Whey

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/whey

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary liquid component?Water (approx. 93%), lactose, minerals, vitamins, and proteins
2. What is the major protein fractions?Beta-lactoglobulin (48%-58%), Alpha-lactalbumin (13%-19%), Glycomacropeptide (12%-20%)
3. What is whey and how is it made?Whey is the liquid that stays after milk is turned into cheese. It is mostly water and contains lactose, minerals, vitamins, and proteins.
4. How is sweet whey different from acid whey?Sweet whey comes from cheeses made with rennet, while acid whey comes from products like yogurt that use acid to set the milk. This changes the pH and protein mix.

Milk Serum: The scientific designation for whey, emphasizing its liquid nature derived from milk.
Coagulation: The process by which milk proteins aggregate to form a semi-solid mass (curds).
Bioavailability: The degree and rate at which a nutrient is absorbed and becomes available to the body.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): Essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) vital for muscle metabolism and growth.