How to Tell the Best From The Rest: What to Look for in a Good Protein Powder

If your goal is to get fit, eating more protein is probably the most important dietary change you should make. Your weightlifting, running, cross-training, cycling, and working out will all shred those muscles, and you need more protein to repair the muscles. Eating more protein isn’t always possible, as meat, cheese, and poultry can be expensive. If you want to get more protein in your diet, it may be time to add protein powders to your diet.

Why Protein Powder?

Here are four reasons you should consider protein powder:

• It’s more convenient. Just whip up a drink in seconds and enjoy.
• It’s absorbed more quickly, meaning you get a flood of protein right after your workout.
• It’s more easily and more completely absorbed.
• It provides your body with a steady stream of amino acids.

Basically, with protein powder, you ensure that your body has what it needs to repair itself.

Choosing the Right Good Protein Powder

Here are a few things to consider when looking for a good protein powder for your needs (1):

• Mass Gain vs. Protein – Are you trying to bulk up, or is your goal just to get more protein? Some protein powders are also loaded with carbs and calories, so they’ll help you to put on weight while fueling your muscles. If your goal is just to get more protein without too many extra calories, you should look for a low fat, low carb, high protein powder. (source)
• Number of Ingredients – The best protein powders are made to be as natural as possible, as that makes it easier for your body to absorb. The good powders contain no more than 10 ingredients, and they should all be easy to read.  It’s not about quantity in this case, but quality.
• Type of Protein – Concentrated protein powders take longer to absorb compared to some other sources, but they fuel your body with amino acids between meals. For those who are trying to stay fit without packing on the pounds of muscle, it’s best to stick with concentrated protein powders.
• Source of Protein — There are a number of sources from which protein can be obtained. Whey comes from milk, and it is one of the best-tasting, highest quality, and most economical of the protein powders. Casein protein also comes from milk, but it takes longer to absorb than whey protein. Egg white protein powders are low in cholesterol and fat, and are made without dairy. Soy proteins have an odd taste, but are loaded with healthy antioxidants and are made from vegetable sources – as are hemp proteins.
• Flavors and Sweeteners — There are a number of powders that are made sans sweeteners or flavors, and they’re made to be mixed in with just about any type of food. Others are made with a flavor that meshes well with milk. The artificial flavors are cheaper, and they offer a wider variety for those who want to mix things up. There are also natural flavorings like xylitol, stevia, and honey, which can be added for the most natural taste. Note that you should not mix your protein powder with citrus fruits, as citrus denatures the protein and eliminates its effectiveness.

These are the things to evaluate when looking for the right protein powder, and they can help you choose the product that will be best for you. One recommendation from the pros: buy small quantities at first. Until you find the products that you definitely like, buy only small quantities and taste-test them. Once you’ve found good protein powders that you like and work for you, buy the largest size available – it’s more cost-effective in the long run!