Tens of thousands of shelves nationwide are stocked with protein powders in thousands of variations. These supplements aren’t just for body builders or even regular gym goers, despite their widespread use in helping people acquire and maintain muscle. Aynsley Kirshenbaum, a personal trainer and nutritionist, says protein powder is excellent for vegetarians. or fussy eaters in children. Kirshenbaum gives her kids’ macaroni and cheese a protein powder addition.
Every dietitian we spoke with emphasized that it is not advisable for anyone to try to thrive just on protein powder. Rather, it ought to serve as an addition to three well-proportioned, high-protein meals throughout the day; as noted by dietitian Heidi Skolnik, “no powder is giving you something you won’t get from nuts, eggs, or fish.” Kaleigh Tjoelker, a registered dietitian, concurs, saying, “I always encourage my clients to focus on whole foods to meet their nutrition needs.” “A balanced diet should be supplemented with protein powder. However, some individuals, such as athletes with extremely high protein requirements, travelers, and vegan or plant-based athletes, can benefit from protein powders. Additionally, if you take protein supplements following a workout,
Now Sports Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate – Unflavored, 1.2 Pounds
After testing hundreds of powders, I’ve found that Now Sports’ unflavored variety is the most adaptable. I’ve been using it for the past year. I enjoy combining the flavorless powder with simply water and downing it quickly when I’m pressed for time and don’t have the energy to prepare a complex shake with other ingredients. I’ve combined it with yogurt and granola bowls, and other than a minor alteration in texture, I don’t really taste the difference. This protein powder also comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors, both of which are sweetened with stevia, if you would rather have some taste. Like I did with the Podium protein powder below, I added a scoop of the vanilla version to pancake batter to make protein pancakes, and I enjoyed how the flavor wasn’t overbearing.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey – Double Rich Chocolate, 2 Pounds
This whey-protein powder from Optimum Nutrition is the most well-liked brand among the dietitians and fitness professionals I’ve talked to (you may have seen the brand’s recognizable packaging at the supplements store.) Trainer Taj Felix informed us that many people in his field use this chocolate-flavored whey-protein powder as well. It is made from a blend of whey isolate and concentrate. Felix has been using it for eight years. (Optimum Nutrition was mentioned by Berkow as a reliable brand.) Felix claims that the fact that this powder contains few ingredients contributes to its allure. He describes himself as a chocolate lover and claims that this powder tastes great, mixes well, and is never chalky. Vanilla and milk-chocolate tastes are also available.
Cellucor Cor Sport Whey Protein, Vanilla, 1.8 lb.
If you’re more of a vanilla person than a chocolate lover, celebrity trainer Steve Uria claims that this whey-protein powder, which is made up of whey isolate and concentrate, has the fewest ingredients out of the 10 he’s tasted. After using it for four years, Uria told us he has never had gas or bloating after drinking it. Uria occasionally choose the brand’s peanut-butter marshmallow taste, even though his favorite flavor is vanilla.
Podium Whey Protein Powder – Maple Butter Pancake
I utilized Podium’s whey as my primary protein supplement for weight training in 2022 due of its consistency—it’s the finest protein powder I’ve attempted to incorporate into shakes and smoothies. Compared to other powders on this list (such as Orgain’s Organic Plant-Based, Momentous Essential Grass-Fed, and Optimum Gold Standard), Podium’s powder is finer and doesn’t clump together as much when mixed or stirred. Instead of the typical chocolate or vanilla flavors, Podium offers two extremely sweet flavors: Peanut Butter Crunch and Maple Butter Pancake, which I’ve mixed into regular pancake batter to make protein pancakes with blueberries or bananas, a new favorite recipe of mine. That’s an additional
Momentous Essential Grass-Fed Whey Protein
Because of its delicate chocolate flavor and easy mixing into other foods like oatmeal and smoothies, this whey-protein powder is my personal favorite and the one I use the most. The nutritionists on our panel believe that the diet of a cow can affect the quality of its whey protein. The milk that cows produced (as well as any whey protein made from it) will be hormone-free if they are fed grass. The whey protein isolate in this chocolate powder comes from grass-fed cows. Fitness expert Jeff Halevy, a former Today show health correspondent, loves it because it’s not too sweet and outperforms about fifteen other protein powders he’s tried. I concur. It tastes similar
Klean Athlete Klean Isolate – Unflavored
As a registered dietitian who works with athletes—many of whom are tennis players—Kaleigh Tjoelker pays close attention to protein powders that have earned the NSF certification, which guarantees that the product is free of prohibited ingredients. Tjoelker has a preference for this NSF-certified, basic Klean whey-isolate blend. The absence of artificial sweeteners, which are “common in protein powders to provide sweetness without extra carbs or calories,” is another feature she appreciates about this blend. But protein powders taste extremely sweet because of these sugars. Additionally, because it is flavorless, blending it into various drinks and smoothies is a breeze.
