Choosing the best protein powder is always going to be an extremely personal choice.
The best protein powder for me is likely to be different from the best one for you.
Someone who needs a fast-digesting protein powder for their post-workout nutrition is likely to choose a whey protein powder.
But someone with lactose intolerance is likely to stay away from protein powders like whey and casein and opt for something plant-based.
The top protein powder for a vegan or vegetarian might likewise differ from the top protein powder for someone who follows a meat-heavy paleo diet. However, with all things considered, I believe that I have found the top 10 protein powders after years of testing.
These protein powders will each address the needs of different people and are the best in their category. So whatever you goal or personal needs, you are sure to find the best protein powder for you on this list of 5.
Before we get to those though, I’ve put together some information to help you work out YOUR best choice.
PRODUCT
DETAILS
OUR RATING
Naked100% Whey
- 25g of whey protein per serving
- 5.9 grams of BCAAs per serving
- Only one ingredient: whey protein
- Grass fed source
- Cold processed
- GMO, Soy and Gluten free
- No artificial colors or flavors.
Our #1 Rated
In the Protein Powder category
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard
- 24 grams of protein per serving
- Main ingredient: whey protein isolate
- Also includes whey concentrate and peptides
- Over 4 grams of glutamine and glutamic acid per serving
- Over 5 grams of BCAAs per serving
Our #2 Rated
IsopureZero Carb Whey
- 25g of 100% high quality whey protein isolate per serving
- Gluten, Lactose and Aspartame free
- Zero carbs
- Add vitamin and mineral blend
- Variety of flavors
Our #3 Rated
MusclePharmCombat Blend
- 25g of protein per serving
- Blend of whey isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate, micellar casein and egg albumin
- Fast, medium and slow releasing proteins for the best of all worlds
- Added additional BCAAs
- Added digestive blend to help absorption
- Gluten free
Our #4 Rated
OrgainPlant Based Blend
- 21g of protein per serving
- Blend of pea and rice protein and chia seeds
- No sugar
- Non-GMO, gluten free and vegan
- No artificial ingredients
- Certified organic
Our #5 Rated
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OUR #1 RATED |
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NakedSunwarrior Warrior BlendIn the Best Protein Powder category |
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OUR #2 RATED |
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Optimum NutritionGold Standard WheyIn the Best Protein Powder category |
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OUR #3 RATED |
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IsopureZero Carb WheyIn the Best Protein Powder category |
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OUR #4 RATED |
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MusclePharmCombat BlendIn the Best Protein Powder category |
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OUR #5 RATED |
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OrgainOrganic Plant Based ProteinIn the Best Protein Powder category |
The Best Types of Protein Powder
There isn’t just one type of protein powder on the market. There are many different kinds and they all do different things. Different protein powders are suited for different people and purposes. Let’s take a look at the most common ones you’ll see and what they are. We’ve specifically only mentioned those that have evidence of being beneficial to your workout.
Whey Protein
Whey protein powder is the most popular protein powder on the market. It is the one people are most likely to be referring to when they talk about protein powders. Whey is a fast absorbing milk protein that is perfect for post-workout nutrition.
Some people might have a hard time digesting it, however, if they are lactose tolerant.
Whey protein is a complete protein because it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids that are necessary for optimal health. It also happens to be specifically high in leucine which is a branched chain amino acid known for its role in improving exercise performance muscle growth (1, 2).
Whey protein has been shown to increase muscle protein synthesis more than both casein protein and soy protein. This is thought to be due to the fact that whey protein is absorbed more quickly and also has a higher leucine content than the other proteins (3).
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that whey protein promotes muscle and strength gain. It is why it is the most popular protein supplement taken by athletes and bodybuilders. Several studies have backed up whey protein’s ability tpo increase muscle strength and size when it is combined with resistance training (4, 5).
Whey protein can also be helpful for those on a calorie restrictive diet as it stops the loss of lean muscle mass particularly if you are exercising too (6).
