Protein is the structural and functional basis of the human body serving as the basis of muscle, bone, joints, skin, hair and more. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are often referred to as building blocks. The same 20 amino acids are used to make proteins throughout nature.

However, different proteins will have varied levels and ratios. This can make a difference in how well as protein can contribute to meeting your dietary protein needs.

Whey protein is derived from milk, but in order to make whey protein concentrate and isolate, the levels of lactose and fat need to be reduced. Special processing can concentrate whey. This allows people to get more of the protein they really want to help them meet their protein needs and achieve physical or performance goals.

A key difference between whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate is the threshold of 90% protein in isolate once its dried. That means that whey protein isolate, or WPI, is a more highly purified version of whey.

WPI will have very little lactose or milk sugar and very little fat, making it purer with 90% or more of its calories from protein.

Whey and other proteins can go through additional processing whereby some of the links between amino acids are split creating smaller proteins and short amino acid chains called peptides. This process is called hydrolysis and the resulting protein is referred to as hydrolyzed. When whey, or other protein, is hydrolyzed in a specific manner, it supports its fastest digestion and delivery of amino acids throughout the body.