How we keep our whey protein bioactive for impressive immune health benefits

Many of us know the role that whey protein plays in muscle health, but did you know that it’s also full of vital bioactive peptides that support your body’s immune health? This is just one of the reasons we believe whey protein powder makes the best protein supplement for all-round health, keeping you active and thriving.

Below, we explore this topic in more detail, giving you an in-depth look at what bioactive compounds actually are, why they’re important for your body, and how we make sure our organic whey protein powders are a high-quality source of these fascinating protein fractions.

The science of bioactive compounds in your food

Bioactive compounds are naturally occurring chemical components found in foods, which can affect various biological processes in your body. (1) Think of them as nature's little helpers, working to keep you healthy when you eat certain foods like fruits, nuts, oils, vegetables, and whole grains. They can include different types of molecules such as carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and lipids.

The subject of many studies in recent years, bioactive proteins – also known as bioactive peptides or protein fractions – are particularly pertinent when considering the benefits of whey protein powder. They’ve been found to positively impact health issues such as inflammation, chronic disease and bone health, as well as having neuroprotective effects. (2)

What is bioactive whey protein?

Whey protein is an excellent source of bioactive protein fractions. (3) It contains many of the same bioactive compounds found in human breast milk, which is naturally formulated to contribute to healthy growth and development in babies. (4)

Beyond their benefits for muscle health, these bioactive compounds play a role in diverse bodily functions, from improving gastrointestinal health to supporting white blood cell functioning. Learn more about each protein fraction below.

Alpha Lactalbumin (α-lactalbumin)

Alpha Lactalbumin is the second most abundant protein in whey, accounting for about 20%-25% of the total whey protein. It’s rich in essential amino acids – particularly cysteine – as well as tryptophan, which is a precursor of serotonin. (5)

Health benefits 

Alpha Lactalbumin has been linked with several health benefits. For example:

• Reducing stress and improving cognitive performance due to its high tryptophan content. (6)
• Aiding and promoting better sleep in adults, as it promotes the synthesis of serotonin which then supports melatonin production, a hormone which regulates sleep patterns. (7)
• Improving mood owing to its tryptophan content, which aids the production of serotonin and has also been found to improve memory. (8,9)
• Aiding in the production of the body’s ‘master antioxidant’ glutathione, owing to its high cysteine content. Glutathione supports the immune system and protects against oxidation in the body. (7)

Beta Lactoglobulin (β-Lactoglobulin)

Beta Lactoglobulin is the most abundant protein in whey, making up about 50-58% of the total protein. Unlike Alpha Lactalbumin, it is not found in human breast milk. Beta Lactoglobulin is sometimes used as a functional ingredient in foods such as processed meat and bakery products but is found naturally in cow and sheep’s milk. (10)

Health benefits

As well as being an excellent source of essential and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), Beta Lactoglobulin has numerous other health benefits, such as:

• Increasing white blood cell function and production. (11)
• Having antihypertensive, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects in the body, as well as decreasing body cholesterol levels. (12)

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the body's immune defence system. It’s transferred via receptors into and between cells, serum bile and cerebrospinal fluid and works by binding iron – this means it can be a particularly powerful antioxidant. (13,14)

Health benefits

First discovered in 1939, lactoferrin has been found to have many health benefits, including:

• Powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties, even being linked to our ability to fight off COVID-19. (13,15)
• It may help to enhance iron absorption and improve red blood cell production. (16,17)
• It has been linked to gut health, and may have the potential to work like a prebiotic to support the balance of good bacteria in our guts. (14)

Immunoglobulin G (IgG)

Immunoglobulin G, or IgG, is the most common type of antibody in our body’s fluids. It plays a critical role in our immune system’s ability to recognise and neutralise pathogens. (18)

Health benefits

As our most prevalent antibody, the role of IgG in the proper functioning of our bodies is clear. Its main function is to play a part in:

• Long-term immune protection against infections and allergies. (19)

Maintaining bioactivity in our whey protein powders

You hopefully now understand the diverse and vitally important bioactive peptides found in whey protein – but how do we ensure these remain present in our whey protein powders in a form that can be best utilised by your body?

The key here is to make sure our whey protein remains undenatured. It’s not just a fancy term but the key to harnessing the full potential of all these powerful bioactive compounds.

Why undenatured whey protein?

Bioactive compounds are fragile structures. High temperatures and acidic conditions during the protein powder processing and extraction stage can alter these compounds, changing their shape and impacting their functionality.

In simple terms, the denaturation of a protein means that its three-dimensional structure has begun to unfold. This is because an outside agent, such as heat or acid, has caused certain weak bonds to break. When denaturation occurs during the whey protein production process, the bioactivity of those protein fractions – and therefore your body’s ability to effectively utilise them – is reduced significantly and, in many cases, lost completely. (20,21)

Our solution to non-denatured whey protein powders

To make sure our organic whey protein powders remain undenatured and highly bioactive, we’ve tailored our manufacturing process in two main ways:

• Low temperatures: While some whey protein powders are subjected to high temperatures during the filtration or drying stages, or even during pasteurisation of the milk, we keep temperatures low throughout the whey extraction process. The pasteurisation of our organic milk occurs at 70°C for only 15 seconds, and our whey protein then only undergoes two short, gentle heating processes to limit denaturation.
• Low acidity: If fermentation goes on for too long during the cheese-making process – where the milk is split into solid curds and liquid whey – this can create acidic conditions which denature delicate bioactive protein compounds. For our whey protein powders, organic cheese makers use traditional fermentation methods to carefully separate the whey for just the right amount of time, avoiding excessive denaturation.

We’ve had our organic whey protein powders tested by a third party and as a result of our gentle, low-temperature filtration and extraction methods, we’re pleased to say that 80% of the protein in our whey remains completely undenatured!

This means that when you whip up your next protein smoothie or pancakes, you’ll be getting a high-quality boost of these immunity-supporting protein fractions as well as plenty of essential amino acids and BCAAs for your muscle health.

The power of bioactive whey protein

From immune-boosting lactoferrin to muscle-supporting b-lactoglobulin, the bioactive compounds in whey protein are health heroes. Choosing a high-quality, non-denatured whey protein powder means you’re getting the full spectrum of these powerful compounds with every protein shake, helping you feel your very best.