Another great thing about whey protein for those trying to lose weight or maintain it, is that whey can help you feel fuller in the short and long term (7).
Optimum Nutrition offer a great whey protein with 24g of protein per serving.
RECAP: Whey protein is quickly digested and absorbed by the body which is perfect for post workout nutrition. It is popular because it helps build muscle strength and size. It can also aid weight loss by making you feel full for longer and also prevents muscle wastage when on a calorie restricted diet.
Casein Protein
Casein protein is likely the second most popular protein powder around and the one you are more likely to hear about after whey. Casein is also a milk protein that contaisn all the essential amino acids, however it is slow absorbing.
Casein is slow absorbing because when it hits your stomach and stomach acid, it forms curds. These curds do not break down very easily and thus take your body a lot longer to digest. Therefore, it provides your body with a steady supply of amino acids over a longer period.
As a result, casein isn’t recommended for immediately after workouts. Instead it is perfect for before bed or during times when you will be without food for a while.
This is because the steady supply of amino acids it provides can help prevent muscle breakdown and also supports muscle protein synthesis for longer (8).
In fact one study had men consume 20-40 grams of casein just before bed. This study showed that ingesting casein before bed increases protein synthesis rates and that 40g of casein increased protein synthesis more than 20g of casein did (9).
Casein doesn’t increase muscle protein synthesis to the same level as whey does but it’s support to protein synthesis makes it a great protein to combine with whey for maximum benefits to muscle growth.
Optimum Nutrition also offers a great 100% casein powder product
RECAP: Casein, just like Whey, is a complete protein that comes from milk. Casein takes longer to be digested by the body making it perfect to consume before bed or when you will be without food for a considerable amount of time (i.e. if you have a fasting period), where you want to continue to support your muscle growth.
Whey Casein Blend
A whey and casein blend means that you get a combination of fast and slow digesting protein and in theory the best of both worlds.
Consuming a whey-casein blend after a workout means you get the fast digesting whey to provide nutrients and help pretty much straight away to aid recovery and muscle strength, and then the slow digesting casein offers a steady supply of amino acids over a long period to further support protein synthesis and prevent muscle breakdown.
However research suggests that a whey-casein blend is just as good as taking whey on its own. One study had men either drink 20 grams of whey protein or 20 grams of a whey-casein blend (10). Samples were taken from the men 2 hours before and several hours after they consumed it. They found no difference between the groups when it came to muscle protein synthesis. This suggests that a whey-casein blend is just as effective as whey on its own.
It also suggest that you may just be ok with sticking to whey.
Another study looked at a whey-casein blend compared to just casein protein (11). The results showed that those consuming the blend had less muscle fatigue compared to those who just consumed the casein. There were no other differences including no difference in muscle strength and size.
From these two studies we can see that a whey-casein blend is a better option than just straight casein, but there is no difference between a whey-casein blend and whey protein.
RECAP: A whey-casein blend contains both whey and casein in differing amounts depending on brand. This type of blend has been shown to be just as effective as whey protein but more effective than casein alone.
Egg White Protein
Eggs are one of the best protein sources known to man. Egg whites are almost pure protein. If you don’t fancy the tradition of cracking lots of eggs into a blend, mixing it up and gulping it down, an egg white powder maybe more appetizing to you.
Egg whites are a complete protein source, containing all the essential amino acids. It is also a particularly excellent source of BCAAs.
As eggs white are pretty much pure protein, it has the lowest carb count of any protein powder out there.
Egg whites are also highly absorbable and a good dairy-free option, if plant-based proteins do not work for you.
RECAP: Egg white is almost pure protein with a very low carb count and a high source of BCAAs. It is easily absorbable and a great dairy-free alternative.
Plant Based Protein Powders
If you are vegetarian or vegan or prefer something other than dairy or meat proteins, there are plenty of protein powders available that source their protein from plants like hemp, pea and rice.
