As with any supplement, it is best to consult a physician before beginning a regimen. If using Creatine for serious muscle building, most will begin taking 20-25 grams per day. After about a week’s time, the amount is decreased to 3-5 grams per day. Taking Creatine without muscle building activities may lead to increased water weight gain. In this instance, muscle cramps, dehydration, nausea and vomiting may occur. The use of Creatine has shown to be effective in short-term muscle building when combined with a strength training regimen. However, the use of Creatine has not been evaluated nor is it regulated by the FDA. Some athletes may take Creatine in combination with a high protein supplement such as Whey powder. It is believed that taking the two after exercise can help to boost the storage of Creatine in the muscles.

Whey proteins have also been found to be effective muscle enhancers. It is high quality protein contained in cow’s milk which contains many valuable vitamins and nutrients including amino acids and antioxidants. Whey is a by-product of the cheese making process. When milk is curdled and separated, the liquid remaining is whey. This liquid is then further processed and filtered to produce the whey which is then dried into a powder.

There are three types of whey protein—concentrates, isolates and hydrozilates. Whey concentrate is the least expensive to produce but also contains the least amount of protein, ranging from 35% to 85% protein. It also contains the most fat and carbohydrates of the three. Whey isolates that have undergone a micro filtering process can be much safer and more beneficial. These why isolates will retain 90% or more of the protein with all fat and cholesterol compounds removed. It will also retain more of the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties as well. Finally, the whey hydroszilates have undergone a process of predigestion which makes them easier to digest but cuts down greatly on the nutrients available.

The various forms of whey are dried into powder for distribution. These powders are available at both health food stores and supermarkets. Physicians recommend no more than 25 grams of whey protein a day as too much can result in liver conditions. Bodybuilders who wish to take more than 25 grams a day should consult with a health care provider, especially if taking in conjunction with Creatine.

Protein shakes are a great and easy way to fuel your body after a workout. Protein powder is great largely in part because it is portable. Packing up a serving of protein is as easy as grabbing an energy bar, and a lot better for you. A lot of places that sell protein also sell mixer bottles where you put in your protein, put in the liquid you are mixing it with, close the lid, and there’s a metal whisk inside and you shake up the bottle until the protein is not lumpy, and there you go! With those bottles, it is so easy to throw your protein and bottle into a gym bag or back pack and go off to the gym, and it’s ready when you are. Most of the protein comes in three main flavors: Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla. There are also variations of these flavors, like milk or dark chocolate, and french vanilla, to name a few. These options are great because you can mix different things like fruits or vegetables with each flavor for a combination of your choice. Whey protein also tends to be very low in sugar, unlike weight loss shakes like Slim Fast. Because of this, people find that they like to use whey protein as a meal replacement shake as well.

There are many businesses who sell whey protein, such as GNC and Beach Body, and even famous people and companies like Jillian Michaels and the Biggest Loser corporation have put their names on their own brands of this famous powder. So, if you are on a budget and can’t afford to spend three hundred dollars a month on protein, it is okay. There is a form of whey protein that can fit almost any budget–Amazon and Ebay, for example, are a good market if you are looking for a deal.

Enter the magic of whey protein. Women have discovered that not only can whey help with muscle building and repair, but whey can also boost the immune system, aid in weight loss, provide the much coveted antioxidants for cancer fighting, aid in the healing of wounds, and cut down on some effects of aging. To top it off, if the right form of whey is chosen, the fat and cholesterol are only a memory. For those too busy to whip up a three-egg omelet every morning, whey is much easier to consume as well. Available first as a powder, whey can be consumed in easy to make shakes, nutrition bars and cereals. As an added benefit, all of these products are easy to transport as they require no refrigeration.

If whey protein sounds like a possibility, it might be helpful to know a little about what it is and how it is prepared. Whey is a byproduct remaining after milk has been curdled in the production of cheese. It contains many valuable vitamins and nutrients including amino acids and antioxidants. Initially, whey is a liquid by-product. Drying it into a powder makes it much easier to distribute and to use. Whey is most usually available in three different forms: concentrate, isolate, and hydroslate.

Whey concentrate is the most commonly available, and also tends to be the most economical. However, whey concentrate does contain small amounts of fat, lactose and carbohydrates and less protein than its counterpart, whey isolates. The main reason for choosing whey concentrates over whey isolates is cost. Whey in isolate form is much more suitable for those who are lactose intolerant or who are concerned about the fat and carbohydrates in whey concentrate. Whey isolates undergo an additional process in which the fat and lactose are filtered out of the whey leaving them higher in protein. Whey hydroslates are the least recommended of the three forms as they contain the least amount of protein and have an undesirable taste. As with any supplemental program or diet plan, it is best to consult a physician before beginning to add whey protein to a diet, especially for those who are lactose intolerant or have milk allergies.

So in this article we’re going to show you how to effectively read the ingredient label on a whey protein supplement. You know what it is, that big ugly black and white table on the back of everything you eat.

If you are a have a pretty good grasp about macronutrients and understanding of various types and forms of protein, feel free to skip this article. But if you would like to learn more keep reading.

Let’s take for example the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey label.

Ingredients

First things first. Look at the bottom where it says ingredients. The first ingredient listed is protein blend. After that in parenthesis, you will see whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey peptides. What this means is that the largest ingredient by volume is the proprietary protein blend. This protein blend is comprised of three of the various forms of whey protein. The isolate, concentrate, and peptide form. All three have different digestion rates and are processed differently.

