Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Accessibility Policy Click to login to your Account
Get $25 off when you stock up on 4 or more wellness favorites Shop Now
Shop All
Featured New Arrivals Subscribe & Save Deals of the Week Build Your Own Bundle
Shop by Category Coffee Mix-Ins MCT Oil Supplements Collagen Protein Bars On-The-Go
Not Sure Where to Start?
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our quiz to get product recommendations tailor-made for your wellness goals. Plus, score 20% off! Take the Quiz
Shop All Products
Best Sellers
Coffee The Original Ground Coffee The High Achiever™ Enhanced Coffee The Original Coffee Pods
Supplements Greens Vitamins A-D-K Apple Cider Vinegar Max Gummies Sleep Gummies
Mix-Ins Bulletproof Original Creamer Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil Unflavored Collagen Peptides InnerFuel Prebiotic
Create Your Custom Bundle
Build Your Own Bundle
Save up to 20% when you stock up on your go-to product or mix and match all your Bulletproof favorites. Bundle & Save
Shop All Best Sellers
Coffee
Shop by Form Ground Coffee Whole Bean Coffee Coffee Pods
Shop by Roast Light Roast Coffee Medium Roast Coffee Medium-Dark Roast Coffee Dark Roast Coffee
Enhanced Coffee The High Achiever™ The Maximizer™ New The Original + Collagen Coffee Pods New Keto Coffee Pods
The Maximizer™
The Bulletproof difference
Make your morning routine work harder with premium coffee plus metabolism and gut health support. Shop Now
Shop All Coffee
Supplements
Shop by Form Capsules & Softgels Gummy Vitamins Powders
Shop by Benefit Daily Wellness Immune Support Stress & Sleep Gut & Digestive Health Energy Support Brain Health Bone & Joint Support
Your Wellness, Your Way
Save 20% with the Daily Wellness Bundle
Create your custom supplement bundle, and save on everything you need to feel your best. Bundle & Save
Shop All Supplements
MCT Oil
MCT Oil Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil MCT Oil
Products with MCT Oil Brain Octane Softgels CoQ10 Energy Apple Cider Vinegar Max Gummies Energy Gummies Coffee Creamer Keto Coffee Pods Bulletproof Starter Kit
What is MCT Oil?
What are MCT Oils?
Learn more about the quality fat that supports sustained energy, boosts metabolism and provides brain fuel.† Learn More
Shop All MCT Oil
Mix-Ins
Coffee Creamer Original French Vanilla Hazelnut
Quality Fats Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil MCT Oil Grass-Fed Ghee
Powders Unflavored Collagen Energy Collagen InnerFuel Prebiotic Greens
Build Your Perfect Cup
Save 20% On Your Custom Coffee Routine
Save up to 20% on everything you need to make Bulletproof Coffee when you build your own bundle. Bundle & Save
Shop All Mix-Ins
Collagen
Collagen Peptides Unflavored Chocolate Vanilla
Collagen Plus Support Gut Health Energy Sleep Immune Defense
Products with Collagen The Original + Collagen Coffee Pods New Collagen Protein Bars Collagelatin
What is Collagen?
What is Collagen?
Learn more about this amino acid rich protein that helps support glowing skin, flexible joints and strong bones.† Learn More
Shop All Collagen
Protein Bars
Collagen Protein Bars Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Vanilla Shortbread Fudge Brownie Lemon Cookie
Protein Crisp Bars Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Chocolate Mint Chip
Bundle Your Favorite Bars
Bundle Your Favorite Bars & Save 20%
Can’t choose just one? Get all your favorites and save up to 20% when you build your own bundle. Bundle & Save
Shop All Protein Bars
About
Company Our Story Contact Us Store Locator Accessories & Apparel
Learn The Bulletproof Diet Books Recipes Blog
Online Exclusives Subscribe & Save 20% Earn Bulletproof Rewards Become An Ambassador
The Recipe That Made Us Famous
Bulletproof Coffee Recipe
What exactly is Bulletproof Coffee? How do you make it? Get the answers to all your butter coffee questions. Learn More
Learn More
Deals
Bundle & Save Build a Bundle (Save 20%) Starter Kits (Save 10%)
Ways to Save Subscribe & Save 20% Give $15, Get $15 Earn Bulletproof Rewards Sign Up For Email & SMS Free Shipping Orders $49+ & Subscriptions*
All Benefits. No Hassles.
Current activation
Subscribe to your favorite products and never run out, get 20% off every order, change or cancel anytime and get 10% off order add-ons. Subscribe & Save
Shop All Deals
Subscribe & Save 20% Learn More Search Account Cart
Search