If you are trying to correct an auto-immune issue and get a good amount of protein in your diet, plant based protein powders are your best bet.
Here is a look at the best types of plant based proteins available to help you find your best best protein powder to buy.
Pea Protein
Pea protein is usually made from the yellow split pea which is a high fiber legume. It is a popular choice among vegans and vegetarians.
It contains high amounts of all essential amino acids apart from methionine. It is particularly high in the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) – leucine, isoleucine and valine.
BCAAs are particularly important for promoting muscle protein synthesis (12) and also help to decrease muscle damage after exercise (13).
One study had 161 perform resistance trainign for 12 weeks while suupplementing with 50 grams or pea protein daily or 50 grams of whey protein a day. The study found a great increase in bicep muscle thickness in those who consumed pea protein compared to a placebo group,. There was no difference between those who consumed whey and those who consumed pea (14). This suggests that pea protein is a suitable alternative to whey and those who do not consume dairy.
The increase in lean muscle mass also favors those who want to lose weight, as it has been shown time and time again that more lean muscle results in more calories being burned.
Pea protein can also keep hunger at bay and prevent snacking. One study showed looked at the effects of pea protein, whey protein and a mixture of both on appetite ratings, changes in hunger/satiety hormones and energy intake. There was modest evidence to suggest that pea protein, compared to a mixture with whey or whey on its own, was more effective at suppressing hunger and increasing fullness (15).
RECAP: Pea protein is made from the yellow split pea and is high in BCAAs and contains high amounts of all the essential amino acids apart from methionine. Pea protein has been shown to be just as effective as whey protein for muscle growth/strength and damage and also has been shown to keep hunger at bay.
Rice Protein
Rice protein is made from brown rice. It is high in protein and contains all essential amino acids. It is particularly high in cystine and methionine, however has a very low amount of lysine. Due to this low amount, it isn’t really considered a complete protein source.
As a result of this. rice protein has been seen as somewhat inferior to whey protein. Despite this view of it, it is still a great option to help you build muscle.
One study looked at the effects of rice protein and whey protein and their effect. The study had young fit men take 48 grams of either rice protein or whey protein 3 days a week (on training days) for 8 weeks. The study found there was no significant differences in the improvement of muscle strength, recovery and body composition between those who consumed whey protein and those who consumed rice protein (15). Therefore this suggests that rice protein is just as beneficial to muscle strength and recovery as whey protein is known to be.
Another benefit of rice protein is that it is one of the most hypoallergenic protein powders on the market. You are highly unlikely to be allergic or have an allergic reaction to it. It is also very easily digested by the body making it a great dairy-free alternative.
Rice protein is also naturally low fat and low calorie too so perfect for those interested in fat/weight loss.
RECAP: Rice protein is high is all essential amino acids apart from lysine, however has been shown to be just as beneficial as whey protein when it comes to muscle strength and recovery. Rice protein is the most hypoallergenic protein powder on the market.
Plant Protein Blends
There are many products available on the market that combine a number of different plant based protein sources together. The benefit of this is that it will give you a more complete spectrum of essential amino acids that a single product can’t do. Particularly, as noted although many of the plant based proteins have all essential amino acids, they tend to lack significantly in some more than others.
A pea and rice protein blend offers a good example of how it can be beneficial to blend. Rice protein is low in lysine, while pea protein is high in it. Equally pea protein is low in methionine but rice protein has an abundance of it. This is where a blend is beneficial if you want a more complete protein source.
These blends also tend to contain sprouted or fermented plant proteins. This is because fermentation and sprouting may increase the amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients and also make it easier for the body to digest. It
You may also see blended products have enzymes added in to help you digest the product more effectively too.
RECAP: Plant protein blends can be a useful way to ensure you are getting all of the essential amino acids is high amounts.
Other Protein Powders
This list offers some of the best protein powders on the market, but they aren’t the only ones. If you want to read more about the others please check out our ultimate guide here.