Second on the ingredient list are the natural and artificial flavors. This is pretty obvious what it is, and the actual flavoring will depend on what flavor of protein you purchased.

Next up is lecithin. Lecithin is an industrial emulsifier. What that means is that it is used to keep manufactured foods free-flowing and not clumpy. It might seem a little weird to be in your protein, but the majority of processed food has it in it.

The next ingredient salt, which you are very well familiar with, makes up the majority of the 90 mg of sodium in one serving of this particular protein. It is used to help balance the sweetness of the next ingredients.

Acesulfame Potassium is an artificial sweetener that has a low glycemic index and does not contribute much to the total carbohydrates and proteins it is in. For example this particular proteins contains 4 g total carbohydrates, but only 1 g of that being actual sugar. Acesulfame Potassium has a distinct flavor and is used very heavily in the supplement industry. It is not necessarily a bad ingredient, but do know that it is an artificial sweetener.

Next up we have a proprietary ingredient called Aminogen. Aminogen is used protein supplement products. It increases your amino acid levels in your blood plasma by over hundred percent and can help boost the nitrogen retention in the actual proteins by almost 30%. It is a digestive enzyme that helps you absorb your whey better. Nutritionally wise though this ingredient does nothing.

Lastly on the list of ingredients on the sample protein is sucralose and lactase. Sucralose is a sweetener, and lactase is an enzyme that helps you digest milk proteins (whey). Neither one of these ingredients significantly contributes to the nutritional profile.

Vitamins and minerals

Another thing to look for on your nutritional labels is if there are are any added vitamins or minerals. Whey protein, because it comes from milk, contains calcium. On this sample ingredient the FDA says it gives you 10% of your daily calcium. There are no added vitamins. But, with some more expensive and broader supplements that also contain protein, they might also dump in multivitamins.

Macronutrients

Fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Let’s look at these three. This sample weight only contains 1 g of fat which comes from the proteins blend. It also contains 24 g protein. When you look at the sample serving size is one scoop weighing 31 g total, you can see that the majority of this supplement is actual protein.

And of course, like any other protein supplements, there are good bars and there are bad bars. Hopefully this article will help you determine what the best type of protein bar for you will be.

For starters the biggest benefit of a protein bar is that they do not have to be refrigerated. I personally keep a few boxes in my pantry and because they stay fresh for over a year, I don’t have to worry about it.

I’ve even heard about some people feeding their kids protein bars instead of candy bars. While I do agree with the sentiment, unfortunately many of the new protein bars that are hitting the market are full of saturated fats and simple carbohydrates to help give people their sweet tooth craving. Just because it also contains an extra 10 g of protein does not necessarily make it healthy. So keep that in mind when you’re reading the label ingredients.

Speaking of simple carbohydrates – I’m also seen many bars that have sugar alcohols in place of the normal sucrose or other sugars that would be in the bar. Because of the way these chemicals digesting your body, the do not create blood sugar swings like normal sugar would. I personally am not a fan of the way they taste, but if you are looking to reduce the glycemic index of food or want some kind of sweet tasting protein bar, it can be okay.

Many of these protein bars also use hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated palm oil in order to boost the fat content and try and mask the chalky or grainy taste of low-quality proteins used. While the amount of fat in the bar on a macro level is okay, this does really boost the saturated fats level in the bar. If you watch your saturated fats you should really watch out to see what types of oils are used in your protein bar. Otherwise you might be in for a surprise.

And now for protein. There are so many different types of protein bars out there that the market has become very competitive for the manufacturers. Some bars, while having lots of protein, do not actually contain whey. The protein is actually coming from soy.

The others are using a protein blend that contains various forms of whey proteins in isolate, concentrate, and full form. This can provide you a good balance between both value and nutritional content.

And of course, many of the bodybuilding supplement companies have gotten on the whey protein bar bandwagon. For the most part, they use just whey protein to supply the protein ratio. These are the ones we prefer, and of course what we recommend that you get as well.

The Organic Whey

Then this is what you need.

All Organic

This is a new entry into the organic whey protein class. If you don’t know much about organic whey, you can assume a few things:

It’s going to come from healthier cows.
It’s going to be rBST and BGH free.
It’s going to be very healthy for you.

The Organic Whey delivers on all three.

This isn’t a cheaply made protein, and it has a price point to match. But few other companies care about the cows from whey comes from of the sustainability of their product. Most people who shop organic care about this.

What’s In It?

The protein is a whey protein concentrate. They have managed to remove the fat totally and it has 8mg of cholesterol per 15g of protein per serving.

The amino acid profile looks good on it too: high amounts of glutamic acid and lysine.

Other than that – it’s whey. No flavors or added sweetners here. This is always an added plus since you can manage your own GI load with a whey like this, or throw in extra fats like flax oil or peanut butter to get a good fat/protein macro ratio.

Drinkability

Like most other unflavored, minimally processed wheys you need to mix this in well. It works fine in every liquid we threw at it (dairy, soy milk, and good ole H2O) with a blender or shaker.

Digestion is fine, aftertaste is fine. You can drink it unflavored if you want or mix in whatever you want. It’s a good base.

The Bottom Line

If you looking for a good organic whey protein powder, this is it.4.25 out of 5 stars

Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein Protein

What if you could gain muscle while sleeping?

It might not make sense, but…

a slow digesting protein can be great for you.

It’s not obvious at first, especially when you’re used to getting protein to your muscles right after a workout. That’s a great time to start promoting muscle growth, but the window of opportunity is small.

What if there was a way to trickle in the muscle building protein over a few hours? If you’re sleep 6-8 hours a day, why not make that time as anabolic as possible?

