Consuming whey protein with milk adds to the calorie intake in your protein shakes.
- Not for people with lactose intolerance.
- If you plan to lose weight through calorie deficit, milk adds calories and may cause you to gain weight instead.
- Additional mixing and preparation time with mixing milk.
Whey Protein with Water Advantages
Here are the advantages when you mix whey protein with water:
- Promotes quick protein digestion.
- No additional calories and helps you to lose weight better than milk.
- Suitable option for people with lactose intolerance.
- Helps build lean muscle mass.
- With a neutral taste that won’t affect the taste of your flavored whey.
Whey Protein with Water Disadvantages
Here are the disadvantages when you mix whey protein with water:
- Does not help improve the taste of unflavored whey protein powder.
- Water has no nutritional value.
- You might feel hunger pangs sooner than when you mix whey protein with milk.
Mixing Whey Protein Powder With Milk or Water: Considerations
Now that we have looked at the advantages and disadvantages, we will continue by taking a look into the different areas of consideration before you decide to mix whey protein with either milk or water.
These include your fitness goals, dietary restrictions, and of course, taste preferences.
Personal Fitness Goals
Your fitness goals should be one of the main considerations when you decide if you want to mix whey protein with milk or water. If your goal is general fitness, then it does not matter whether you mix whey protein with milk or water. You will still be able to achieve your fitness goals as long as you are getting the recommended daily amount of protein intake and advisable protein requirement.
However, if your goal is to build lean muscle mass, then you should consider mixing whey protein with water instead of milk. This is because whey protein is quickly absorbed by the body when mixed with water and this helps to build muscle mass on the leaner side. As your body develops leaner muscles, it becomes deficient in amino acids. The deficiency promotes quick absorption of protein supply needed by the body for faster recovery.
If your goal is for bulkier muscles or to gain muscle mass, then mixing with milk is the better option because milk has extra carbohydrates and more protein that help in building muscles. Milk is made from 20 percent casein protein and 80 percent whey protein. The extra protein that you get from whole milk helps your muscles gain mass.
Dietary Restrictions
Another consideration when you consume whey protein with either milk or water is whether you have any dietary restrictions. If you are lactose intolerant, then you will not be able to mix whey protein with milk. In this case, you will have to mix whey with water instead.
Weight Loss
If you are trying to lose weight, you should also mix whey protein with water instead of milk. This is because milk adds additional calories to your protein shake which can hinder losing weight with the additional calorie intake. Water on the other hand does not contain additional calories and therefore mixing with water is a better option for those who are looking to reduce calories to avoid gaining weight.
Post Workout
For your post-workout shake, blending whey proteins with water is recommended because it helps to rehydrate and replenish your body with the electrolytes it has lost during your workout. Water also helps deliver the protein that your muscles need for recovery quickly.
Milk is also a good post-workout drink because it contains carbohydrates and proteins that help to rebuild and repair muscles. When mixed with whey protein, the protein in milk coagulates and help protein stay long thus bringing this constant release of amino acids.
Taste Preferences
Last but not least, your taste preferences should be taken into account when deciding whether to mix whey protein with water or milk. There is flavored whey protein that can mask that unwanted whey protein taste but sometimes it’s not enough and milk can greatly improve the taste of your protein shake.
Conclusion: Should you Drink Whey Protein or Water
Consuming whey protein with either water or milk is a good option to get the necessary amazing protein amount your body needs. Both have their advantages, disadvantages, and considerations. If you want to build bulkier muscles then milk is the best option while water would be a great choice if you want to have lean muscle mass and not gain weight.
The other things to consider include if you’re lactose intolerant you should avoid milk and if you want to have a better tasting workout shake milk is the better option. Water with whey protein is recommended if you want to lose weight.
We hope that this article helps you decide what the best option for you is.