The Best Protein Powder Brands
After testing many different protein powder brands over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that the following three brands are the best.
Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition is one of the best protein powder companies on the market. All of their products are top quality, taste good, are easy to mix and are fairly priced. I recommend Optimum Nutrition as the supplement that beginners should start with because you simply can’t go wrong with their supplements.
MTS Nutrition
MTS Nutrition have the tastiest protein powders on the market, which counts for a lot given the fact that most protein powders have such an intolerable taste that you don’t want to drink them. MTS Nutrition products are also super effective and crammed with only the best ingredients. I’ve made some great gains using their products.
Isopure
For dieters or anyone who wants to limit their carbohydrate intake, Isopure are the best protein powder company around. I always make sure I have a tub around no matter what my goals are. If you want to lose a ton of fat or gain lean muscle, Isopure will be able to help you blast through your goals.
Naked Nutrition
For completely clean, unflavored products, look no further than Naked Nutrition. Their whole ethos is on giving you a top quality supplement without any additional ingredients. If you just what to buy whey or casein and you want nothing else added to it then this is company you go to.
Top 5 Best Protein Powders
Below is my top 5 best protein powders currently on the market.
Naked
100% Grass Fed Whey
Price
Our Rating
- 25g of whey protein per serving
- 5.9 grams of BCAAs per serving
- Only one ingredient: whey protein
- Grass fed source
- Cold processed
- GMO, Soy and Gluten free
- No artificial colors or flavors.
Naked Whey protein is one of the healthiest whey proteins on the market. It is 100% grass fed whey protein concentrate. Their whey is sourced from small dairy farms in California from cattle that are completely grass fed. Grass few cattle are healthier and healthier means a better quality whey protein for you.
Naked also use a manufacturing process that doesn’t de-nature the whey, which essentially keeps intact all the essential nutrients that whey has to offer.
This is 100% whey, so no artificial flavors or sweeteners can be found in this product. If you want a completely naked whey without any additional fillers or flavors, then this is certainly the product for you.
This comes out top for us because it doesn’t have any additional ingredients and focus is completely on the protein. It gives you the opportunity to make your own protein shake and experiment with fruit or fresh whole ingredients at home. You could also just take it straight if you aren’t too fussed about flavor.
If you prefer a flavored product you may want to check out some of our other top picks.
PROS – Grass fed whey for quality and only whey. Not other ingredients.
CONS – Not for those who prefer flavored products. A bit pricey so difficult to justify if on a budget.
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Our #1 Rated |
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Naked Whey protein is one of the healthiest whey proteins on the market. It is 100% grass fed whey protein concentrate. Their whey is sourced from small dairy farms in California from cattle that are completely grass fed. Grass few cattle are healthier and healthier means a better quality whey protein for you. Naked also use a manufacturing process that doesn’t de-nature the whey, which essentially keeps intact all the essential nutrients that whey has to offer. This is 100% whey, so no artificial flavors or sweeteners can be found in this product. If you want a completely naked whey without any additional fillers or flavors, then this is certainly the product for you. This comes out top for us because it doesn’t have any additional ingredients and focus is completely on the protein. It gives you the opportunity to make your own protein shake and experiment with fruit or fresh whole ingredients at home. You could also just take it straight if you aren’t too fussed about flavor. If you prefer a flavored product you may want to check out some of our other top picks. PROS – Grass fed whey for quality and only whey. Not other ingredients. CONS – Not for those who prefer flavored products. A bit pricey so difficult to justify if on a budget. |
Optimum Nutrition
Gold Standard 100% Whey
Price
Our Rating
- 24 grams of protein per serving
- Main ingredient: whey protein isolate
- Also includes whey concentrate and peptides
- Over 4 grams of glutamine and glutamic acid per serving
- Over 5 grams of BCAAs per serving
Optimum Nutrition is a popular fitness brand that offers a great range of quality products.