Share

product
https://www.bulletproof.com/diet-articles/bulletproof-diet/announcing-new-version-of-the-bulletproof-diet-upgrades-to-sweeteners-and-proteins/ article-259 Announcing New Version of the Bulletproof Diet: Upgrades to Sweeteners and Proteins https://www.bulletproof.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5-Worst-Things-to-Put-in-Your-Coffee_Milk-protein-isolates-300x160.jpg 1 USD InStock Bulletproof Diet article
Home / Diet / Bulletproof Diet
|May 8, 2020

Announcing New Version of the Bulletproof Diet: Upgrades to Sweeteners and Proteins

By Dave Asprey
Reviewed for Scientific Accuracy

Announcing New Version of the Bulletproof Diet: Upgrades to Sweeteners and Proteins

Every so often, we make small upgrades to the recommendations in the Bulletproof® Diet based on new research and suggestions from followers of this blog.  Click here for access to the latest infographic.  The goal is that you can have a single place to go to figure out the most optimal way to fuel your body and brain, then decide how optimal you want to be at any meal.  Perfection is not necessary to be healthy, but knowing what “perfect” is makes it easy to target.

Here are the upgrades we made to the latest Bulletproof Diet.

  • Added more detail about whey protein (read below) based on our research, and some prodding by Dr. Mercola.  We moved whey concentrate to the left because it’s a more absorbable form of whey for those who can tolerate dairy proteins.  We moved whey isolate to the right for people who can not tolerate whey concentrate.
  • Moved sucrose (table sugar) to the right based on continued research, and we moved dextrose (glucose) to the left because it is much less harmful than fructose and mostly does not get stored as fat. It helps brain function in many cases too.
  • Moved sorbitol, a sugar alcohol sweetener, to the right based on the fact that in type 2 diabetics, glucose turns into sorbitol, which can lead to nerve and tissue damage.
  • Moved agave to the right based on high fructose levels.
  • Added ace-k, also known as acelsulfame-potassium artificial sweetener, on the right hand side because it causes benign nodules to grow on the thyroid gland (happened to me years ago)

What You Need to Know About Whey

Whey protein is one of the most heavily marketed body upgrades.  While some of these products are quite good, others are downright dangerous.  With much marketing comes much confusion.

It’s time to set the record straight on whey protein.  While all whey products have the standard list of ingredients, not all of them explain how the whey was processed before it was sitting on your countertop.  The processing is the most important factor when choosing a whey protein.

Whey Protein Concentrate vs. Whey Protein Isolate

Protein concentrates are created by running the whey through a fine filter that lets everything through except the proteins, lactose, and fats that are chemically attached to them.  People who have lactose intolerances often don’t do well with concentrates for this reason.  At the same time, the body is able to use the proteins in concentrates easily because they’re attached to the sugars and fats (this is how protein is available in food).  Concentrates are anywhere from 25% to 80% protein.

With isolates, the concentrate is further processed through acid extraction or cross-flow extraction.  This separates the proteins almost entirely from the lactose and fats making isolate a more comfortable choice for the lactose intolerant.   At the same time, this chemical processing method creates a substance that more foreign to the body.  In nature, protein typically comes packaged with fats in the form of lipoproteins, and sometimes they are bonded to carbohydrates in the form of glycoproteins.