Enter Casein Protein

Unlike whey protein which your body can quickly absorb, casein protein takes much longer to absorb. We’re talking hours here.

Casein is pH sensitive – this means that when it hits your stomach, it combines together into a gel that is harder to digest. Most other proteins start to break apart in the stomach acid though.

Once it hits your digestive track, it’s going to be slowly broken down and absorbed over time. So as you sleep, your body will keep getting protein.

What’s In It?

ON has a great profile on this casein. 24grams per scoop, with a killer amino acid composition. It’s also very calcium rich owing to it’s two types of casein proteins – one of which is calcium caseinate.

Only 1 gram of fat.

I’m a fan of ON – I like their flavors and protein quality. I’ve never been let down by getting gassy or indigestion from them either.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to add a good nighttime protein, this is the place to start. 4 out of 5 stars

Allmax Isoflex

Highlights

• Lots of whey protein fractions
• non-gmo
• 4 way recovery blend

High Quality Protein

Since the protein makes up the bulk of isoflex, let’s start there. Allmax’s protein comes from a cold processed, cross flow micro filtered whey protein isolate. This means the muscle building portions have been extracted away from the lactose, fat, and milk.

They list the whey fraction breakdown as:

* beta lactalbumin 49%
* alpha lactalbumin 21%
* glycomacropeptides 16%
* immunoglobulin 9%
* bsa 1%
* egf 2%
* IGF 1 1%
* lactoferrin 1%

I’m impressed by this. It’s hard to find companies releasing the actual fraction breakdown of their product.

Regarding the IFG-1 in this protein – some people avoid IGF-1 like the plague. Others would gladly say “more, please!” Because of it’s anabolic activities. At 1% of the total the effects are going to be small (in my opinion), but at least be aware it’s there as a listed ingredient.

NOS + glutamine + IS = supplement buffet

Alright here’s where isoflex makes a play and start to differentiate itself. The most interesting part of this powder lies in the three other complexes Allmax included.

First off, you’ve got a little over 4 g of glutamine peptides. Your body drains its glutamine stores by as much as 50% during a good workout. Boosting these low glutamine levels is definitely a good idea to keep your muscles growing, because without it some studies say your immune system has to work harder and you run the risk of muscle breakdown. Not cool. A glutamine supplement can help prevent this.

Next up, you’ve got the is complex of alpha lipoic acid (ala), d-pinitol and 4-hydroxylsoleucine. These chemicals have been shown to increase insulin receptor sensitivity. What does this mean to you? It mean to the carbohydrate stores in your muscles can be replenished faster (getting you to the gym again sooner!)

Lastly, Allmax has thier special NOS complex. While not a full blown nitric oxide supplement in itself, these additives are designed to increase your blood flow. This can help her body digest the whey.

The bottom line

An intriguing protein mix. Get this if you’re looking for a whey protein isolate that will also help your glutamine, insulin, and NOS levels.4.5 out of 5 stars

Labrada Pro V60 Plus

The Claim

“A Blend Of 5 Time-Released Proteins!” –Labrada

Let’s Be Honest Here

You’re not getting 5 time-released proteins with this.

Inside the Pro-V protein blend, I’d break it down into 2 categories:

1. short term digestion: Whey Protein Concentrate, Agglomerated Egg Albumin, Micro Ultrafiltered Whey Protein Isolate, Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate.

Or to keep it simpler – this is a standard whey combination with some egg protein thrown in.

2. long term digestion: Calcium Caseinate, Sodium Caseinate

Digestion rates are different for these two, but let’s be honest here. They are both casein.

You can mix whey isolate with some casein to give a longer anabolic period, and I’m not going to knock doing that if it works for you. But I think you could probably come up with your own blend.

Pricing

I’m finding online prices around $25 for a 1.75 pound jar. Labrada has a recommended dose of 3 scoops per serving, for 60grams protein total though. Hence the V60 name.

At the rate advertised, you’ll go through a jar in right over a week if you take it once a day. No thanks – I’d rather not spend over $100 a month on just one protein source.

At the price, I’d recommend getting a good casein protein powder for bed, and drinking a good whey concentrate post workout.

If you really want the balance from the addition of egg protein too go to the grocery store.

Labrada set some high goals, but I’m just not digging this. It tries to do too much and ends up costing too much.2 out of 5 stars

SNAC Proglycosyn

Highlights

• 50g whey protein
• stacked with creatine, glutamine, and dextrose
• very low-fat

The Claim

“ultimate post workout recovery formula”

Sometimes it can be difficult, after hard workout, to come home and have to create a recovery shake. Proglycosyn gets around this by creating a preset dry mixture of common postworkout supplements. Some people might be fine with just whey protein, but if you are looking for a better anabolic shake keep reading.

Good for your muscles

Your muscles are looking for a quick blast of easy to digest protein immediately after a workout. This is also an ideal time to supplement creatine, glutamine, and any other vitamins bodybuilders like to stack. The real benefit of Proglycosyn is that you get all of these common supplements all at once in your shake – no extra bottles of supplements.

It’s pretty cool.

Each serving will give you 50 g of whey protein, along with 5 g of glutamine and 2 g of creatine. The protein comes in as whey protein isolate, so you know it will hit fast. If you’ve taken the other supplements too you’ll know that the dosing is pretty standard.

What about energy?

You know how tired you feel after a workout? Well, imagine how your poor muscles feel! They will be severely depleted of glycogen — your body’s main source of stored carbohydrate fuel.

