Packs & single doses

Additives are substances added to preparations to give them a particular scent, flavor or texture. In the food industry, these compounds have no nutritional value, but determine the aroma or taste of the finished product. Sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame k...), for example, are additives with extremely powerful sweetening properties.

In whey manufacture, additives can serve many purposes. For protein powders, thickeners and surfactants such as lecithins improve whey texture in one way or another.

Given their functions, they might seem perfectly harmless. However, these substances are transformed or totally synthetic products of the chemical industry. Today, although authorized in Europe and France, the long-term impact of these additives on human health and the environment is not fully understood. What's more, the metabolites (products of human metabolism, after consumption) are not all known either, and could present dangers in the event of long-term exposure.

Among the sweeteners used in the food industry, the researchers were particularly interested in sucralose, an organochlorine compound. This substance is one of the most widely used in the whey and other protein powder industries. The articles "Sucralose affects glycemic and hormonal responses to an oral glucose load"(1) and "Sucralose, A Synthetic Organochlorine Sweetener: Overview of Biological Issues"(2) present the potential adverse effects of sweeteners on metabolism and health. Sucralose is reported to affect glycemic and insulin response, as well as the gut microbiota, and is thus linked to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

The sweetening power of sweeteners is also detrimental to endurance athletes and body-builders alike. Sucralose, for example, is up to 700 times sweeter than ordinary sugar. By taking whey shakes, you gradually get your brain used to this excessively sweet taste. Gradually, you'll seek out this sweet taste in your daily diet or in other dietary supplements you consume. Paradoxically, by choosing a "sugar-free" but sweetened protein powder, consumers are encouraged to consume more and more sugar.

Whey is, in essence, a natural food supplement with remarkable nutritional properties. It is therefore a shame to alter its beneficial effects on the body by adding additives. By improving the ultra-filtration and micro-filtration of milk, it is possible not only to improve the texture and flavor of whey, but also to reduce the amount of lactose to almost zero. By offering a product free of additives and sweeteners, with good taste and a pleasant texture, all naturally, Protéalpes proves its commitment to providing you with top-quality proteins.

If you're looking for an especially thick texture, or a sweeter taste, it's perfectly possible to enhance your whey shaker without resorting to sweeteners or thickeners. To do so, you can occasionally mix your whey with a natural carbohydrate source. For example, you can mix your whey in a plant-based milk such as oat or coconut milk, or add peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, favoring natural ingredients with a relatively low glycemic index.

Additives are very common in medicines. However, in the case of protein powders and sports nutrition, their impact is far greater than when consumed as part of a drug regimen. Indeed, whey is a comfort product, designed to be consumed for months or even years on end, as long as you want to build muscle, maintain muscle mass or recover more effectively. Taking whey over the long term is different, and increases the risks explained above.