The main ingredient of their Gold Standard Whey is whey protein isolates,. which is considered the purest form of whey protein. It also has a blend of concentrate and peptides.
It gives 24g of protein per serving which is plenty for helping you grow and maintain muscle strength. It is also a great option for fat loss too.
Optimum Nutrition is an affordable brand that tastes and mixes really well. I recommend the Chocolate flavor.
There are so many whey protein brands on the market it can be really difficult to know what to choose. My advice, however, is if you want a decent tasting, reliable and effective protein powder with no fancy bells or whistles, Optimum Nutrition 100% whey is the protein powder for you.
If you don’t believe me, all you need to do is check out the fantastic protein powder reviews that Optimum Nutrition gets to see why it’s such a favorite.
PROS – Affordable, mixes well and has a variety of flavors to choose from.
CONS – Some flavors may have been reformulated which older customers feel disappointed about.
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Optimum NutritionGold Standard Whey
Naked Whey protein is one of the healthiest whey proteins on the market. It is 100% grass fed whey protein concentrate. Their whey is sourced from small dairy farms in California from cattle that are completely grass fed. Grass few cattle are healthier and healthier means a better quality whey protein for you. Optimum Nutrition is a popular fitness brand that offers a great range of quality products. The main ingredient of their Gold Standard Whey is whey protein isolates,. which is considered the purest form of whey protein. It also has a blend of concentrate and peptides. It gives 24g of protein per serving which is plenty for helping you grow and maintain muscle strength. It is also a great option for fat loss too. Optimum Nutrition is an affordable brand that tastes and mixes really well. I recommend the Chocolate flavor. There are so many whey protein brands on the market it can be really difficult to know what to choose. My advice, however, is if you want a decent tasting, reliable and effective protein powder with no fancy bells or whistles, Optimum Nutrition 100% whey is the protein powder for you. If you don’t believe me, all you need to do is check out the fantastic protein powder reviews that Optimum Nutrition gets to see why it’s such a favorite. PROS – Affordable, mixes well and has a variety of flavors to choose from. CONS – Some flavors may have been reformulated which older customers feel disappointed about. |
Isopure
Zero Carb Whey
Price
Our Rating
- 25g of 100% high quality whey protein isolate per serving
- Gluten, Lactose and Aspartame free
- Zero carbs
- Add vitamin and mineral blend
- Variety of flavors
Isopure is my personal favorite whey protein powder of all time and probably the best whey protein powder choice for anyone looking to lose weight or gain lean mass. It contains whey isolate which is considered the purest form of whey and doesn’t mix in the less pure forms.
It has a 25g serving of protein and absolutely zero carbohydrates. This means you will fill fuller for longer and be able to hit your daily protein macros with ease.
It also has a mild taste and is easy to mix, which makes drinking it easy. It’s a great deal and I always make sure I have a couple of tubs of Isopure around the house.
PROS – Affordable, high quality whey isolate that mixes well and provides additiona vitamins and minerals to aid recovery.
CONS – Not everyone enjoyed the flavors Isopure had to offer.
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Our #3 Rated |
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Isopure is my personal favorite whey protein powder of all time and probably the best whey protein powder choice for anyone looking to lose weight or gain lean mass. It contains whey isolate which is considered the purest form of whey and doesn’t mix in the less pure forms. It has a 25g serving of protein and absolutely zero carbohydrates. This means you will fill fuller for longer and be able to hit your daily protein macros with ease. It also has a mild taste and is easy to mix, which makes drinking it easy. It’s a great deal and I always make sure I have a couple of tubs of Isopure around the house. PROS – Affordable, high quality whey isolate that mixes well and provides additiona vitamins and minerals to aid recovery. CONS – Not everyone enjoyed the flavors Isopure had to offer. |
Muscle Pharm
Combat
Price
Our Rating
- 25g of protein per serving
- Blend of whey isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate, micellar casein and egg albumin
- Fast, medium and slow releasing proteins for the best of all worlds
- Added additional BCAAs
- Added digestive blend to help absorption
- Gluten free
Muscle Pharm is one of the tasiest and most effective protein powder blends on the market.