To really boost your glycogen levels back up to pre-workout levels, you need to eat carbohydrates with a high glycemic index. Proglycosyn includes dextrose. Dextrose is a simple sugar that your body is capable of turning into glycogen stores very easily.

This will ensure your muscles are ready to go for next time.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an all in one way, glutamine, and creatine stack look no further. Proglycosyn delivers amazing post workout nutrition in one shot. 4 out of 5 stars

Nature's Best Zero Carb Isopure Whey Protein

The Claim

Nature’s Best set out to create a product that didn’t hide anything from its customers.

Does it Deliver?

Ingredient numero uno is Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate. Isopure is going to act fast and digest quickly – this is a fine post workout protein.

Funnily enough the label lists a serving as 2 scoops, when you’ll normally only use 1 scoop for 25g of protein. Keep that in mind or otherwise you’ll burn through this fast!

Low Carb, Low Fat

For one flavor (dutch chocolate) there’s only 110 calories per real serving – definitely puts this in the low carb category. There’s no sugar in here, 2g of fiber, so the total carb count is a negligible 3g.

The other flavors have a label claim of 0 carbs.

I am a little curious how the other flavors use dried berry powders as flavorings, but add no carbs. I think it’s probably due to the sucralose used as a sweetener which would allow for the fruit to be negligible, but still add colorant and flavor.

If you don’t like artificial sweeteners this isn’t the protein for you. But when you go into the low carb category they are the norm.

Lots of Extras

A real plus for Nature’s Best Zero Carb Isopure is the addition of lots of vitamins and L-Glutamine. That will really help if you’re supplementing Glutamine anyway, and if not, it’s going to help muscle recovery and workout endurance.

The powder is also instantized so if you’ve only got a shaker cup you’re good to go. It will of course work well in a blender, too.

It’s sold in 3 and 7.5 pound containers. At the prices you find online, this is definitely a great buy – especially the 7.5 pound tubs. If you’ve never bought it before, don’t start out with that much though. But if you need it…wow, the tubs are giant.

The Bottom Line

Great price on a whey protein isolate. Nature’s Best also throws in vitamins and glutamine in this low carb protein.4.25 out of 5 stars

MuscleTech Mass Tech

The Claim

“Forces massive muscle growth directly on your chest and arms”
“Causes explosive gains in strength fast”
–MuscleTech

I Call Bullshit

There’s no way to target muscle growth to a certain part of your body through supplementation alone.

There’s no way a supplement will cause strength gains. That only comes from *gasp* hard work and stronger muscle fibers.

But you say ‘oh, it’s just the advertising. It’s marketing, cut some slack’. No thanks.

Johnnie Jackson shills for them in some ads claiming “It’s been the hardest for me to pack mass onto my legs and since I’ve turned my attention to using Mass-Tech I’ve had more success and more consistent success in bodybuilding.”

Wait, I though Muscle Tech will cause “growth directly on your chest and arms”?? No wonder Johnnie’s having a hard time packing mass onto his legs!

Is Mass Tech a good supplement? Would it help you gain muscle? Probably – it is basically a combination of whey protein isolate and concentrate, with a little casein and a whole lotta maltodextrin. It’s an advanced blend but must be aimed at people looking for a shortcut.

MuscleTech’s marketing sucks though.

MuscleTech treats you like an idiot. Go somewhere else. Negative -1 star.

Universal Nutrition Ultra Whey Pro

Protein Makeup

Universal Nutrition uses a proprietary protein blend called the Pure Whey Protein Blend. It’s a combination of whey isolate, whey concentrate, and whey hydrolysates.

By volume, the whey concentrate makes up most of the protein in this product.

The whey concentrate is made of a fairly standard peptide grouping, with an emphasis on the Glycomacropeptides (GMP) section. In some studies, GMP has been shown to basically make you feel full after eating protein. It could be effective in post workout appetite control.

The whey isolates and whey hydolysates will be digested quickly by your body. It’s a decent blend that Universal Nutrition has.

Fat/Carb Makeup

Pretty standard profile here. 1.5g total fat, 3.5g total carbs.

Other Ingredients

The label has 2 other points of interest: Glutamine Peptides and Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K).

I’m all for including glutamine in a whey protein – it helps recover your muscles faster, getting you ready for the gym sooner. Unfortunately the actual amount of glutamine per serving is not listed, so I wouldn’t use it a sole glutamine source.

As for the Ace K artificial sweetner, well, I’m not a fan of it’s taste. Some people are really against it, but to cut the total carbs down to 3.5g a serving you’re going to have use artificial sweetners.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing wrong with this whey, but it’s not a stand out either. The whey fractions are solid and they’ve also thrown in glutamine peptides. If you can get a good deal on it, sure, go for it. 3 out of 5 stars

Bioplex Pure WPI

Highlights

• 22g per scoop
• no carbs
• “Pure” whey isolate

What’s In It?

The bulk of each serving is just whey protein isolate – 22 grams of protein per scoop. Bioplex gets the whey isolate via a proprietary cold microfiltration process. This is the industry standard now and it keeps the protein stable and good for your muscles.

It’s also going to be quickly digested. 22 grams is a good serving size – perfect for a post workout drink.

Whey isolates usually mix very well too, and Bioplex Pure WPI is no exception to this.

Price

At around $12-15 a pound this is on the pricey side per jar, but if you’re looking for JUST whey protein it’s a great deal since you’re not paying for additives.

Performance

Some people are very adamant about the flavors. I’d recommend the chocolate (it’s usually a safe bet for any brand). They all contain sucralose (boo), but no Ace K (yay).

