THE BEST AND WORST PROTEIN POWDERS

By Olivia Tarantino and The Editors of Eat This, Not That!

With the number of protein powders that litter the shelves of drug stores, supermarkets, and health food stores, it seems like choosing the right supplement requires just as much skill as a wine connoisseur.

Whether you're an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, a vegan or a plant-based foodie, everyone is getting in on the protein trend. And with good reason. Thanks to the high protein content of powder supplements, adding a scoop or two to your smoothies, baked goods, or shakes can aid in rapid weight loss efforts by boosting calorie burn, increasing satiety, and preserving lean muscle mass.

While feeding your muscles on the fly has never been easier, not all powders are created equal. And choosing which product is best can be a bit of a struggle. On one hand, there are animal-based supplements like eggs, whey, and casein, and the other hand is a garden of plant-based forms from pea, hemp, rice and soy. And even after you pick the source of the protein, there's still another hurdle to jump: additives. Many protein powders on the market are loaded with enough scary chemicals and artificial sweeteners to earn them a spot among the unhealthiest foods on the planet. Just because your protein is a powder doesn't mean you have to settle for one with a label that reads like a science experiment.

Because which supplement you pick will ultimately depend on your personal body goals—whether you're looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or stop late-night snacking—we created this list of examples of the best and worst protein powders to help you understand what to look out for when examining the labels. We've narrowed the expansive list of protein supplements down to some of the best animal-based and plant-based proteins on the market—as well as some of the worst. Pick your powder below (you can easily order it from the links we've included!) and then add it to any of these 56 Best Smoothie Recipes!

BEST ANIMAL-BASED PROTEIN POWDERS

First, know this: Plant protein is more slimming than milk-derived proteins. Because whey is a dairy derivative—and many commercial preparations tend to contain all manner of funky chemicals—protein powders that use this source as a base can lead to bloat and skin conditions. However, if you find you're not terribly lactose intolerant, milk proteins are some of the best sources of amino acids out there. Milk proteins such as whey and casein have the ability to preserve lean muscle mass and improve metabolic health during weight loss, according to research published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism.

Eat This, Not That! Tip: When you're looking for the proper animal-based protein powder, look out for words like cold processed, concentrate (isolate only if you're sensitive to lactose), hormone-free, grass-fed, tested low for heavy metals, and does not contain sucralose or any artificial color, flavor or sweetener.

1

PROMIX GRASS-FED
WHEY PROTEIN

Protein source: Grass-fed whey protein concentrate
Protein payoff: 25 g per serving

If you want a "fast acting" protein that will stimulate protein synthesis after a workout, go with whey. While a whey protein concentrate has a lower percentage of protein than whey isolate, it contains more bioactive compounds found in the milk fat that positively influence metabolism and immunity—just make sure it's low-temperature-processed (raw or cold-processed). This method allows the protein powder to retain many of its fragile immune factors and nutrients leaving it loaded with the ideal blend of easily-absorbed amino acids, anti-inflammatory compounds, essential fats, energy-replenishing carbs, metabolism-boosting peptides, potent antioxidants, and alkaline minerals.

You'll get even more of these nutrients when your powder is made from pasture-fed cows, which have a higher concentration of inflammation-reducing omega-3 fatty acids and two to five times more CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) than their corn and grain fed counterparts. CLA provides a variety of health benefits like burning fat and maintaining lean body mass. Besides toning your body, these two sources of dietary fat will also improve absorption of key vitamins and carotenoids. Not to mention, grass fed cows are less likely to be treated with antibiotics than grain fed cows, meaning you'll have a lower risk of building up antibiotic resistance or gaining unnecessary weight.

2

NAKED CASEIN

Protein source: Micellar Casein from U.S. dairy farms
Protein payoff: 26 g per serving

If you're looking to repair and regrow muscle, take some Naked Casein Powder before bed. Casein, as opposed to whey, digests more slowly (it's the same principle as low-glycemic-index "slow carbs") and stays in the system longer to nourish muscles. This makes it a good option if you need a nighttime snack on workout days: It'll help kick-start recovery and build fat-burning muscle. This option has 26 grams of protein and zero grams of fat per serving. (If you do want to drink whey, you can do it in the PM as well: A study published in 2014 in the British Journal of Nutrition found that active men who consumed whey at night increased their next-morning metabolism.)

3

MERCOLA PURE
POWER PROTEIN

Protein source: Grass-fed whey protein concentrate
Protein payoff: 20 g per serving

This product is designed to boost both your fitness levels as well as your overall health. It contains a unique blend of high-quality whey protein, muscle-fueling coconut triglycerides, pre-biotic resistant starch, endurance-boosting and blood-sugar-stabilizing chia seeds, and probiotics. Not only can probiotics keep your gut healthy, but when they're combined with high-quality whey protein, they can enhance muscle development: Probiotics help your body synthesize leucine, a particular branched chain amino acid (BCAA), which you need for muscle building.

4

PALEO PROTEIN
PURE EGG

Protein source: GMO-free egg whites
Protein payoff: 25.2 g per serving

Whey tends to be the first word when it comes to protein supplementation. But as we've mentioned before, it can cause belly bloat. For a better option that'll help you bulk up only in desirable areas, try egg-white protein, which is naturally low-carb and no-fat. Just like whey, egg white protein such has a complete essential amino acid profile, which promotes optimal recovery from challenging workouts. Want to boost the flavor without artificial additives? Paleo Pure provides a blank slate (it's only egg whites and sunflower lecithin) to add a tablespoon of raw cacao powder to boost your intake of brain-boostingflavanoids while curbing your chocolate cravings.

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MT. CAPRA PRODUCTS
DOUBLE BONDED
GOAT MILK PROTEIN

Protein source: Grass-fed goat milk protein
Protein payoff: 20 g per serving

This powerful protein combines the best of both worlds in protein supplementation through a natural blend of casein and whey proteins. Using a combination powder allows whey to trigger muscle building stimulation while casein inhibits factors that lead to muscle breakdown. Mt. Capra is a small, family-run farm in the Pacific Northwest who uses milk from their own pasture-grazed goat herd in their protein powders. If your body doesn't agree with cow milk, goat milk is a great alternative. Even though goat milk still has lactose, the goat milk proteins are smaller and are thus absorbed by the human digestive system in a far superior way to that of cow protein.