If young, active guys drink a shake with 20g of milk, whey, or casein protein plus 45g of carbs after a mixed workout, all three proteins help turn on muscle-building signals just as well—even though they’re absorbed differently.

In young, healthy guys, eating cricket, pea, or whey protein (based on body type) works the same for turning on a key muscle-building signal in the body — whether they’ve just worked out or not.

After a workout, drinking protein from cricket, pea, or whey doesn't seem to turn on muscle-building signals more than just taking the protein alone — at least not in the short term.

Whey protein made muscles grow faster, but it didn’t turn on the usual ‘growth switches’ in the cells—meaning it must be working through a different, unknown way.

When trained guys drink a special ketone drink after a tough leg workout (and also eat protein and carbs), their muscles send stronger 'grow' signals than when they drink a fake version — even though their insulin levels are the same.

Both types of whey protein at a higher dose activated the mTOR pathway in rats' muscles compared to no protein.