Also, if you have trouble digesting whey and it causes you to bloat, keep in mind Bioplex does not include digestive enzymes in the powder. This is in the interest of purity, so either throw in a separate enzyme powder, or try a different brand.

Other than that, Bioplex Pure WPI delivers the goods – quick digesting whey without much junk.

The Bottom Line

This is indeed a pure whey protein isolate. No fat, no sugar carbs. I wish it didn’t have sucralose though. Enjoy!4 out of 5 stars

Dymatize Elite Whey Protein

Right Price

The first big WOW is the price. You can find 5 pound jars of this protein for under $36 online. That’s really good, and much less than what you’ll be paying in a store for lower quality protein. Even compared to better known brands the price is great.

Of course, price doesn’t matter if the ingredients are no good. So let’s check out the two main areas of interest:

Ingredients

24g of protein

Ok, 24 grams is pretty standard here. It’s broken down into Ion exchanged whey isolate and CF Ultra protein concentrate. This means it’s a blend of high-quality whey isolate cut with concentrate. The CF Ultra process does denature some of the whey protein, but it’s still good to go.

117 calories
2g of fat
zero carbs

Some people are advertising this as great for dieters. 117 calories is indeed on the low end of the caloric sale. This is mostly because there are no carbs in Dymatize Elite Whey.

Also, Elite Whey Protein includes a proprietary enzyme blend to help digest the protein. That’s a nice bonus since many other of it’s class do not include digestive enzymes.

Taste

You normally see protein powders with low carbs (like this one) load up on stevia or aspartame to add flavor. Instead, Dymatize uses Acesulfame K for sweetness though. If AceK is a big deal for you, I’d have to say pass on this then. If you don’t mind artificial sweeteners though, it’s okay.

They make 11 flavors so you can definitely find one you like.

Bottom Line

Excellent value. Cuts out lots of the fat and carbs from protein powder, along with a ton of cash off the price.4 out of 5 stars

AllMax Nutrition IsoNatural Whey Protein

Highlights

• 28 grams of just protein
• ultra-low fat, low carb

A True Natural Protein Powder

The ingredients of AllMax Nutrition IsoNatural: whey protein isolate.

That’s it. No colors, no sweetners, no flavorants or anything else added. Just whey isolate. I love it! When I use this in a protein shake, I can balance my intake perfectly.

Is It Good Protein?

When you’re product only has one ingredient it had better deliver, and AllMax does.

This is just a whey protein isolate – the fastest acting, purest form of whey protein you can get. It’s been stripped of most of it’s fat and lactose. What’s left if a hard hitting protein that your body will quickly digest and turn into new muscle fiber.

AllMax uses a cold filtration to prevent the proteins from becoming denatured. This means the protein has been separated out with as much care as possible, while leaving behind much of the whey fractions. These are the active parts of the whey that your body needs.

Taste

Well, it’s about as you’d expect – this is just whey. If you just throw this in some water the final product will be gritty. If you’re hardcore just down this protein and be done.

If you’re more like me, throw in some fruit or milk and drink up. IsoNatural has an enlarged protein size to make it mix easier, and it does mix nicely.

The Bottom Line

You want a natural whey protein? It doesn’t get more natural than IsoNatural! 5 out of 5 stars

Optimum 100% Natural Whey Protein

Highlights

• 24 grams of protein
• no artificial ingredients
• added digestive enzymes

The Claim

“No artificial stuff” –Optimum Nutrition

No Artificial Anything

Let’s look at the label. Protein blend, fructose, natural flavor, lecithin. No artificial flavoring or colorants. The sweetness is provided by a moderate (70mg) addition of stevia per serving – a natural plant with no carbs like sugar, but a very sweet taste.

Optimum Nutrition is right – this is a natural protein, free of additive junk.

How’s The Protein?

Let’s not just judge this protein by what’s not in it. Does it deliver the muscle building goods?

Yes! ON’s gold standard whey is always winning awards for being the best whey protein powder on the market. The protein in this product is a protein blend composed of whey isolates, whey concentrate, and whey peptides.

The whey isolates are the portion that is fact acting. Taken right after a workout, whey isolate starts going to work to repair muscle tissue. The whey peptides are full of whey fractions (the really healthy portions of whey), while the whey concentrate balances it all out.

ON has also thrown in 4 grams of gluatmine and glutamine precursors in their mix.

Taste

The sweetness can be a little sharper than expected because of the stevia. If you’ve never tried a stevia product you might be surprised at the taste and want to pass.

On the other hand, I’m fine with stevia and don’t mind drinking this protein.

Finding a natural whey protein without stevia in it can be challenging. Consider adding in some flax oil, fruit, or milk if the taste is bothersome. It’s really up to you what you’re looking for – but for savvy people all natural is important.

The Bottom Line

ON’s trusted protein blend with even less additives. One of the best got better. Great right after a draining workout. 4 out of 5 stars

Greens & Whey Protein Bar

Highlights

• Non-GMO
• 17grams of protein
• full of greens

This is a little outside of what you would normally think of as a whey protein bar, but have no fear! If you’ve ever eaten a good greens bar you know how they are actually very tasty. For those still to be indoctrinated into the greens club, this is a good start.

Greens and Whey

Like the name says this bar is mostly organic, non-GMO greens (spinach, wheat grass, broccoli, apple, etc) mixed with whey protein isolate. The whey has been Ultra-Filtered/Micro-Filtered to remove much of the fat and lactose from it, leaving just the active whey fractions and protein.

