Although instantizing powdered protein for easy mixing and isolating undesirable elements out of the formula are fairly recent advancements in sports nutrition science, consuming whey protein is not a new phenomenon. According to research published in the journal Scientific Reports, Europeans have been drinking milk from cows, goats and sheep for 5,000 years.

Scientists used mass spectrometry techniques to discover beta-lactoglobulin in ancient dental plaque samples across the continent. This is a prominent protein found in whey, which is a component of milk.

True Strength Moment: It appears that the benefits of dairy protein have been known for thousands of years. Whether or not these ancient milk drinkers enjoyed their beta-lactoglobulin after demanding physical effort isn’t known, but that’s recognized as an ideal timing strategy for exercise recovery.