The Best Whey Protein Shakes For Weight Loss – We tested nine highly rated protein powders to find the best flavor of the bunch. Optimum Nutrition – Gold Standard 100% Whey was a crowd favorite, with a winning combination of smooth sweetness and milky, creamy texture. Our pick for best-tasting vanilla is BSN – Syntha-6 Whey Protein Powder, which boasts a vanilla-ice cream flavor that truly lives up to its name. The best-tasting protein powder for weight loss is the gluten-free, non-GMO RSP – TrueFit Powder in Chocolate, which our testers compared to a mug of creamy cocoa.
Our favorite vegan option is Vega Sport – Premium Protein Powder, which has a slightly salted vanilla-caramel flavor and 30 grams of protein. The best-tasting sugar-free powder is the stevia-sweetened Muscle Feast – a grass-fed whey protein isolate, which our testers compare to a vanilla chai milkshake. Last but not least, our pick for the best tasting egg white powder is MRM – Egg White Protein, which has plenty of vanilla flavor without any eggy aftertaste.
The Best Whey Protein Shakes For Weight Loss
A term you may hear around the gym or juice bar is “complete protein.” A complete protein is made up of 9 essential amino acids – protein building blocks – that the body cannot produce on its own (although it is able to produce the 11 other amino acids that make up proteins). These are: histidine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, valine and threonine.
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There are many ways you can add protein to your diet. The most popular is a protein shake, using our top picks for the best tasting protein powder or the best protein powder for women, mixed with fruit and/or ice in a blender or personal blender. Protein bars and beef jerky are also great for pumping up your protein intake.
When shopping for protein powders, look for ones that contain at least three of these essential amino acids: valine, leucine and isoleucine. Also known as BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), these three are especially important for recovery and muscle protein synthesis. For the vegans out there, sunflower seed, pea and soy proteins are all good choices for getting your BCAAs.
With a range of protein powder types available, choosing the best one for you is a matter of matching your health goals with your dietary preferences. Here is an overview of the most common types.
One of the most popular protein supplements, whey is a complete protein that is ideal for gaining muscle. Whey is also the most thermogenic of all proteins, meaning it burns the most calories after consumption. Whey protein is extracted from milk, and although most of the lactose is removed in the process, it can still affect those who are lactose intolerant.
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Whey isolate is processed differently than whey concentrate, with a longer filtration process removing its lactose and fat content, making it milder on lactose intolerance. It also has a higher concentration of protein and can be absorbed by the body faster than whey concentrate.
Casein is also a complete protein extracted from milk. Because it digests more slowly than whey protein, it makes the body feel fuller for longer and can therefore lead to weight loss. However, it also slows down the absorption of amino acids in the body. According to one study, a mixture of whey and casein powder may be beneficial, with faster absorption leading to a longer feeling of fullness.
If whey digests quickly and casein digests slowly, egg protein falls somewhere in between, digesting at a steady, moderate rate. Egg protein is a good, complete protein option for vegetarians and lactose intolerants. For those trying to lose weight, egg white protein is especially low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat.
Ideal for vegans and vegetarians, these protein powders come from plant sources such as pea, hemp, soy, alfalfa and brown rice protein – and sometimes a blend of many. Keep in mind, however, that only some plant-based proteins (for example, mostly soy and pea proteins) are complete proteins with all nine essential amino acids.
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Collagen protein promotes joint, skin and nail health. Because it contains only eight of the nine essential amino acids, collagen is not a complete protein. Think of collagen powder as a supplement; Replace your regular protein powder with this.
If you are diabetic, look for a sugar-free protein powder with a low carb count. Those suffering from lactose intolerance or IBS should opt for egg and plant-based powders instead of whey and casein protein powders, and also avoid powders that contain artificial sweeteners (which can cause digestive problems).
Our testers crowned Optimum Nutrition – Gold Standard 100% Whey as the best tasting protein powder overall. The flavor we tried, vanilla ice cream, is delicious with just the right amount of sweetness, and the shake has a milky, smooth texture. While some other blended protein powders seem to be about 50% air, our testers noted that Optimum Nutrition Shake has a pleasant frothiness without being overly foamy.
Sweetened with sucralose, Optimum Nutrition Powder is a blend of whey concentrate and protein isolate, with a hearty 24 grams of protein, 2 grams of carbs and 1 gram of fat. At 110 calories per serving, it’s one of the lower-calorie options we tested.
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Usually when a protein powder tastes like “vanilla ice cream,” we don’t expect the flavor to actually live up to the name. Not so with BSN – Syntha-6 Whey Protein Powder, which tastes like melted vanilla ice cream.
The directions on the label recommend mixing one scoop of the powder with 4-5 ounces of water or milk, but we found the resulting drink to be overly sweet. Adding a few extra ounces of water diluted the flavor into a deliciously creamy shake with just the right amount of sweetness. Our testers also noted that this powder is very filling. Read more…
BSN powder is a blend of whey concentrate, whey isolate, casein and egg protein, sweetened with corn syrup, sucralose and asulfame (an artificial sweetener that simply passes into the body untreated). At 200 calories per serving, it has the highest calorie count of any powder we tested, including 22 grams of protein, 15 grams of carbs and 6 grams of fat.
RSP – TrueFit, which we tested in chocolate flavor, impressed our testers with its cocoa-like flavor. This powder is just sweet enough, and the taste is not fake. The powder blends easily into a smooth shake without any dry chunks floating on the bottom.
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Each serving of RSP Powder contains 25 grams of hormone-free, grass-fed, pastured protein, 5 grams of BCAAs, 8 grams of fiber and 12 non-GMO fruits and vegetables, as well as 3.5 grams of fat including 1 gram. of MCT oil. The powder is gluten-free and also contains probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion.
The Vega Sport – Premium protein blends easily into a thick, filling shake that our testers described as “pumpkin-y” and “oat-y.” Sure enough, the first four ingredients of the powder are pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed and alfalfa protein. The powder’s vanilla flavor has a salty vanilla vibe, and no wonder—along with its natural caramel and vanilla flavors, sea salt is also listed in the ingredients.
Sweetened with stevia, the Vega shake has 160 calories per serving and an impressive 30 grams of protein per serving. It contains 3 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of BCAA and 2 grams of probiotics which help in the digestive process.
Muscle Feast – Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate, which is also our top protein powder pick for women, is also our top choice for the best tasting sugar-free protein powder. The powder mixed easily into a frothy shake that was authentically vanilla flavored and not too sweet. One of our testers compared the taste to a vanilla chai milkshake.
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Muscle Feast Powder is made from just four ingredients, including hormone-free, grass-fed whey protein isolate. The 88-calorie powder is sweetened with stevia and contains 20.5 grams of protein, 6 grams of BCAAs and 88 calories, 2 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbs per serving, making it a great source of lean protein.
We were pleasantly surprised by the MRM – egg white protein, which we expected to have at least some egg flavor. Although our testers could smell the egg in the shake, the egg flavor was undetectable in its taste. Instead, the shake has a smooth, subtly vanilla flavor that will taste great mixed with other ingredients.
Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract, MRM is a paleo-friendly powder that is gluten, antibiotic and hormone free. Each serving contains 6 large egg whites, 23 grams of protein and 7.7 grams of BCAAs, and only 100 calories, 2 grams of carbs and zero fat. We also appreciate the vegan enzyme blend at the end of its ingredient list, which should give extra support for sensitive stomachs.
Of all the powders we tested, Dymatize – Elite 100% Whey Powder tastes the most like protein powder, with a strong vitamin-y, chemical-ish aftertaste. Our testers commented that