It has 17 grams of protein in it – pretty good for a pocket sized meal. The real benefit is the balance of vegetables in too. This is good for a quick meal replacement, and to ensure your muscles get a full range of nutrients.

How’s It Taste?

Surprisingly good! A whey protein bar on it’s own wouldn’t be that good, but the greens and agave nectar really balance it out. They impart a mild sweetness. The peanut butter bar also gets a rich flavor from the added nuts.

The Bottom Line

A perfect balance of whey and greens. Good to eat, good for you. Don’t knock green bars, man 4.5 out of 5 stars

Cytosport Muscle Milk ready to drink

Highlights

• 34g protein (17 oz bottle)
• zero trans-fat
• low carbs

The Claim

“Muscle Milk is an “evolutionary” muscle formula promoting efficient fat burning, lean muscle growth and fast recovery from exercise.” –CytoSport

Evolutionary?

Cytosport’s protein blend is called EvoPro – short for evolutionary based protein. They don’t use use just whey protein isolate, instead preferring a mixture of various proteins including casein and whey isolate.

Why?

The various proteins will absorb at different rates and give your muscles more protein than just a quick shot of whey isolate would. If taken before bed, the casein will digest as you sleep, actually making you grow healthier muscles overnight.

The real kicker is the ratios used in Muscle Milk. They’ve formulated this stuff to have the same nitrogen and protein ratios as found in human mother’s milk! Think about the last time you were undergoing explosive growth (hint: you couldn’t talk, had to be fed every few hours, and ended up tripling in size in a few years). What were you eating then? A mixture high in certain fats and proteins.

In that regard Cytosport’s hit a grand slam. This is a great nutritional blend of the right fats and proteins to build muscle.

Drinkability and Fat

Muscle Milk is yummy. It smells and looks good, just make sure to shake it up very well.

Look at the label – the fat levels in the ready to drink mix are high. 17 grams of fat per serving. This goes a long way to improving the taste of this drink, but thankfully without causing problems.

The fats are actually medium chain triglycerides. These types of fat have a low calorie count and and burned as energy much more easily than normal fats. This means they give a nice rich flavor to this shake, but won’t pack on the fatty tissue.

The Bottom Line

A good protein drink for nighttime or as a meal replacement. Will help you gain muscle without putting on more fat. 5 out of 5 stars

EAS Myoplex Original Ready to Drink

Highlights

• 42 grams of protein
• ready to drink

Protein, Protein, and More Protein

You’re just looking for a quick source of protein, and EAS delivers.

But are you ready for a whopping 42 grams of protein? EAS uses it’s proprietary protein blend in the Myoplex shakes to give your muscles a kick. It includes milk protein and whey protein isolate, as well as casein.

The whey protein isolate will rush to your muscles fast after a workout, providing the initial protein they need to start repair. The milk and casein proteins will take longer to fully digest – up to 8 hours – which means your muscles get plenty of raw materials to grow.

It’s a great combination of proteins.

Tastes Good

I love the chocolate flavor. The 7 grams of fat in these things probably helps the taste too. That’s on the higher end of a prepared drink, but when balanced with the 42 grams of protein it’s okay.

The Bottom Line

A serious amount of protein in a portable, ready to go package. EAS will you give you a massive boost whenever and where ever. 4 out of 5 stars

MET-Rx Meal Replacement

Highlights

• 38 grams of protein
• full of vitamins
• low fat (2.5g)

The MET-Rx protein shakes are a reliable choice. The Original Meal Replacement Formula is MET-Rx’s flagship protein shake, and it keeps getting better and better. The most recent formula has cut out lots of fat and carbs, and provides 38 grams of various proteins.

The Secret Is Out!

This protein shake’s main ingredient is Metamyosyn, MET-Rx’s special protein blend. This name sounds confusing, but it isn’t really once we dive in.

Metamyosyn is a blend of several muscle building proteins – not just whey. Whey protein concentrate is included, along with egg protein and casein protein. While whey is fast acting and hits your muscles quick, casein digests much more slowly. We’re talking up to 6 hours longer.

This combination allows your muscles to get an initial blast of protein from the whey, then continue to get amped from the casein for hours!

How’s It Taste?

This is a very unassuming drink. It’s not going to make headlines on taste (the special protein blend does that), but it’s not bad at all – just a very middle of the road, easy to down, protein shake. The vanilla doesn’t have any strange additives or anything, nor is there any bad aftertaste or digestive problems.

Anything Else?

MET-Rx throws in 110% of your calcium for the day, along with lots of the B vitamins. This drink was originally made by a doctor studying nutrition in people who couldn’t eat much because of surgery, so it’s designed from the ground up to be as chock full of vitamins as possible.

The Bottom Line

A pioneering formula with lots of proteins and vitamins for muscle growth. It will provide your muscles with protein for hours. 4 out of 5 stars

With some people wanting to eat at least 125 grams of protein every day, it can be very hard to make sure your protein requirements are met. Things just get in the way – school, work, family issues – and eating enough protein between workouts is tough. To make matters worse, protein shakes can be inconvenient to make even if you had the time.

Some people just stay resigned to this fact and will never make the muscle gains they desire. But if you can find a way to squat 200 pounds, you can find a way to meet your protein needs – right? Right!

This is where today’s tough and savvy bodybuilder pulls ahead.

Whey protein bars contain the nutrition you crave in a package you can take anywhere. You know to make sure to eat protein every 2 to 3 hours for optimum absorption and muscle growth. Now you can actually meet these requirements without having to carry around a blender and protein powders.

