Albumen Powder

Which Protein Powder Is Best? (Separate The Good From The Bad!)

7 Things to Look Out for When Choosing Your Protein Powder

START HERE! Take our FREE 1 Minute Quiz to find out EXACTLY what Diet & Training is Best for You. Take The Quiz START HERE! Take our FREE 1 Minute Quiz to find out EXACTLY what Diet & Training is Best for You. Take The Quiz

Learn what your protein powder supplement should have if you want to build lean muscle, shed unwanted fat, and improve strength fast.

7 Things to Look Out for When Choosing Your Protein Powder

1. 90% Whey Protein for Superior Absorption

When choosing your protein supplement, go with the one that best supports protein absorption. Choosing supplements with low-protein absorption won’t give you the results you want.

Make sure to grab the ones made of pure protein. Protein powder shouldn’t contain any unnecessary fillers or calories the body will only store as fat.

On the other hand, fast-reacting protein supplements can stimulate the body’s anabolic system. This type of whey protein is important to incorporate into your post-workout routine to maximize the anabolic window.

Anabolic Window: The anabolic window is the 30-minute time frame after a workout where the body shifts from a catabolic state to an anabolic one. During this window, the muscle needs as many nutrients as possible to recover properly.

2. Fast-Acting BCAAs

BCAAs are three of the nine essential amino acids that make up about 35% of our body’s muscle mass. The main role of BCAAs is to support muscle recovery and prevent muscle breakdown simultaneously.

As a gym-goer, taking protein powder supplements with fast-acting BCAAs allows you to recover from an intense gym day faster than you would without taking it.

Plus, BCAAs decrease the chances of your body burning protein. Instead, they feed the protein directly to your muscles.

It’s best to take BCAA-filled protein powder supplements after your workout, on recovery days, and calorie-restricted time frames.

BCAAs: The acronym stands for Branch-Chained Amino Acids. You can take them as a standalone supplement or use protein supplements that utilize them.

3. High Bioavailability

When it comes to whey protein, every second counts. As we said, the body needs to absorb the nutrients within 30 minutes of finishing a workout.

That’s why gym-goers should only choose protein supplements with a high bioavailability rate. Every single gram of protein, carbs, and other nutrients should go directly to your body.

The body only benefits from your supplement’s nutrients if it successfully absorbs them. Otherwise, it’ll just leave you bloated and gassy with zero results.

Bioavailability: It is the portion of a supplement, drug, or any substance that allows the components to successfully enter the body’s circulation.

4. Meal Replacement

When dieting, the goal is to eat fewer calories throughout the day. Sadly, most low-calorie foods don’t give us the energy we need to last extended hours without food.

To counter this, many gym-goers count on food supplements to get longer-lasting energy. But the question is: what food supplement can we use as a meal replacement?

Keep in mind that not every protein powder supplement out there is a suitable meal replacement. Most of them don’t have enough fast-acting protein and amino acids for gym-goers to source their energy from.

That’s why you need to use a whey protein supplement that provides an array of nutrients the body can absorb and convert to energy. As opposed to solely relying on food, using whey protein may help you lose weight faster without sacrificing lean muscle mass.

Tip: Feel free to pair this supplement with some high-protein foods to maximize the results from your protein diet plan for weight-loss or muscle gain.

START HERE! Take our FREE 1 Minute Quiz to find out EXACTLY what Diet & Training is Best for You. Take The Quiz START HERE! Take our FREE 1 Minute Quiz to find out EXACTLY what Diet & Training is Best for You. Take The Quiz

5. Non-GMO

Before taking any type of supplement, make sure the label says its all-natural and non-GMO. Consuming artificially sourced supplements may lead to health complications.

Apart from delaying the gains, your body might react negatively if you consume too much of a GMO. Plus, creating GMO’s is not only a health hazard, but it’s also a threat to the environment.

GMO: The abbreviation GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Researchers and scientists create this as a cheaper alternative to many organic ingredients.

6. Leucine

Protein supplements will only be effective if you combine them with the right amino acids. Of the nine essential amino acids, leucine plays one of the most important roles.

In fact, leucine is responsible for activating the protein compounds. It’s the amino which allows the body to reap the full benefits of a protein powder supplement.

Plus, it can also lower the body’s blood sugar by releasing insulin from the pancreas. This is good news for fitness buffs who struggle with high blood sugar.

That’s why when choosing your protein supplement, make sure to go with one that has a good amount of amino acids such as leucine.

