Protein powders are a tough beast to crack. There are thousands of choices out there, and while there are certainly a few great options, most protein powders on the market today aren’t worth your hard-earned money and could potentially be doing more harm than good for your health. So, how do you make sure the protein powder you are using is one of the few good ones?
Here’s our top 5 protein powder hacks to help you decide. Will yours pass the test? Let’s break it down.
1. INGREDIENTS
A great protein powder will have NONE of the following:
The first ingredient better be a high-quality protein source like whey protein isolate! Beware of soy protein in your products. Soy is the most common Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Soy protein is dirt cheap, and labeling can make it appear to be a fantastic high protein source to the unassuming consumer. Don’t be fooled by this trick!
After the protein source(s), if the ingredient list is super long and filled with words you can’t pronounce, you might want to make a switch. Artificial sweeteners like Sucralose (Splenda), aspartame or saccharine are chemicals that can wreak havoc on your gut and leave you dealing with indigestion, bloating, flatulence or even buildup over time in the form of cellular toxicity. Sucralose is most commonly used to sweeten protein powder. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar and unbelievably inexpensive to manufacture in a lab. If your powder is artificially sweetened, flavored or colored (dyed)… ditch it! You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel once you rid your body of all these man-made chemicals. Look for a powder that is sweetened naturally with Stevia, LoHan (Monk Fruit) or Xylitol. These natural sweeteners are easy on the gut and the taste buds because they still pack that sweet punch.
2. THE SOURCE
The most popular powder out there (and for good reason because of the amino acid profile) is whey isolate, so let’s start there. Your mom was right all along (with a twist!) … ‘You are what you eat…EATS!’ A really high quality whey protein isolate comes from truly grass-fed cows. Cheap whey comes from domesticated, caged animals that are fed GMO corn and soy and are injected with growth hormones and antibiotics. You don’t need any of that in your life, we promise! Although both sources can claim the final byproduct is whey protein, the biochemical makeup of the 2 powders are very different. Bottom line: know where your powder is coming from. A quality source will always be number one.
3. EFFICACY
This is a tough one! When proteins are broken down biochemically, they become amino acids. Aminos are the true building blocks of life; every cell, tissue and hormone in your body is comprised of a variety of amino acids. A protein food’s strength or weakness is based on the quality and quantity of its essential and non-essential amino acid profile. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and must be consumed in the diet. Non-essential aminos still play a vital role in your overall health but are considered “non-essential” because your body can synthesize these aminos from other sources. Both sets of aminos are extremely important to your overall health. If a food containing protein does not offer all of the essential AND non-essential amino acids it is categorized as “incomplete.” On the other hand, a protein source that offers all of the aminos is considered a “complete” protein. It only makes sense, then, that a high quality protein powder would contain ALL 20 amino acids making it a complete protein source. Whey protein has always touted the highest score for amino acid profile. If you can’t do whey then make sure your formula is created with the full amino profile in mind. Efficacy also has a lot to do with protein hack #4, Processing.
4. PROCESSING
Most protein powders are high heat or chemically processed and extracted. This process denatures the proteins and actually changes the chemical structure of the protein itself. When these proteins are damaged in processing they cannot be properly broken down and utilized by the body. Not only will you experience high levels of indigestion by using a denatured product but, more importantly, the absorption rate of the protein is decreased by as much as 70-80%! Let’s say you buy a 6lb bag of whey protein from the store because it’s a killer deal and the label says it provides 25g of protein per serving. Sounds incredible at first! If you can only utilize 20-30% of the 25g, you are truly only getting 6.25g of protein! Gram for gram… what are you paying for? Look for a protein powder that has been cold processed beginning to end. This will ensure you are utilizing every gram you are paying for. Do not purchase a protein powder based solely on cost. If you are looking for a cheap powder, they are a dime a dozen. The fact is, these powders are underwhelming at best in the performance department.
5. TASTE
Taste is, and always will be, KING! There are quite a few protein powders on the market that have a great nutrition label but taste like licking chalk off of a pile of dirt. If you don’t LOVE the taste and texture of your powder then find a better one! The really good powders will generally use a blend of natural sweeteners to get the taste, aftertaste and texture just right. Taste quality in your powder can make or break a recipe in a heartbeat. A powder that nailed the taste test can turn a basic oatmeal or protein shake into a crave-worthy masterpiece! Don’t compromise on this one.
If you have goals that you are working hard to reach, be sure your supplements are working with (and for) your body and not fighting against it. There are so many cheap, chemical-filled protein powders and a million other supplements on the market that aren’t helping you hit your goals. KNOW what it actually is that you are putting into your body. It can be fuel or it can be poison. Knowledge is power… and when it comes to protein powders… now you know.
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What people are saying about Clean Simple Eats protein powder:
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"Love Clean Simple Eats protein powders. I was complaining one day about how much we were going through. this was my protein powder and my teenager should stay out of it. My friend asked why don’t you buy a cheap one for them. I sat back for a bit and decided I need to stop complaining because I really didn’t care I would much rather have my teenaged taking a product that is good for there growing bodies. We are a high sports family. I feel the powders fuels there bodies to perform. So as for our family, we love clean simple eats protein powders we feel better and stronger. Love my family so I need to provide the best nutrition for them and me I guess I can share as long as I don’t run out. Keep up the good work!" - Jashel Euer
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"I’m not sure if I can put my love for this protein powder into words... Clean Simple Eats has changed my life. That sounds dramatic, but it’s true!!! I have a huge sweet tooth and have never lasted more than a few days eating “healthy”. That is until I found Clean Simple Eats! Being able to have milkshakes and chocolate treats has changed everything for me! On top of that, I don’t usually like protein powder. I’ve tried at least 10 different kinds & nothing compares to this! You truly can’t even taste the protein powder & my belly is extremely thankful for the clean ingredients! I never get an upset stomach after drinking this!! 10/10 recommend! - Tylee Groll
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"Seriously I don’t know what I would do without this protein. My kids love it, my husband loves it and so does my mother in law! It’s a must at our house! I have never done the challenges but I’ve lost 20 pounds using this protein! It’s life-changing ... and the best part is that it’s delicious! It’s like have a milkshake every morning for breakfast or when you want a sweet treat and it’s healthy for me!!" - Miranda Taylor
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"Before I switched over to CSE protein powder, I loved the one i was currently using. When I started Using the CSE meal plans, I wanted to make sure I was using all of their recommended products. I have to admit I was so hesitant at first to switch over but I could not believe the difference. The texture is amazing, the flavor is just so so good and it honestly blends into such a silky smooth consistency. I cannot live without it this protein powder. It’s seriously the best one you’ll ever find! " - Emmy B
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"No fake sugar. Praise!!!! In ALL of GNC I only found ONE product that didn’t have Splenda/Sucralose. CRAZY to think that’s a health store???" - Caylin C
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"I love everything about CSE Protein Powder! I’ve tried a lot of protein powder over the years and this is hands down the best tasting, best ingredients, doesn’t hurt my stomach and no weird after taste that so many other protein powders leave after consuming! Thank you for making Clean products at affordable prices!" - Amy Orton