Heat-processed vs. Cold-processed

Almost all dairy products come from pasteurized milk, or are heated at some point during the processing. Proteins consist of amino acids which are linked together to form peptides.  The amino acids in the protein carry differing charges, and while they are linked through the amino acid backbone, they attract and repel one another forming different physical structures like helixes, sheets, and hairpins.  When the protein is heated, the attractive forces also change, and the protein takes on a new shape.  Since the protein is no longer in its natural form, we refer to it as being “denatured.”

Since milk products are required by law to be pasteurized (to protect people from microbes like listeria), all whey protein powders have been pasteurized too, even the ones that are “cold-processed.”  The cold-processed varieties are just heated fewer times and to lower temperatures than the normal or heat-processed products.  The goal is to find one that has been heated as few times to the lowest temperature possible so your body can recognize the protein and use it.

What You’ll Find For Sale

Here are the basic categories of whey protein you’ll find on websites and store shelves:

  • “Candy” whey protein products.  The whole story is told right in the list of ingredients.  These products shamelessly include chemical flavor enhancers, sweeteners, or way too much added sugar, and they’re damaging for all the reasons fructose and aspartame are damaging.  If they add sugar, I wouldn’t trust the processing either.
  • Heat-processed whey protein concentrates or isolates.  These contain heavily denatured proteins, which are highly inflammatory and difficult for the body to use.  Usually, you’ll find no mention of how the whey was processed on the packaging, and that’s because they are ashamed of it.  The vagueness in the advertising on the label just exudes compunction.
  • Cold-processed whey concentrates.  Typically the whey proteins that are most like real food.  A lot of the protein still hasn’t been denatured and it’s attached to fats and sugars in a decent, bio-available product the body can recognize and access.
  • Cold-processed whey isolates that have been manufactured using ion-exchange/acid extraction.  The pure protein has been completely separated from the fats and sugars, which makes the protein more difficult for the body to assimilate.  In addition, the ion-exchange process can alter the protein shapes, in a way denaturing them like the heat does.
  • Cold-processed whey isolates that have been manufactured using CFM (cross-flow microfiltration).  The best form of whey isolate.  Even though the fats and sugars aren’t bound to the proteins, the CFM process does not change the shape of the proteins.
Join the Bulletproof Revolution

Sign up for early access to sales, product launches, the latest Bulletproof news and more!

Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for direct, individual medical treatment or advice. It is the responsibility of you and your healthcare providers to make all decisions regarding your health. Bulletproof recommends that you consult with your healthcare providers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of any disease or condition.

About Dave Asprey

Dave Asprey is an entrepreneur, author and the founder of Bulletproof. In 2011 Asprey introduced the world to the widely-popular Bulletproof Coffee and in 2014, through his New York Times best-selling book of the same name, the Bulletproof Diet. He is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, host of the Webby award-winning podcast Bulletproof Radio, and has been featured on the Today show, Fox News, Nightline, Dr. Oz, and many more.

Related Bulletproof Diet Tips

inside of a fridge with health keto foods
Keto Meal Plan
10 Keto Snacks to Make Today
display of green vegetables
High Protein Foods to Work into Your Diet
bulletproof unflavored collagen peptides
Types of Collagen: What They Are & What’s Best For You
Sign up today & save 15%
SHOP
  • Coffee
  • Mix-Ins
  • MCT Oils
  • Supplements
  • Collagen
  • Protein Bars
  • All Products
Learn
  • Bulletproof for Beginners
  • Recipes
  • Newsletters & Guides
  • Bulletproof Blog
  • Books
CUSTOMER CARE
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Shipping Policy
  • Return Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
COMPANY
  • About Us
  • Press
  • Careers
  • Customer Reviews
  • Rewards
  • Give $15, Get $15
PARTNERS
  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale
  • Ambassador Program
  • Affiliate Program
Discover What Better Feels Like
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

†Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice. | ©Bulletproof 360, Inc. 2013–2023

  • Privacy Policy|
  • Terms|
  • Reseller Policy|