Blog
How Whey can help boost your Immunity
Learn how the different components of whey protein can help support immune health.
19 Oct 2020
2 min
Consumers are recognizing the importance of protein in building immunity
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to consumers actively prioritizing their health and wellbeing.
Over time, this has meant taking preventative action in avoiding disease through building immunity. Individuals seek ways to boost immune health naturally and understand that good nutrition can help reap immune benefits.
Increasingly, consumers are recognizing that protein is essential in building immunity.
10%
of 'immunity seekers' reported taking protein-based supplements.
In a 2020 Health and Nutrition survey done by Euromonitor, about 10% of ‘immunity seekers’, defined as respondents who consume dietary supplements with the primary purpose of boosting immune health, reported taking protein-based supplements.
This trend holds true across different key markets; close to 20% of immunity seekers in China and almost 10% of such respondents in the US consume protein-based products with the intention of building immunity.
In our latest infographic:
We explore how the consumption of protein can help with building immunity. This is because whey protein is a rich source of amino acids, which are utilized by the body in building various parts of our immune systems. These include:
- Anti-bodies
- Immune cells
- Anti-oxidants
To better understand how whey protein contributes towards promoting overall immune health, we also examine the different whey protein fractions and their individual roles in promoting immunity.
Examples of these include:
1. Immunoglobins: these are also known as antibodies, and bind to foreign and harmful substances allowing the body to identify and destroy them
2. Lactoferrin: an iron-binding protein with strong anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties that can protect against certain types of infections
3. Alpha Lactalbumin: this helps with building and repairing tissue, protecting cells from oxidative stress, and supporting immune processes.
We also distinguish between essential and conditionally essential amino acids where the latter are amino acids that are typically non-essential but become crucial when an individual is ill or under extreme stress.
To learn more about how whey protein intake can be essential in boosting immune health, explore our infographic below.
