The best whey to boost health: so much more than a muscle builder, whey protein is shaping up to be a superfood with multiple benefits for your health.

Whey protein has traditionally been favored by fitness buffs, especially bodybuilders, but now it's emerging as a healthful source of protein and other nutrients for everyone. "It's full of biologically active components that can optimize our health," says Michael Zemel, PhD, director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Zemel's research, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and other scientific journals, shows that lower levels of body fat, faster weight loss, preservation of lean muscle and improved immunity are among the health benefits.

Whey makes up about 20 percent of the protein in milk. It contains a therapeutic combination of minerals, all the essential amino acids and, due to its unique molecular structure, is absorbed more rapidly than soy protein or any other animal protein, including all other dairy products.

Among whey's unique features are its peptides, tiny chains of amino acids that are smaller than protein molecules and therefore easier for our bodies to assimilate. "Some of these help your body to burn fat, more so than other foods," says Zemel, "and these peptides are ACE inhibitors, which control blood pressure." Some of these peptides improve certain aspects of immunity both in the digestive tract and in the body.

Health Benefits

A review of research published in Alternative Medicine Review includes these benefits of whey protein:

* In conjunction with an exercise program, 1.2g of whey per kilogram of body weight, taken daily for 12 weeks, improved lean tissue mass and muscle strength.