It mixes whey isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate with micellar casein and egg albumin. This gives you quick absorbing whey with slow and steady protein from the casein. This is a great option if you want the best of both types of protein powder.
In total, you get 25g of protein per serving.
Muscle Pharm also add in additional BCAAs to boost up the amount you intake. BCAAs have been shown to be beneficial in muscle growth and exercise fatigue.
You also get a digestive enzyme blend, which will helps to stop stomach cramps.
Muscle Pharm also have their product tested by a third party called Informed Choice for banned substances to help you feel more confident about buying their product.
If you’re trying to put on quality muscle mass and need a tasty protein powder blend, you can’t go wrong with Muscle Pharm Combat Powder.
PROS – A blend of slow, medium and fast releasing proteins with additional BCAAs. Tastes great and mixes well.
CONS – Some found batches inconsistent or the product was personally too sweet for them.
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Our #3 Rated |
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Muscle Pharm is one of the tasiest and most effective protein powder blends on the market. It mixes whey isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate with micellar casein and egg albumin. This gives you quick absorbing whey with slow and steady protein from the casein. This is a great option if you want the best of both types of protein powder. In total, you get 25g of protein per serving. Muscle Pharm also add in additional BCAAs to boost up the amount you intake. BCAAs have been shown to be beneficial in muscle growth and exercise fatigue. You also get a digestive enzyme blend, which will helps to stop stomach cramps. Muscle Pharm also have their product tested by a third party called Informed Choice for banned substances to help you feel more confident about buying their product. If you’re trying to put on quality muscle mass and need a tasty protein powder blend, you can’t go wrong with Muscle Pharm Combat Powder. PROS – A blend of slow, medium and fast releasing proteins with additional BCAAs. Tastes great and mixes well. CONS – Some found batches inconsistent or the product was personally too sweet for them. |
Orgain
Organic Plant Based Protein
Price
Our Rating
- 21g of protein per serving
- Blend of pea and rice protein and chia seeds
- No sugar
- Non-GMO, gluten free and vegan
- No artificial ingredients
- Certified organic
Orgain is a well established brand in the plant based protein space and continues to dominate.
The protein blend orgain offers is organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein and chia seeds. The combination of rice and pea means that you get a full profile of essential amino acids in high concentrations.
Pea protein is low in methionine which rice protein is high in, and rice protein is low in lysine which pea protein is high in. Both are high in all the other essential amino acids.
This makes Orgain’s blend as good as, if not better, than a whey protein product.
Orgain’s protein blend also gives you 21g of protein per serving, which meets the threshold of 20g, as ideally you want a protein powder that offers 20g or more.
Other plant based powders tend to offer around 18g per serving, so Orgain is a much better choice to get more protein for your money.
Orgain also offers a much nicer tasting product than others on the market. Of course this is debatable as we all have different tastes, but many plant based powders tend to be quite simply put awful when it comes to taste.
Orgain has made the effort to make their product palatable and their reviews back this up.
Orgain also has no sugar in it but is sweetened by stevia. It is worth noting that not everyone’s palate accepts stevia but stevia is a safe sweetener to consume.
Orgain mixes well and comes in two amazing flavors: Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge and they both rock.
PROS – A complete plant-based protein blend which mixes well and is tasty.
CONS – Some found it difficult on theri digestion.
