Optimum Nutrition (ON) new Whey Gold Meal combines the many advantages of pure whey proteins with the taste of your favorite fast food milkshakes. Taste it and you'll have a tough time believing that something this nutritious can be this delicious. At the core of ON Whey Gold Meal are the same proteins (concentrates, isolates, and hydrolysates) found in our best-selling 100% Whey Gold Standard In fact, these are the only proteins that you'll find in ON Whey Gold Meal. Unlike other meal replacement products (MRPs) which often contain whole milk and/or soy proteins, ON Whey Gold Meal uses only the highest quality whey proteins. As millions and millions of satisfied 100% Whey Gold Standard customers will attest, quality whey proteins are so good, they should be on top of every athlete's list.Here are just a few reasons why:Not all proteins are created equal. Some are more difficult to digest and absorb. Many are low in one or more of the essential amino acids. Others are poorly assimilated by the body. Protein scoring systems including Biological Value (BV), Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid score (PDCAAS), and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) are often used to help classify various protein types based on amino acid patterns, digestibility, and the degree to which the body can actually use the protein for growth and rebuilding. Of all of the proteins out there, whey proteins rank highest in all measures of protein quality. Whey protein is rich in all eight essential amino acids, rapidly digested, and easily assimilated.Glutamine and glutamine precursors:Comprising over 60% of the total amino acids in the skeletal muscle pool and over 20% of total circulating amino acids, glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the human body. Though glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid (CEAA), stressful conditions like extreme physical exertion may exceed the body's ability to synthesize it from other compounds. When this occurs, plasma glutamine levels may fall and the immune system can be suppressed. ON Whey Gold Meal is a great source of this important amino acid with naturally occurring glutamine and glutamine precursors accounting for over 16% of the total protein per serving. Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs):Whey protein is one of nature's best sources of the three branched chain amino acids:leucine isoleucine valineBCAAs are unique in that they can be directly metabolized by muscle tissues to serve as an important fuel source during strenuous physical activity.Unique microfractions:Whey proteins are actually comprised of several smaller proteins or peptides called microfractions. Among other things, scientists believe that these microfractions may aid with appetite control and act as powerful antioxidants, making them potentially valuable to athletes and dieters alike.Rapid delivery:Comprising over 60% of the total amino acids in the skeletal muscle pool and over 20% of total circulating amino acids, glutamine is the most