7. Taste

Let’s face it: everybody hates foul-tasting protein powder. You shouldn’t force yourself to stomach a whole bottle of a protein shake that tastes like rotten fruit and smells like rotten cheese –even if it has insane amounts of protein.

That’s why you should only use easy-to-mix, delicious protein powder supplements. You’re making enough sacrifices as it is. There’s no need to down protein shakes that taste terrible.

Tip: Drinking the same protein shake every day can get boring. To prevent this, try some delicious, exciting protein shake recipes every now and then.

It’s a great way to spice up your post-workout routine. Plus, it’ll give you something new to look forward to after an intense training session.

Watch the video below and find out what bodybuilding supplements Vince of V Shred takes every day and night:

Overall, these are the top seven things you need to keep an eye out for when buying your protein supplements. Make sure you only purchase the brand that checks all of these boxes.

If you want to maximize the benefits of whey protein, you need to combine it with regular exercise and healthy dieting. Create a body-specific fitness plan that aligns with your lifestyle, goals, and needs then stick to it. No excuses!

What do you look for in a protein powder supplement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments sections below!

Up Next: Best Supplement for Weight Loss

How to Pick the Best Protein Powder: Quick & Easy Guide

Protein powders are famous for muscle building and post-workout shakes. But protein is a critical nutrient that’s good for so much more than your biceps. In fact, protein is the building block for nearly every tissue in your body, including bones, muscles, skin, and cartilage. You also need protein to help make things like hormones and enzymes. It’s no wonder protein is such a hot topic in health and wellness, especially when it comes to supporting post-gym recovery.

But with all the protein powders flooding supermarket shelves, choosing the right one can be confusing. Whether your goal is weight loss, joint support, or simply finding a delicious meal replacement, this article breaks down some of the most popular protein powders and how to choose the right supplement for your goals.

In this article you will learn about:

Whey Protein Concentrate

Probably the best studied and most used protein powder on the market, whey is a cow milk derived powder with a full array of essential and non-essential amino acids, including muscle building branch chain amino acids (BCAAs).

Whey protein concentrate is the liquid part of milk that separates from the curds during the cheesemaking process. It’s super high in protein and contains some fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals.

It’s excellent for weight loss and building lean muscle. Since it can help decrease your cravings and build a stronger immune system, it’s perfect as a meal replacement you can use any time of day. When choosing a whey concentrate, make sure it’s organic and sourced from grass-fed, pastured cows.

Whey Protein Isolate

Whey protein isolate is filtered even further than whey concentrate to remove nearly all traces of lactose, fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol. This makes it a better choice if you suffer from any dairy allergies or sensitivities.

It’s also higher in protein and BCAAs, making it ideal for athletes and bodybuilders looking to build muscle and/or gain weight. All whey protein isolate has to contain at least 90% protein. Each scoop of Natural Force Organic Whey Protein Isolate contains 20 grams of pure protein, 4.5g BCAA, 0gms fat, and less than 1g of sugar.

It’s the perfect protein if you’re looking to boost strength, recovery, or want to keep looking lean.

Why Organic is Important

Pesticide, antibiotic, and hormone-free. Non-organic supplements can contain pesticides, antibiotics, and synthetic hormones that can wreak havoc on your body. For more information on this important difference, check out this article. Higher nutritional value. Animals raised eating and living in alignment with their genes contain more nutrients, antioxidents, and beneficial fats like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and omega-3 fatty acids. When you choose organic, your reap these benefits! Responsible sourcing. To qualify for organic certification, a farmer must practice good land management, the preservation of soil fertility, and the protection of water and air quality. So not only does choosing organic products mean you're caring for yourself; you're also caring for the planet.

Regardless of your goals, organic is always the better choice. Here are a few of the main benefits of choosing an organic protein powder over the conventional alternative:

Choosing the perfect protein (or proteins!) for your body will help you reach your weight loss, lean muscle, weight gain, and/or muscle gain goals or simply provide you with the best meal replacement for busy days.

Do you have a favorite protein powder? Let’s hear about it in the comments below!

(Want articles like this via email? Here's the sign up)

Which Protein Powder Is Best? (Separate The Good From The Bad!)

Which protein powder is best? Given the seemingly endless options, you may be at a loss. Don't worry. Here, I cover everything you need to know to pick the right type of protein powder.

