{"id":10386,"date":"2022-04-11T09:03:43","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T14:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gncholdings.wpengine.com\/learn\/beauty\/is-whey-protein-keto-friendly\/"},"modified":"2025-05-28T16:09:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T21:09:09","slug":"is-whey-protein-keto-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gnc.com\/learn\/protein\/is-whey-protein-keto-friendly.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Whey Protein Keto-Friendly?"},"content":{"rendered":"

No matter if you\u2019re trying the keto diet for the first time or you\u2019ve been following it for a while, you know it can be a challenge to find healthy ingredients that meet keto criteria without boring your palette.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s where whey protein comes in. It\u2019s a high-quality protein source that can be used in a variety of recipes and packs a nutritional punch. Below, we\u2019ll walk you through what whey protein is, the difference between whey and whey protein isolate, and (for those new to the diet) a quick overview of ketogenic eating and ketosis. We\u2019ll also answer the oft-asked question: Is whey protein keto? Let\u2019s dig in.<\/section>\n
\n
\n

<\/h3>\n

What We’re Talking About When We Talk About Whey (and Keto)<\/h2>\n

Before we determine whether whey protein is keto-friendly, let’s get clear on some key terms.<\/p>\n

\"vanilla<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n

What Is Whey?<\/h2>\n

When manufacturers turn cow\u2019s milk into cheese, they remove the solid curds and leave behind a liquid called whey. The curds are used to make cheese, while the whey is treated and turned into a powder. In general, manufacturers use whey protein to make one of three popular products: whey concentrate, whey isolate, or whey hydrolysate. In all these forms, whey contains large amounts of essential amino acids, which human bodies need to maintain the functions that proteins perform in the body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n

What Is Whey Protein Isolate?<\/h2>\n

After the whey protein is produced, it can be filtered to create a potent product: whey concentrate. This option offers about 80 percent protein. For a higher amount of protein per serving, consider whey protein isolate, which is very common in whey-based supplements. Whey protein isolate is created when whey is processed to reduce its fat and lactose content, leaving behind at least 89.5 percent protein. Think of isolate as isolating <\/i>the protein found in whey and removing most of the other contents. Thanks to whey protein isolate\u2019s lower lactose content, lactose-intolerant people may find it easier to process whey protein isolate as compared to whey concentrate. That said, whey protein isolate is not suitable for people with milk allergies.<\/p>\n

The third product, whey hydrolysate, is produced when the protein undergoes additional processing that breaks the bonds holding the amino acids together. This can make whey protein hydrolysate easier to digest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n

What Is Keto?<\/h2>\n

Keto is shorthand for the ketogenic diet<\/a>. Its purpose is to encourage the body to draw energy from ketones\u2014a type of fuel the liver produces from stored fat\u2014instead of the glucose (sugar) found in carbohydrates. To that end, the ketogenic diet is high in fat and very low in carbs. Keto meals are approximately:<\/p>\n