Maybe you’ve been reading about CytoSport’s Muscle Milk or heard your friends talking about it, but you haven’t yet tried this supplement designed with the goodness of mother’s milk in mind. You might have a long history using whey-protein supplements, with very good reason, and hate to try anything new for fear of losing any gains you’ve made. Not making the switch is understandable, like hanging onto a comfortable pair of running shoes. But maybe it’s time to shake things up a bit and see if Muscle Milk can be of benefit to your workout regimen. If not, you can always return to your previous “whey” of life.

To help you decide, here’s the breakdown on standard whey supplements versus Muscle Milk:

The Taste Factor
When it comes to taste, Muscle Milk is the winner, hands down. Users often can’t believe how good it is, and the same just cannot be said about most whey-protein supplements. A common complaint with these shakes is that they have a chalky taste, but that isn’t the case with Muscle Milk. In addition to the basics of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry, you have your pick of a wide variety of flavors, like Mocha Joe, Crème Brulee, and Root Beer.

Protein Delivery
There’s no doubt that whey protein alone is an excellent protein source. It’s digested quickly and efficiently, making it an excellent post-workout choice. Whey is rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are essential for muscle protein synthesis; as well as biologically active proteins that support immune-system function. This is why CytoSport includes whey isolates, whey peptides, and alpha-lactalbumin from whey concentrates in Muscle Milk.

In addition, EvoPro, Muscle Milk’s complex mix of proteins, peptides, and amino acids, also includes micellar alpha and beta caseins and caseinates, bovine colostrum extract, glutamine peptides, L-taurine, and lactoferrin.

Because whey protein is digested and absorbed so quickly, combining it with casein makes sense. Casein is digested much more slowly than whey, so when the muscle-building potential of whey alone is long gone, casein is still delivering amino acids to the muscles. This combination also makes it the best choice for a bedtime shake to keep you in muscle-building mode throughout the night.

Fat Isn’t All That
Yes, Muscle Milk has fat, but don’t worry. First of all, the days of the fat-free frenzy are long gone. We now know that some fat in the diet is necessary for health and satiety, especially the right kinds of fat. Second, the Lean Lipids mix of fats found in Muscle Milk supports the body’s ability to burn fat more efficiently, while also reducing the feeling of hunger between meals. Now, if you strictly want a fat-free protein supplement to incorporate into your diet, and you’re consuming healthy fats from other sources, then a standard whey-protein supplement may be a good choice. But if fear of fat and calorie content is the only thing standing in the way of your enjoying the Muscle Milk experience, try the Light version, which has one-third less fat and 44 percent fewer calories than the original formula.

Muscle Milk will cost you a little more, but when it comes to quality, the old maxim still rings true: You get what you pay for. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your individual needs and fitness goals.

—M. Witt