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OrgainPlant Based Protein Blend
Orgain is a well established brand in the plant based protein space and continues to dominate. The protein blend orgain offers is organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein and chia seeds. The combination of rice and pea means that you get a full profile of essential amino acids in high concentrations. Pea protein is low in methionine which rice protein is high in, and rice protein is low in lysine which pea protein is high in. Both are high in all the other essential amino acids. This makes Orgain’s blend as good as, if not better, than a whey protein product. Orgain’s protein blend also gives you 21g of protein per serving, which meets the threshold of 20g, as ideally you want a protein powder that offers 20g or more. Other plant based powders tend to offer around 18g per serving, so Orgain is a much better choice to get more protein for your money. Orgain also offers a much nicer tasting product than others on the market. Of course this is debatable as we all have different tastes, but many plant based powders tend to be quite simply put awful when it comes to taste. Orgain has made the effort to make their product palatable and their reviews back this up. Orgain also has no sugar in it but is sweetened by stevia. It is worth noting that not everyone’s palate accepts stevia but stevia is a safe sweetener to consume. Orgain mixes well and comes in two amazing flavors: Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge and they both rock. PROS – A complete plant-based protein blend which mixes well and is tasty. CONS – Some found it difficult on their digestion. |
Which Protein Powders Are Best For?
Some protein powders are better for different types of goals or lifestyles. Here we take a look at the most common goals and lifestyles people have and what the best protein powder options are for those.
It can be super hard to know what protein powder to buy when you’re just starting out. That’s why I’ve put together this quick little checklist so you’ll know exactly what one to buy at first glance.
For Muscle Gain
Whey protein has been shown time and time again to promote an increase in muscle mass and strength as well as being pretty darn good at aiding recovery. Whey protein can be in either concentrate or isolate form. Concentrate tends to be cheaper but provides less protein by weight.
For the best whey protein for muscle gain we recommend:
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein – You really can’t go wrong with Optimum Nutrition products. Their Gold Standard whey offers a blend of whey protein isolate. concentrate and peptides. Each serving gives you 24g of protein and also contains 5.5g of naturally occurring BCAAs.
- Isopure Zero Carb Whey Isolate – This offers 25g of whey protein isolate per serving.
- Dymatize ISO – Dymatize also offers 25g of whey protein isolate per serving and is another great brand to choose.
For Weight Loss
Whey, casein or a whey/casein blend seems to be the best choice for those looking to lose weight. Casein offers a steady stream of protein which can help keep hunger at bay and allow you to feel full for longer. Whey on its own has also been shown to be beneficial to hunger and fat loss. This is one of the biggest issues for those losing weight – not overeating, so to consume something that can help keep hunger away seems like a great tactic. A combination of the 2 of a choice of whey or casein seems to be a good call.
- Jay Robb Grass Fed Whey Protein – A deliciious product with several different flavors to choose from. You get 25g of whey protein isolate per serving.
- Muscle Pharm Combat – Muscle Pharm’s Combat offers a protein blend of whey concentrate, whey isolate, when hydrolysate, micellar casein and egg whites. This gives you fast, medium and slow releasing proteins. A mixture that offers 25g of protein per serving and will certainly keep you full and content for longer.
For Vegetarians/Vegan
Here are some quality plant-based protein powders to choose from, containing mixed and single sources of plant protein.
- Sun Warrior Classic Plus Plant Based Protein Blend – SunWarrior’s blend includes rice, peas, quinoa, chia and amaranth. It contains 20g per serving. Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Blend – Orgain is a blend of rice and pea protein as well as chia seeds. It gives yuo 21g of protein per serving.
- Naked Rice Protein – Naked Rice offers 25g of protein per serving and uses organic sprouted rice for better digestibility. Rice protein has been shown to be just as effective as whey so you can be assured you’ll be providing it with what your body needs.
For Those Following The Paleo Diet
There are lots of paleo protein choices these day. Here we suggest 3 of the best quality on the market:
- Julian Bakery’s Paleo Protein – This product gives you 25g of protein per serving from pure grass-fed beef. It also comes in several flavors if you require it too.
