10 Best Tasting Protein Powders Reviewed

Buying Guide & FAQ

How We Chose Our Selection of Good Tasting Protein Powders

As with all our guides, we carry out meticulous research to ensure that we are covering off all the important points. We consider everything from taste, to protein content, the other ingredients that might be present, any dietary requirements (vegans for example) along with the price per shake so that we can come up with a range of best-buy options.

Protein powders whilst on the face of it might seem like a generic enough category is very diverse and you can get all kinds of formulas specially designed with your goals in mind. For some the emphasis might be on bulk, for others quick recovery whilst some might be looking for a protein powder to help accelerate weight loss. We consider the important factors like value, quality, and yield as well as taste and blendability. You might be surprised to find out just how little protein content some of the so-called powders out there do have!

We look at all the ingredients, analyze all the customer feedback and reviews in order to pull together our professional and comprehensive guides. All you need to worry about is choosing the flavor that tickles your taste buds!

Ingredients To Look For In Protein Powders

If you are new to the world of Protein Powders there are a couple of key things to first of all be aware of. Many powders do purposefully contain a range of additional ingredients to deliver a wide range of benefits and if you suddenly start consuming lots of protein shakes without doing the appropriate exercise and find you are gaining weight rather than muscle, that could be because you’ve bought a muscle mass builder.

Look out for the following to get you started

• Low Fat (go for somewhere between 1-5 grams)
• Low Carb (go for a range between 1-5 grams)
• High Protein (you want a minimum of 20 grams, up to 30 grams per serving)

It’s really important to review the label of any powder you purchase to see what else has been included. Go for as many natural ingredients as possible and make sure your powder doesn’t contain more than say 7-10 additional ingredients, particularly ones with very scientific names that you are incapable of pronouncing which are probably additives.

Amino Acids – this is a really important ingredient to consider and can be used to create more bulk to the powder. There are two types of Amino Acids to look out for, BCAA and EAA. These represent respectively Branch Chain Amino Acids and Essential Amino Acids.

Branch Chain Amino Acids – these effectively act as Nitrogen carriers so have an anabolic effect, helping the body to synthesize other Amino Acids, circulating and regulating blood sugar levels and are used as an energy source.

Essential Amino Acids – include Tryptophan, Lysine, Methionine,  Phenylananine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, and Leucine.

All of these Amino Acids have vital roles in providing energy to your muscles, to detoxifying the liver, providing antioxidants, aiding digestion, reducing sugar cravings, easing fatigue. The list goes on so when buying a quality protein powder, do make sure that is also has a good concentration of BCAA’s and EAA’s alongside a high protein yield.

FAQ

Q: How many grams of protein can your body absorb at one time?

A: The maximum rate at which a human body can, in theory, absorb whey protein is 8-10 grams an hour. So that 30 gram protein shake your drinking might be digested more quickly than that but it will take time for it to be fully absorbed. You could, in fact, be absorbing protein all day long which is actually why it’s so effective as it is constantly fuelling your body and releasing energy. The key to more effective absorption is to combine the protein with digestive enzymes.

Q: Is whey protein actually effective?

A: You might have noticed that there are lots of different types of protein available including Concentrate, Isolate, Casein, Soy, and Whey. Whey Protein itself also comes in several forms too. Whey is basically an all-natural by-product of milk which occurs during the production of cheese. You probably all remember the nursery rhyme from when you were little right? Little Miss Muffet who enjoyed eating her Curd and Whey! What they didn’t tell you is that she was a pro body-builder!

Look you out for:

• Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC)
• Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate (WPI)
• Cross Flow Micro-Filtered Whey Protein Isolate (CFM)
• Hydrolyzed Whey Peptide (HWP)

Whey protein is fast acting and has a high oxidation rate. For it to be really effective and quickly absorbed it’s best when combined with digestive enzymes.

Q: How long does it take for your body to digest protein?

A: It should take on average 1.5 hours for liquid protein (i.e. in the form of a protein shakes) to pass through the gut to where it needs to be in order to get absorbed by the body. The actual maximum rate at which protein can be absorbed is 8-10 grams per hour.

Q: Do carbs help you absorb protein?

A: Carbohydrates are important because their help your body to release insulin. Higher insulin levels in your body then assist the muscles to absorb amino acids. So the right carbohydrates can provide better protein absorbing results.

Q: What are the side effects of whey protein?

A: With a high-quality whey protein there should be no adverse side effects. Whey is quickly easily absorbed and provides plenty of essential amino acids too so should help develop lean body mass. It’s generally safe for anyone to use.

If it’s taken in excessively high doses you might suffer from nausea, increased thirst, bloating, reduced appetite and maybe headaches but these are not common symptoms.

On the positive side, with regular intake of whey protein, you can expect to see enhanced and accelerated muscle development.

Q: Can whey protein affect your kidneys?

A: There is scientific evidence to support that a diet very high in protein can affect kidney function and may cause accelerated kidney damage only to those people already affected by kidney disease. If you have diabetes, kidney disease or any kind of liver damage you should be careful about the amount of protein you are consuming daily.

Look for the USP symbol on your chosen protein. This denotes that the protein has met certain industry standards and criteria with regards to the purity and quality of the protein powder content.

Always make sure that you take on board plenty of good old water to help flush everything effectively through your system and ensure that you are optimally hydrated throughout the day.

Q: How many grams of protein do you need to build muscle?

A: If your objective is to gain muscle mass then protein is your friend and you are going to need lots of it which is where a protein powder can be a great option. There are only so many eggs and chicken breasts you can eat in one day after all!

As a very general but helpful rule of thumb for both muscle mass and also fat loss, multiply your weight by 1.5 and that should be the total amount of protein you need to be consuming per day. So if you weigh 80 kgs you’re looking at 120 grams of protein. Divide that by 5 or 6 to more manageable amounts so you’re aiming for 20-25 grams of protein per meal or snack. That’s where a protein powder really can be a fantastic option. 2-3 shakes a day and you’ve already covered off half of the daily requirement.

Of course, the recommended amount of protein varies according to the outcome you are looking to achieve and also the amount of activity you regularly undertake. According to sources, the recommended range are as follows:

• Regular healthy adult nonactive = 0.8g per kg of bodyweight
• Endurance athletes like runners and cyclists – 1-1.6g per kg of bodyweight
• Strength Training – 1.2-1.8g per kg of bodyweight
• Power Sports – 1.6-2g per kg of bodyweight
• General Muscle Mass – 1.5g per kg of bodyweight