QandAs: Food

What is Whey?

Answer:
Whey is the milk-plasma liquid that remains

after straining curdled milk. Whey is also a by-product from production of cheese and casein.

Whey is created when milk coagulates, often with the help of rennet (an enzyme typically derived from calf stomachs). The rennet causes milk to separate into solid and liquid components. That liquid is whey, and it is rich in nutrients, including lactose, minerals, vitamins, and fat (minimal amount).

Studies have shown that liquid whey may benefit some people with type 2 diabetes, since it has been found to stimulate insulin secretion. In addition, whey protein is available as a food supplement and is widely used by people who are body builders, as whey has the highest Bioligical Value (generally, a measure of a protein's net ability to benefit an organism) of any protein known to date.

Whey is also used to produce other edible products, including ricotta cheese and brunost (brown Norwegian) cheeses, and is widely used as an additive for numerous processed foods including pastry, bread, crackers, and more. In addition, whey is often added to animal feed products for enhanced nutritional value.