For A Seriously Tasty Protein Powder
- MTS Nutrition Whey Protein – Choose MTS Nutrition. They have some seriously tasty flavors to choose from, like Cookies & Cream, Birthday Cake, Key Lime Pie and Peanut Butter Fluff to name a few. They also only contain 2gs of sugar, so you can get somethign seriously tasty with low sugar content.
Buying Guide – How To Choose The Best Protein Powder
To give you some confidence in picking out an exceptional protein product, it is best to follow a few simple rules when looking at different choices.
Lifestyle/Goals
First make sure you know why you want a protein powder and how it needs to fit into your lifestyle. If you are vegetarian or vegan, then you may not want to have a powder made from beef.
If vegan you may want to avoid dairy sources as well. If you simply can’t consume dairy or egg as you are allergic, then you may want to consider a plant based protein like rice which is hypoallergenic but still provides you with a great source of protein.
What are you goals? Do you want to lose weight or gain muscle or both? Consider what you want it for. We have a great section here on what we consider the best proteins are for different circumstances. So keep scrolling.
Do You Need It?
As well as determining your goals, consider whether you really need it. If you are getting plenty of protein in your diet, than buying a protein powder may actually be a waste of time.
Consider if a powder is going to benefit you and your lifestyle, or whether it is not needed because your diet is pretty much packed full of protein already.
Make Sure Your Product Actually Has A Decent Amount Of Protein
Some products have a very small amount of protein in them but because its labelled a protein product you may not think to take a look. Most products typically lie between 20 and 30gs of protein per serving. Ideally around 25g is a good choice. Anything under 20g is not worth your time when there are so many products on the market to choose from.
Choose Few Ingredients
Go with a product that has few ingredients. Many products can have high amounts of preservatives and additives that you are much better off avoiding.
It is best to stick with products that contain only one ingredient – the protein source itself. However if you are looking at blend options, of course only the protein sources themselves.
If you want a product that offers flavor, go for the ones that do not have added sugar and those that use natural flavors like vanilla bean.
Avoid at all costs those products that have a ton of ingredients and many you have no clue what are.
Avoid High Sugar
Now in some cases you may want a flavored product which will inevitably contain sugar or some sweeteners. Some can have a lot of it in it.
Look for products that have less than 4g of sugar and preferably less than 2g of sugar. If you have to pick between sugar and artificial sweeteners, opt for sugar.
RECAP: Consider your lifestyle and goals when buying. Opt for low sugar and limited ingredients.
If you want to know more about protein powders and what to look out for when buying them, check out this video:
FAQS
Will Protein Powder Make Me Gain Weight?
This is entirely dependent on your diet and the product you buy. Many products are simply protein with no added calories or carbs. You want to opt for a product like this. You also want to make sure that you really need a protein powder or whether you get plenty of protein in your diet already.
High protein diets have been shown to help you lose more fat. One study show end that given partciipants an extra 56 grams of whey protein per day had them lose 5lbs more at the end of the study, even though they didn’t change anything else in their diet (16).
Another study showed that those whose diet was made up of 30% protein lost 8lbs more weight than those diet contaisn a 15% protein ratio. (17). Satiety was also markedly increased.
On top of that whey protein has been shown to decrease satiety by up to 65%, however this was regardless of the amount of protein that was used in a shake. In fact, the study found that you do not need to take more than 20g in order to gain this effect (18).
Therefore protein powder can be a great weight to aid weight loss rather than make you put on weight. Of course, you do need to make sure you are not consuming too many calories by including in a protein shake to your diet too.
Can I Take Protein If I am Dairy/Lactose Intolerant?
Yes you can. There are many options that are available that do not contain dairy. You can choose from beef, egg or a plant based product such as rice or pea protein.
Wrapping Up
When someone asks me, ‘what is the best protein powder?’ I could go on and on forever. This list of the top 5 protein powders could have easily turned into the top 100 protein powders.
Remember that every body is different and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. But I’m certain there is something on this list for everyone. I’ve tried all of these myself and am happy to recommend every single one.
Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com