Are you overwhelmed when shopping for a protein powder?
So you made the decision to get more protein into your diet and want to buy a protein powder but have no clue where to start. So you go to the store and there are way too many types of protein powders along with lots of different flavors. So do you choose one based on the flavor, the way the container looks or simply the price? People consume protein powder for various reasons and not one protein powder fits all. Some are better for muscle building while others are great for maintaining muscles, and some are great for helping people get the needed protein into their diet. So how does one go about selecting the protein powder that is best for them? I am going to help you navigate the confusing world of protein powders and help you select the right variation for you. I am going to talk about the most common types of protein powder and the best uses for each.
1. Pea Protein Powder
This is my preferred protein powder as it is 100 percent plant-based protein, making it great for people who follow a vegan diet. It is made from yellow peas and is naturally fat and cholesterol-free. It is also great for those who have lactose problems as it is not dairy derived. Pea protein is also gluten-free. The downside of this protein is it is deficient in one amino acid (cystine.)
2. Whey Protein Powder
This is the most common and cheapest variety of protein powder on the market. This protein is dairy-based and has plenty of vitamin and minerals. A lot of athletes love this protein as it has been shown to help repair muscles and increase muscle strength and size when consumed within two hours after a workout. It is easy to digest also. The downside is since it is dairy-based it can cause lactose issues for some.
3. Soy Protein Powder
Many vegetarians love this protein powder as it comes from soybeans, another form of plant-based protein. This protein powder contains all the essential amino acids and performs comparable to whey protein in terms of muscle growth. It has the added benefit of isoflavones, which has been shown to potentially reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The downside is the isoflavones can interact with hormones like estrogen and potentially skew hormone levels when taken in excess.
4. Casein Protein Powder
Casein is very similar to whey protein as it comes from dairy. casein is a protein found in cow's milk but digests slower than whey. This slower digested protein is beneficial when you want a slow release of nutrients, like before bed or when going 7-10 hours without food. The downside is this protein powder is less desired for a post workout when you want nutrients quickly.
5. Hemp Protein Powder
Hemp Protein powder is made from the hemp seeds of "another" supplement: cannabis. Relax though as it contains very little THC, the ingredient in marijuana, so it is safe to consume and no one is going to get high off of this protein powder. Hemp seeds are not only high in protein but also omega's 3 & 6. Hemp protein powder is 100 percent plant-based and easy to digest. The downside for some is the high fat count from those omegas if they are desiring weight loss.
6. Brown Rice Protein Powder
Brown rice protein powder is a 100 percent plant-based supplement. It is also gluten-free. The downside is it is low in amino acids like lysine so it is not a complete protein.
Now that you have some information about some of the most common types of protein, you can now decide which one is best for your protein needs. Your next problem is deciding on the flavor and how it is sweetened. Some people choose unflavored protein powder as it is great for using in smoothies with fruits and veggies while others prefer flavor so they can just add water, mix, and drink. I am more of a flavored protein consumer as I think it adds flavor to my fruit and veggie smoothie. I like to keep my pantry stocked with protein powder in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry so I can make my smoothie in a different flavor each day.
What is your favorite flavor of protein powder?
Mine is strawberry this week. Next week it might be chocolate peanut butter.
So you made the decision to get more protein into your diet and want to buy a protein powder but have no clue where to start. So you go to the store and there are way too many types of protein powders along with lots of different flavors. So do you choose one based on the flavor, the way the container looks or simply the price? People consume protein powder for various reasons and not one protein powder fits all. Some are better for muscle building while others are great for maintaining muscles, and some are great for helping people get the needed protein into their diet. So how does one go about selecting the protein powder that is best for them? I am going to help you navigate the confusing world of protein powders and help you select the right variation for you. I am going to talk about the most common types of protein powder and the best uses for each.
1. Pea Protein Powder
This is my preferred protein powder as it is 100 percent plant-based protein, making it great for people who follow a vegan diet. It is made from yellow peas and is naturally fat and cholesterol-free. It is also great for those who have lactose problems as it is not dairy derived. Pea protein is also gluten-free. The downside of this protein is it is deficient in one amino acid (cystine.)