Most whey protein bars contain between 15 and 40 grams of protein. The amount of fat and carbs is surprisingly low, too. These bars are not going to throw your healthy eating habits out of whack.

If you think whey protein bars are still those chalky, messy things from 10 years ago you’re in for a surprise. I remember trying to eat some of the old style protein bars – I’d just as soon as eaten a chalkboard eraser than finish them!

Luckily for us now, many of the best selling bars taste very good and are not hard to digest. They can taste as good as candy bars, but without the massive amounts of sugars their junk food cousins contain.

For the price, whey protein bars are simply the most convenient way of making sure you can eat enough protein while maintaining your day to day duties.

You probably know just how good whey protein can be for achieving your goals. It’s one of the best proteins for you to drink – low in fat, has a powerful effect on muscle growth, and full of health promoting benefits your body needs.

It’s such a great additive to your diet that the only problem is getting enough of it!

This is where premade whey protein shakes come into play.

We all have tried to make enough shakes or pack a meal for later, but sometimes it’s just not possible to eat. An many of the meal replacement shakes you might try only fill you up enough to be fuzzy headed throughout the day.

Drinking weight loss shakes is just not the best thing to do to gain muscle. You need meal replacement shakes designed to give large amounts of whey protein.

Many of these individually packaged shakes contain up to 40 grams of whey protein. They are also very low in fat and carbs – perfect for drinking right after a hard workout. No extra fat, no extra sugars – mostly just good for you whey!

These drinks are not just for busy people though. You can take them to gym and drink during your workout to have a constant stream of protein coming into your muscles. Or, it can be waiting for you as soon as you finish. If it’s not possible to go to a blender to make your own protein shake each time you work out, these prewrapped shakes are a life saver!

If you’re looking for a product to easily help you achieve your muscle gain goals, look no further than whey protein shakes.

Optimum 100% Whey Protein

Protein Highlights

• 24g protein per scoop, 30 scoops per jar (2lb product)
• 4 whey protein formulas
• low fat
• added digestive enzymes

The Most Popular Protein

Despite me using the ON whey for a few years now, this is actually a strange review to write. It’s become such a staple for me I don’t even think about it! My brother recommended it to me after seeing me go through several protein brands when I started lifting.

The Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein is one of the most popular supplements out there. It won the Supplement Of The Year and Protein Powder Of The Year awards for all of 2005 to 2008. Every gym I’ve been to has it in stock, and it’s never let me down. Why is this?

Good Protein

To start, ON sells this as a blend of various whey proteins – 2 kinds of Whey Protein Isolates, Whey Protein Concentrate, and Whey Peptides.

The Whey isolates come in 2 forms: Ion-Exchanged and Microfiltered. The ion-exchanged whey, while providing a high bulk of protein, does leave behind some fat. Unfortunately the process also denatures some of the amino acids resulting in a less than perfect blend. Luckily, the microfiltered portion provides a good boost of essential whey fractions (the good, health promoting molecules that make whey so beneficial) without any lactose or fat left behind. ON has blended the two types of whey isolates together into a very effective mixture.

The other two portions of the blend – the concentrate and the peptides – are spot on. Even with including a whey concentrate the fat content per serving does not top 1.5 grams. While whey concentrates can vary widely in quality and protein percentage, ON’s concentrate is about as high as you go for protein makeup – there’s just such little fat and cholesterol!

The whey peptide portion is a super fast acting protein source. It’s been hydrolyzed to split it apart into easy to digest molecules. When you go to drink this postworkout, the peptides are going to hit your muscles first.

Digestibility

While most protein isolates contain very little lactose, this can be a big deal for some people. ON gets around this problem very nicely. They’ve blended in lactase and Aminogen digestive enzymes into the mix to basically cancel out any digestion problems the lactose might cause.

Does it help? Yes! Some wheys leave me feeling bloated for an hour or two after drinking. I’m quite happy to say the Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey has never given me digestion problems.

Other Goodies

ON also includes 4 grams of glutamine and glutamine precursors in each serving. This won’t replace a glutamine supplement, but it’s a welcome addition if you care about repairing muscle tissue post-workout. As for amino acids, this whey has 5 grams of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) valine, leucine, and isoleucine in each scoop. BCAAs are essential amino acids your body needs to build muscle tissue.

The Bottom Line

Does Optimum Nutrition’s 100% Whey deserve to be the most popular whey protein powder? Yes! 5 out of 5 stars

NOW Whey Protein Isolate

Protein Highlights

• 25g per scoop, 72 scoops per jar (5 pound)
• Cross-Flow Microfiltered whey protein isolate
• low fat (.6g)
• low cholesterol

What’s The Deal?

This is a good whey isolate, and a very affordable one at that! It has been extracted using the Cross-Flow Microfiltered process (CFM).

CFM is a way of producing whey protein isolate that has little fat, but retains the molecular fractions – like glycomacropeptide – that give whey many of it’s health properties. Basically, it makes the resulting protein isolate keep the good but separates out as much of the bad as possible.

This process also keeps the whey at stable temperatures and pH which means less denatured proteins, more calcium, and more amino acids – a higher quality end result all around.

The NOW isolate contains Lactoglobulin, a-Lactalbumin, Immunoglobulins, and Glycomacro Peptides.

Day to Day Usage

Designed for easy mixing. This protein will not leave a gritty mess behind. No real problems here. This is a good whey to just throw in your shake and forget about it.

Flavored with stevia to drop the sugar count, but still provide sweetness. The flavor is good, if a little on the subtle side. This is not necessarily bad though.

