There are numerous supplements available on the market which promise to increase muscle mass and strength. Protein powders are the most commonly used supplements to aid in muscle-gain. Below is information on the two most common protein powders:

Whey Protein Isolate (WPI)

WPI powder is the purest and highest in protein of all the various whey proteins and contains about 90-95% protein. WPI is digested faster due to the fact that it is very pure. This is the reason it is more expensive than other protein powders.

Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC)

WPC powder, comes in several different concentrations, depending on the source of protein. A WPC powder usually contains 80% protein. However, this number can vary from 25% - 89% protein. WPC is digested slower than WPI, partly because WPC contains more carbohydrates (which your body will digest first). This is why it is generally cheaper than other protein powders.

Will protein powders help me gain muscle?

Many believe protein powders are a magic potion that will help you gain muscle. Realistically, protein powders are a simple and convenient way to increase daily energy intake by 100-400calories (depending on intake). This increase in calories will certainly help gain muscle. 
However, when people go to the gym and train for muscle-gain, they also begin eating more, due to increased appetite and they have undoubtedly heard or read that one should eat more for muscle-gain. This results in daily energy intake being increased even further. However, when the muscle-gain has been achieved, protein powder is given all the credit, not the diet as a whole.

Pros of using protein powders:

• Easy way to increase total energy intake
• Quick source of protein for after-workout meal
• Easy to prepare
• Various flavours
• Taste great (usually)
  

Cons of using protein powders:

• Can be expensive
• As protein makes you feel “full” it can make after-workout meals hard to eat (or non-existent)
• Protein powders are filling, some people fall into the habit of using them as a meal replacement (not a good idea for muscle-gain)
• If you mix a WPI powder with milk (so you can drink it) you basically create a WPC anyway due to the fat and carbohydrate content in the milk