2. Whey Protein Powder
This is the most common and cheapest variety of protein powder on the market. This protein is dairy-based and has plenty of vitamin and minerals. A lot of athletes love this protein as it has been shown to help repair muscles and increase muscle strength and size when consumed within two hours after a workout. It is easy to digest also. The downside is since it is dairy-based it can cause lactose issues for some.
3. Soy Protein Powder
Many vegetarians love this protein powder as it comes from soybeans, another form of plant-based protein. This protein powder contains all the essential amino acids and performs comparable to whey protein in terms of muscle growth. It has the added benefit of isoflavones, which has been shown to potentially reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The downside is the isoflavones can interact with hormones like estrogen and potentially skew hormone levels when taken in excess.
4. Casein Protein Powder
Casein is very similar to whey protein as it comes from dairy. casein is a protein found in cow's milk but digests slower than whey. This slower digested protein is beneficial when you want a slow release of nutrients, like before bed or when going 7-10 hours without food. The downside is this protein powder is less desired for a post workout when you want nutrients quickly.
5. Hemp Protein Powder
Hemp Protein powder is made from the hemp seeds of "another" supplement: cannabis. Relax though as it contains very little THC, the ingredient in marijuana, so it is safe to consume and no one is going to get high off of this protein powder. Hemp seeds are not only high in protein but also omega's 3 & 6. Hemp protein powder is 100 percent plant-based and easy to digest. The downside for some is the high fat count from those omegas if they are desiring weight loss.
6. Brown Rice Protein Powder
Brown rice protein powder is a 100 percent plant-based supplement. It is also gluten-free. The downside is it is low in amino acids like lysine so it is not a complete protein.
Now that you have some information about some of the most common types of protein, you can now decide which one is best for your protein needs. Your next problem is deciding on the flavor and how it is sweetened. Some people choose unflavored protein powder as it is great for using in smoothies with fruits and veggies while others prefer flavor so they can just add water, mix, and drink. I am more of a flavored protein consumer as I think it adds flavor to my fruit and veggie smoothie. I like to keep my pantry stocked with protein powder in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry so I can make my smoothie in a different flavor each day.
What is your favorite flavor of protein powder?
Mine is strawberry this week. Next week it might be chocolate peanut butter.
The pea protein powder sounds really good, I've never heard of it before! Where can I find it?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! My favorite protein powder is "Sascha fitness". You can find it on Amazon, it is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI used to do protein shakes, but I haven't since high school. I think I need to add this back into my diet so that I can gain back some muscle mass.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious with Hemp protein powder, I have yet to try one. I love strawberry flavor too. I'll try to do this again soon.
ReplyDeleteGreat info! I don't do protein shakes but I know many people do.
ReplyDeleteI like the pea protein myself. I'm not much into shakes, but on days I'm having issues getting enough food, I'll add one in.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips! I have been trying to figure out protein powder for weeks. It is something I have been trying to add in with my new lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome tips! I didn't know how to select a protein powder. This is something really helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative and helpful— I remember being greatly confused when trying to select one few months ago! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDelete— DT | Here I Scribble
Honestly, I'm a little scared of protein powders. I wanna try them but at the same time I don't!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a brown rice protein powder. That is very interesting to me!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an amazing powder! I am definitely going to be looking into this.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking into making more protein infused drinks. This looks like an awesome way to do this.
ReplyDeleteI've seen protein in the store and had no idea what the difference was. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat info. There is definitely a big difference between types. We just bought our first one at random and loved it, and then tried another and it was a completely different texture.
ReplyDeleteDidnt even know about these protein powder until now. was very informative. Although I think i use to have whey powder back in my gym days but my memory is foggy.
ReplyDeleteThis has always confused me. Thank you for explaining it in a way that makes sense to me. Now I can make a smart choice.
ReplyDeletewow this sounds like a good product. I haven't tried any protein powder yet :)
ReplyDelete