The Bottom Line

A good whey isolate at an amazing price. 4 out of 5 stars

Syntrax Nectar

The Claim

“…so delicious that you can eat it right out of the container. Imagine putting a protein powder in your mouth and it tasting like candy.” –Syntrax

Highlights

• 23g protein per scoop, 36 scoops per jar
• 0 carbs, 0 fat
• whey protein isolate

That’s Quite A Claim!

I can handle marketing speak about “the fastest this” or “a breakthrough that”, but to say you’ve got a protein you can eat right from the jar…well, that’s an intense claim. Having actually tried to eat some ON and GNC whey straight up on some cereal one day I can see the need for a whey that is engineered to taste better.

Happily, Syntrax has a winner here. Syntrax Nectar is delicious. They’ve made 8 different flavors of the regular Nectar protein and all do taste good. Really. I prefer the Crystal Sky flavor, but any will work.

I know it sounds crazy to say your whey isolate smoothie is enjoyable, but it can be. Even without mixing in ice cream, milk, or peanut butter. Even in just water.

Ok, So it Tastes Good. Does it Work?

By work you mean will it help you get ripped without adding fatty pounds, right?

Oh yeah. Syntrax is using a special blend of whey isolate called Promina Whey. Whey isolate is the fastest digesting and easiest type of protein for your body to rebuild muscle tissue with.

Promina whey on it’s own is tasteless, comes undenatured for higher quality and is produced cold. This means it has more bio-available amino acids than cheaper whey isolates. Promina also has many whey fractions like Beta Lactoglobulins, Alpha Lactoalbumin, Glycomacropeptides, Immunoglobulin, B.S. Albumin, Protease Peptone, Lactoferrin, and Lactoperoxidase.

Promina is such a biologically good whey isolate, Syntrax actually makes an unflavored Nectar version that the medical industry (hospitals, nutrionists, etc) uses.

End result? The base protein in Nectar is high quality and has more active molecules than other comparable isolates.

Downsides

Like most whey isolate powders, Syntax Nectar can get foamy when shaken or stirred around. It seems like it does it more than some of the other isolates. Not that big of a deal really, but if you’re into shaking your drink in a bottle it can be a problem.

The Bottom Line

Holy crap – my protein drink actually tastes good. Perfect for drinking during a workout or if you care how your post-workout smoothie tastes, and it’s fast to digest. 4.5 out of 5 stars

ISS Research Complete Whey Power

The Claim

“…comprised of the highest quality whey protein powder and mixes instantly and tastes fantastic!” –ISS Research

Protein Highlights

• 18g protein per scoop, 45 scoops per jar
• no sugar/aspartame
• low fat (1.5g total fat per serving)
• low lactose
• partially pre-digested whey peptides

What’s All This Actually Mean

The Complete Whey Power is a mixture of whey concentrate (WPC) and whey isolate (WPI).

What really sets ISS Research apart is that the whey isolate – the fast acting protein portion – in this powder is a hydrolysate protein.

This means the whey has already been partially broken down into a form that’s easier for your body to use. In this case, pre-digested doesn’t mean anything nasty, just that various enzymes already went to work for you.

When taken post workout, this powder is going to hit your muscles very fast and very efficiently because of this hydrosylate process.

The other main component of this powder, the whey concentrate is also very low in fat and lactose.

No More Chugging Down Protein Clumps?

ISS Research really worked on the mixability for this protein. Yeah, you’ll get better results from using a blender (still looking for a perfectly mixable protein, btw), but it’s one of the better mixing protein powders out there. It will dissolve without leaving any traces in your drink.

Flavor

The ISS Research Complete Whey Power has good flavor. The vanilla and chocolate flavors aren’t too strong. The other fruit flavors like banana and strawberry taste like ice creams.

The Bottom Line

An easy mixing combination of high quality whey concentrate and whey isolate processed with some kickass technology. Easy on the taste buds and stomach, fast hitting to your muscles. 4 out of 5 stars

But can it get any better?

We’re seeing many more healthy and organic options appearing across the board for all food choices. I know it’s a matter of some debate if all these products are better, but I think it’s safe to say the organic whey proteins appearing on the market can be a valuable supplement.

Does organic whey protein cut down on the junk found in your protein? Also, is it actually worth the price premium? The answer may surprise you.

To start let’s break down the main unwanted chemicals that most organic dairy products try and eliminate.

Steroid hormones are only capable of being stored in fat, so can only be found in the fatty portion of a whey protein powder. Depending on the mixture and preparation method this fatty portion could be between .001% to almost 50% of the total mass.

Lucky for us the vast majority of consumer whey powders fall on the very low end of the spectrum of fat content.

Bovine somatotropin (BST) is a cow’s equivalent to Human Growth Hormone. BST and IGF-1 will always be found in extremely minute quantities in whey – we’re talking millionths of a gram here – simply because whey is a animal product.

This is where the main benefits of organic whey protein step in.

1. Organic whey must come from organic milk. This cuts out on an entire possible source of external growth hormones (rBST) or antibiotics. As a nice side bonus, organically raised milk cows produce milk that is higher in protein than other cows.

2. Organic whey usually contains less additives and fillers than non-organic whey powders. Extra sugars and colorants can be found in some whey formulas, but rarely in organic whey ones.

3. Look away from the cow pasture and into the goat field. Growth hormones are not used in goat milk production at all. Any goat whey protein will be sourced with a very clean method, and is often organic.

If you’re looking for maximum purity or want to be environmentally conscious, organic whey is a good choice.