If you’ve seen any of my supplement articles, then you know I’m a big fan of protein powder. Why? Simply because of its practicality. And, not forgetting, the various advantages and potential muscle-building benefits it can provide. But once you do decide that you’re ready to invest in a protein powder, it’s important that you first get well-informed on 2 aspects, which are the:

Differences between the various types of protein powders out there AND Things to look for and things to avoid when comparing different brands

And these are exactly the things I'm going to cover here. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what type of protein is right for you - and how to separate the good from the not-so-good options out there.

Of course, by now, you should know that supplementation is useless if you’re not training correctly. That's why I've designed every BWS program to be an all-in-one, science-based process that’ll get you to your dream physique FAST. And best of all? It's all rooted in science. So, before we begin:

Click the button below to take my analysis quiz to discover the best program for you:

Take The Starting Point Quiz Here!

What Type Of Protein Powder Is The Best?

First, let’s cover what type of protein powder may be best for you. As you probably already know, there is an overwhelming amount of different protein powders on the market. But here's the truth. Research has made it clear that Whey protein comes out on top.

This is because Whey protein has 2 advantages; it's:

Higher in leucine, which is one of the most important amino acids for muscle growth AND

More effectively absorbed and used by the body when compared to various other protein powders and other protein sources in general

Casein protein comes in at a close second. It contains slightly less leucine and overall protein content. But it is a much slower digesting protein than Whey. In theory, this would mean that Casein would be the more effective option to take as a pre-sleep meal. That's because it would allow us to stimulate protein synthesis overnight. However, recent research seems to suggest that any high-quality protein, such as Whey, would do the job just as effectively.

Which Of The Whey Protein Powder Types Is Best?

So, Whey seems to be the best option. But Whey protein can be further broken down into 3 types: Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, and Whey Hydrolysate.

The main difference is that Whey Concentrate can range anywhere from 35-80% protein. And typically contain the highest amount of lactose, carbs, and fats. Whereas Whey Isolates, although typically a bit more costly, have to go through an additional filtration process. And are required to be at least 90% protein by weight. As a result, Whey Isolates have considerably less fat and carbs. Hydrolysates, on the other hand, are whey concentrates or isolates that have been “pre-digested”. This is believed to help with its absorption. That said, research has not shown Hydrosylates to be any more effective at increasing size or strength than the other two options. And yet - is typically the most expensive option.

So, essentially it’s like buying chicken. Whey concentrates can be thought of as chicken thighs. They deliver a good amount of protein. But come with additional fat and calories. Whereas whey isolate can be thought of as chicken breast. It's a bit more costly than thighs. But packs a much higher protein content with less fat and calories. Whereas whey hydrolysate could be thought of as extra lean ground chicken breast. It goes through a bit more processing, is typically the most expensive option, yet delivers the same amount of protein relative to calories, fats, and carbs as chicken breast does.

Meaning that for the best bang for your buck, for most people, a good quality Whey isolate protein is your best bet. It delivers the highest amount of protein. And is slightly better for those who are lactose intolerant or tend to have digestive issues.

If you wish to get more guidance on this, don't worry. Our 3-on-1 coaching program can help. Our 3-on-1 coaching program takes the guesswork out of supplementation, training, nutrition, and even mobility work - so you can focus on what matters: making gains. If you're interested:

Click the button below to find out more about the 3-on-1 coaching program:

Find Out More!

What About Plant-Based Protein Powders?

Now, as for plant-based options, this can be a good option if you have intolerances or sensitivities to Whey. The problem with plant-based proteins though is that they tend to be deficient in certain Essential Amino Acids. And are, therefore, less effective at promoting protein synthesis than Whey is. But, research has shown that you can partially compensate for this by combining different plant-based sources.

For example, pea protein is low in the essential amino acid Methionine. Whereas rice protein contains considerably more Methionine. But is low in the essential amino acid Lysine. Meaning that when you look for a plant-based protein powder, one with a good blend of rice and pea protein would likely be the best option. Soy protein, although subject to much controversy, is another good plant-based protein powder. That's because it has a good amount of all the essential amino acids. And is, therefore, worth considering.

Separating The Good Protein Powder Brands From The Bad

By now, you should have a clear idea of the best type of protein powder that suits your needs. The next step is learning how to separate the good brands from the not-so-good brands. Because unfortunately, there’s a lot of “tricks” that supplement companies can use to deceive you. And to help us out with this is researcher Bill Willis, who has done a considerable amount of research and work on this exact topic.

Here's a list of things to avoid in your protein powder.

