Before deciding which protein powder is necessary, here is a short protein primer to help you make sense of the thousands of different protein powders from which to choose
Whey, milk, egg, and soy are some of the "mainstream" names, but to the bodybuilding community it gets broken down even more:

Benefits of using protein supplements

Most hardcore athletes make sure to eat anywhere between 5 to 8 small protein meals each day. Preparing the necessary food for these meals can be extremely time consuming. The primary benefit of using protein supplements is that they require very little ?prep? time.

Protein supplements are generally ?grab and go.? How many times has life intervened, and changed your plans for the day? For most of us, quite often. Protein supplements require no refrigeration, and are very portable. They can go where you go, with very little hassle.

You will also find that protein supplements can save you money. Beef, salmon and other popular protein food sources can be costly. Protein powders, on the other hand, generally cost less per 30 gram serving. This extra cash in hand can allow you to eat the more expensive protein foods. And if you?re eating to pack on weight, a weight gainer is very economical.

Proper protein timing is essential to maximizing muscle gains. Protein supplements provide you with the ability to have a fast digesting or slow digesting protein meal whenever you need it.

Who uses protein supplements?

Bodybuilders.
For those looking to add muscle mass, protein supplementation isn?t an option?it?s a requirement. Whether you?re a whey protein addict, or just like to have a protein bar handy just in case, protein supplements are a bodybuilder?s safety net.

Athletes.
Protein supplementation isn?t just for bodybuilders. Hard training athletes need extra protein for energy, to repair muscle, and to insure proper body functioning.

Dieters.
Protein foods speed up the metabolism, and allow for the proper burning of stored fat. Protein also leaves your feeling more satisfied after a meal. Dieters use protein supplements and meal replacement products to help the fat burning process, and to fend off hunger.

Hardgainers.
For those that are underweight, or for those with a fast metabolism, eating enough to normalize body weight can be difficult. Protein foods, especially weight gainers, cam add vital calories during times of the day when eating is difficult, but required.

Protein supplements versus real food

Advantages of protein supplements:
* Fast digesting protein foods are best eaten early in the morning, and post-workout. The BV value of whey protein makes it the perfect protein source at these times.
* Protein supplements can be cost effective. Some protein foods, such as beef and fish, can be quite costly per 30 gram serving.
* Protein supplements are generally a more complete and balanced protein source.
* Protein supplements are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, making them a multi-dimensional protein food.
* Weight gainers offer high calorie foods that are easily broken down, and less filling.
* Protein supplements come is a wide variety of flavors, and can take away some of the ?blandness? that comes with a high protein diet.
* Many protein foods can serve as a low-calorie means to satisfy your sweet tooth.
* Protein supplements are more convenient, and require little to no cleanup.
* Protein supplements are much less temperature sensitive, and generally require no refrigeration or heating.
* Certain protein supplements have a higher biological value that real foods.
* A protein shake can be easier on the stomach before bed.

Advantages of real food:
* You know exactly what you?re eating and where it came from.
* Protein foods such as eggs, string cheese, milk and tuna can be more cost effective then certain protein supplements.
* Real food is more versatile. It can be used to in conjunction with other foods for just about any craving or occasion.
* Certain protein supplements can have a greater variance of actual listed ingredients.
* Shakes can cause stomach and digestive bloating for some individuals.
* A variety of real foods can provide a nutritional depth that is hard to achieve with protein supplements.
* Milk and eggs are nutritional grand slams.
* Beef has been shown in studies to pack on more muscle mass then other forms of protein.


What are the benefits of all these different forms of protein?

Whey protein makes up 20% of total milk protein. Whey is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, high cysteine content, rapid digestion, and interesting variety of peptides.

Casein protein makes up 80% of total milk protein. Casein is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, slow digestion and interesting variety of peptides. Since casein is slowly digested into your bloodstream, don't use it during workouts or after workouts - you need a fast absorbing protein at these times.

Soy protein is the most controversial of all protein types. While the soy groupies have gone to great lengths to label soy as a super food with magical effects, there is also a good amount of research that suggests soy protein may be contraindicated in many situations.

Protein Blends are generally a combination of several types of protein blends such as whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein, and soy protein. Why would you want a blend anyway? You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein.

Whey hydrolysates (also known as hydrolyzed whey protein, and are also called peptides), are powerful proteins that are more quickly absorbed; more so than any other form, since your body prefers peptides to whole proteins. Hydrolysates are produced through very low heat, low acid and mild enzymatic filtration processes, (those highest in the essential and the branched chain amino acids) and are potentially the most anabolic for short-term protein synthesis such as 15 minutes prior to a workout, during a workout and immediately after a workout.

Whey Protein Versus Whey Isolate:

Most whey protein powders that stock the supplement shelves are made up of whey concentrate and mixed in with a small portion of whey isolate. Comparing the two, whey protein isolate is more expensive than whey protein concentrate because it has a higher quality (more pure) and a higher BV (biological value). Whey protein isolate contains more protein and less fat and lactose per serving. Most whey protein isolates contain 90-98% protein while whey concentrates contain 70-85% protein.

Whey protein isolate is the highest yield of protein currently available that comes from milk. Because of its chemical properties it is the easiest to absorb into your system.
Obviously with its high concentration, it appears that an isolate protein would be the obvious choice instead of a concentrate.
However, this is an individual decision because the isolate is more expensive, and just because it is purer does not guarantee that it will help build bigger muscles.