Is Beef Protein Powder Better Than Whey for Strength
I am thinking about trying a beef protein isolate like Carnivor because I have heard it is better for strength gains and contains natural creatine. I am a powerlifter in Ohio and I am looking for every edge I can get. I am not a huge fan of dairy but I have always used whey in the past.
My main concern is the taste and the texture. I have heard that beef protein can be quite frothy and has a strange beefy aftertaste in the chocolate flavors. Is it actually more anabolic than whey or is that just marketing hype?
Has anyone here made the switch and seen an improvement in their numbers? I am looking for something that will help me hit a new PR on my deadlift this summer. I would love to hear your honest reviews of beef protein powders.
Beef protein isolate is a solid alternative if you are lactose intolerant or find whey makes you bloat. However most of the ""beef"" powders on the market are actually made from hydrolyzed gelatin and collagen which have a poor amino acid profile compared to dairy.
Personally I think it is all marketing hype. I tried a tub of Carnivor last year when I was training at a gym in Shoreditch and the taste was absolutely mental — like drinking a cold diluted beef stew. I went back to my usual whey concentrate within a week.
LMAO LondonLad is right about the taste! But if you can stomach it the leucine content is usually decent. I noticed less gas compared to whey but strength gains were about the same for my deadlift.
Strength comes from the total leucine and EAA content over 24 hours. Whey has a higher Biological Value than beef. Unless you have an allergy whey is king for stimulating muscle protein synthesis.
I am with AnimalLifter. I read a study that showed no significant difference in lean mass or strength between beef and whey groups over 8 weeks. I will stick to my Canadian whey it is cheaper and tastes like chocolate not a steak house.
I have a few athletes who swear by beef isolate because it sits better in their gut before a heavy session. If your digestion is trashed by whey your performance will suffer anyway. Better to use a slightly inferior protein that you can actually digest.
Totally agree! Digestibility is massively underrated. I get proper bloated with whey but beef protein has been a game changer for my recovery after squats.
Has anyone looked at the creatine content in beef protein? I have heard it is naturally high which might account for some people feeling stronger on it.
Good point. Most beef isolates claim to have 20x the creatine of a steak. If you are not already supplementing creatine separately that could definitely explain a boost in strength.
I checked the label on a popular beef brand and the first ingredient was Hydrolyzed Beef Protein Isolate. If it is hydrolyzed it should absorb pretty fast right?
Hydrolyzed means it is pre-digested. Fast absorption is great post-workout but again if the amino profile is mostly hydroxyproline and glycine it is not building muscle as well as whey.
I just stack both lol. Whey in the morning and beef isolate post-workout. I feel like the variety helps with my appetite.
At my age I have to watch my joints. I heard the collagen in beef protein is actually beneficial for connective tissue. Is that true or just more sales talk?
For joints collagen is great. But for actual muscle hypertrophy you want the aminos found in dairy or real steak. If you want strength just eat more actual beef.
Cheers Arnold. That makes sense. I will stick to my flat white and whey shakes then. Steak for dinner is always the winner anyway.
Price is the big factor for me. In the States beef protein isolate is almost double the price of a good whey concentrate. Hard to justify the cost for a tiny gain.
Exactly. Over here in Toronto a tub of Carnivor is like 80 dollars. I can buy a massive bag of Costco whey for way less and still hit my macros.
Is it true that beef protein is better for Paleo diets? I have a few buddies at my CrossFit box who will not touch dairy.
Yes it is generally considered Paleo-friendly since it is not dairy. If you are strictly avoiding milk products it is probably your best bet alongside egg white protein.