Proprietary Blends

The first thing to look for, or avoid, is the use of something called proprietary blends. This could look something like the following on the nutrition label: Protein blend (Whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate). By using a blend in the label instead of just a single protein source (e.g. “Whey isolate”), companies don’t have to disclose the individual amount of each ingredient in the blend. This means that for a protein blend like the following, you could be getting:

Mostly (e.g. 97%) whey concentrate BUT

Only a small amount (e.g. 3%) of whey isolate

... In which case what you’re buying is just a more expensive whey protein concentrate. In addition, whey concentrates aren’t held to the same standards as Whey isolates are. That means they could also get away with using a very poor quality whey protein concentrate. For example, one that is only 60% in protein rather than the 80% protein content - which is what a decent whey concentrate should have.

This, again, would just reduce the amount of protein you’re actually getting relative to the additional calories, fats, and carbs you’d be consuming.

To avoid falling into these traps, look at the nutrition label. More specifically, look at the amount of protein you’re actually getting relative to the total scoop size. For example, one protein powder brand can deliver 25g of protein for a 35g scoop. Whereas another seemingly identical product could only deliver 20g of protein for that same 35g scoop.

So, pay attention to those two numbers. Aim to find a protein powder that doesn’t have a very big discrepancy between them. Otherwise, you’ll be paying for less of what you really need (protein) and instead just getting more of the extra “junk” and fillers.

Protein Spiking

The next trap you want to avoid falling for is something called protein spiking. This is a loophole that can allow supplement companies to put in less protein than what’s actually listed on the label. Something you should know is that the FDA determines what the protein content of a powder is by testing for its overall nitrogen content. And so, what some companies will do is add cheap nitrogen-containing compounds into their formula. For example, BCAA’s or creatine. And this artificially boosts the amount of protein they can claim on the label. So in this case, you think you’re getting a certain amount of protein - but are actually getting much less.

To avoid this, again, just take a closer look at the nutrition label. It should be pretty straightforward what’s included in there. You should only see a handful of ingredients at most.

Avoid terms like “protein blends”, “amino acid matrix” or “amino acid blends”.

In addition, look for brands that fully disclose the amino acid profile of their protein. This helps indicate that they’re fully transparent about the specific amino acid content of their product. And are, therefore, less likely to have spiked it.

Contamination

The last and final thing to look out for is contamination. Third-party testing results from a 2018 analysis by the Clean Label Project found that among 134 tested protein powders, the vast majority of them had detectable levels of :

Heavy metals AND

Plastic derivatives

... As a result of their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices.

Now, detectable doesn’t mean dangerous. But many of these protein powders did indeed have levels that surpassed the acceptable levels. Which is something you’d obviously want to avoid. And this is a common occurrence because supplement companies aren’t required to test their products for contaminants. And are instead left voluntarily to run those tests if they wish to pay the additional costs.

Which as you’d expect, many companies don’t do. So to minimize your risk as a consumer, simply do a little bit of digging. Find out what their testing protocols are and specifically what they test for. Looking for certifications such as NSF and GMP on their website are also good signs and indications that they take their quality-control practices seriously.

Key Points To Keep In Mind

So, to sum the article up, here are the main points to keep in mind and look out for when purchasing your protein:

Whey isolate protein is likely the best bang for your buck. If going for a plant-based option, opt for a mixed protein powder (e.g. rice/pea protein). Avoid powders with proprietary blends by looking closely at the nutrition label. There should not be a ton of listed ingredients (e.g. “blends”). Nor should there be a big gap between the actual protein you get per serving compared to the total serving size. To potentially avoid harmful levels of contaminants, do some research on the quality-control practices and testing protocols of the manufacturer.

The Additional Effort Is Worth It

If you’re going to be investing in protein, it’s worth putting in the additional effort to ensure that what you’re getting is a high-quality product aligned with your specific goals.

And for a step-by-step program that applies this same level of science and detail to your workouts, nutrition, and supplementation so that you can truly transform your body in the most efficient way possible, then:

Click the button below to take my analysis quiz to discover the best program for you:

Take The Starting Point Quiz Here!

And a big thank you to Bill Willis from for his help today. For those unfamiliar with it’s a free database of unbiased nutrition and supplement information led by a team of scientists and researchers. If you want to learn more about any specific supplement and the current state of the research for that supplement, then I’d highly recommend that you check them out.

Anyways that’s it for today guys! I hope you all enjoyed it! Don’t forget to give me a follow and connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube as well, in order to stay up to date with my content.

By the way, here’s the article summed up into a YouTube video:

Eric Carter

LEAVE A REVIEW