Genius Whey Protein Powder
Oscar Colon IV, a personal trainer, suggests this protein powder because of its combination of slow- and fast-releasing proteins. While the egg-white protein takes longer to digest and is released in the hours that follow while you recuperate, the whey isolate in it is an instant-release protein. Colon says, “Your body breaks down proteins into individual amino acids and rearranges, refolds, and transforms them into whatever is needed at the time when you ingest them.” He suggests this powder to people looking to gain muscle while limiting gains in excess body fat because he likes the macronutrient breakdown per serving (24 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of total fat).
Iconic Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder – 1 lb.
Barry’s chief instructor Kate Lemere says that this has been her go-to powder for years and likes it for its simple ingredients list. “When I was breastfeeding, my daughter had a milk intolerance, so I used it through a lot of different seasons of my life.” Lenere adds that is has a good calorie-to-protein ratio, and she often reaches for Iconic’s premixed protein shakes on busy days: “On the days I don’t want to mess with my Vitamix, I like the premade bottles — it‘s convenient.”
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Collagen-based protein powders are becoming a more popular supplement because of their supposed benefits for skin and hair, although they are less effective for developing muscle. Kirshenbaum like them since she has trouble breaking down whey. Model and actress Molly Sims claims she “feels younger” and has noticed improvements in her skin and hair after using this Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder for six months in all of her smoothies and drinks. This powder contains collagen, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.
Now Sports Unflavored Pea Protein Isolate, 2 lb.
Similar to Alexander, Ebonny Fowler, a fitness coach, likes unflavored protein powder since it’s easier to combine with other components. She does, however, eat primarily plant-based foods, so she searches for powders that have “no added sugar, preservatives, or fillers” and pea protein isolate. Although her go-to protein powder is temporarily sold out, this one from Now Sports, a company that several trainers and nutritionists have recommended, has a comparable recipe and only contains pea protein isolate. Make sure to give your shaker and blender bottles a good cleaning before using this protein powder in them. When the container is not cleaned, I’ve noticed that the compounds in pea powder tend to smell more strongly than those in other protein powders.
Orgain Simple Vegan Protein Powder – Vanilla
Tjoelker, who searches for protein powders free of artificial sweeteners—which some people find difficult to handle and may cause stomach aches—recommends this product. “I prefer products with minimal added sugar for a hint of sweetness or without artificial sweeteners,” she states. (Organic coconut sugar is included in this pea-based protein powder, but artificial sweeteners are not present.)
Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Powder, Creamy Chocolate Fudge, 2 lb.
Orgain was recommended as a reliable brand by two of the dietitians we spoke with, and trainer Ray Grayson said he has been using the company’s chocolate-flavored powder for the past two years (after trying more than 20 different varieties). Crafted with a combination of brown rice, chia seed, and pea proteins, it was chosen by Grayson for its flavor and “clean ingredients without a bunch of fillers.”
Vega Sport Premium Protein – Chocolate, 29.5 Oz.
Running coach David Roche notes that as a competitive racer, his primary need in a protein powder is that it contain no substances that could be harmful to his health or cause him to fail a drug test. This powder from Vega Sport, a company Berkow supports, is made from a combination of pea, pumpkin, and sunflower seed proteins. It is NSF-certified, which is one of the main reasons he claims it’s his favorite out of the dozen or so he’s used over the years. One more? Roche describes the powder’s “light chocolate taste” as “smooth and not overpowering.”
Ka’Chava Meal Replacement Shake
Shaun White, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, typically consumes this protein powder in a smoothie after working out. “It’s the only plant-based, protein-shake-type thing that doesn’t make me super gassy,” he says emphatically when explaining why. I’ve tried a lot of them, but after drinking any of the others, I always feel like something is off,” he claims. Ka’Chava markets this drink as a complete meal substitute, so White admits that occasionally he’ll simply combine it with water “in a pinch.” However, his go-to is usually a more balanced combination of the brand’s pea-protein-based chocolate powder mixed with almond or oat milk, along with a banana or avocado.
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