How to Pick the Best Protein Powder

When I reached out to you guys on our Instagram asking what you wanted our next post to be about, many of you mentioned your struggle to find a protein powder that not only tastes good but also sits well. So I’m here to help!

And this post couldn’t have come at a better time because I’m currently on the hunt for the next best protein powder to experiment with myself!

Okay so first things first…keep in mind that everyone’s bodies and tastes are different. So what I might think is absolutely delish might not exactly be your cup of ~~powder~~ tea. And what might sit really well with my digestive system might not be the best for yours.

Either way, the guidelines below should help you narrow down your choices so you can find the best protein powder for YOU!

1: Pick a Clean Source of Protein

Whey, pea, collagen, brown rice, egg, hemp…there’s so many to choose from! So where do you start?

Well first, you have to ask yourself whether you want animal protein or plant protein. Personally, I prefer plant protein (specifically pea protein), but I do like to mix it up every now and then with some grass-fed bovine collagen. I’m currently experimenting with both Collagen for Her and Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel to see which of the two I like best!

Regardless of whether you pick animal or plant protein, you MUST pay attention to the quality of protein you’re getting. Look for terms like: organic, grass-fed (if animal), soy-free, non-GMO, etc.

Many people in the wellness world tell you to stay away from whey protein. And I personally do because of my intolerance to dairy. HOWEVER, if you’re trying to build muscle, whey is definitely one of the better proteins to try. And if your tummy is good with dairy, then have at it (as long as it’s coming from milk from grass-fed cows)! I’ve been curious to try the F-Factor Whey Protein. Have any of you given it a try?

2: Look for Minimal Ingredients

Beware of the ingredients people! There are so many low-quality protein powders out there…OMG. The last thing you want is for your protein powder to be filled with a laundry list of ingredients that you can’t even pronounce.

Ingredients to stay away from: soy, gluten, food coloring, GMO, artificial sweeteners, “natural flavors”, vegetable oils, casein (it’s basically all lactose and super hard to digest!), dextrins or maltodextrin, skim milk powders, thickeners and fillers.

The thing I love most about the Naked Pea Protein is that it is literally THREE ingredients! Non-GMO peas, coconut sugar and cacao powder or vanilla (depending on the flavor). Ever since I found this protein powder, I’ve made it my mission to only experiment with brands that offer simple, clean ingredients.

Some other protein powders with clean ingredients are:

I haven’t experimented with all of these just yet, so don’t take my word for it when it comes to taste. But do trust me when I say these are the few protein powders out there with the cleanest ingredients. They’re hard to come by I tell ya!

3: Check Out the Cost per Ounce

Even though I don’t think you should cheap out on protein powder, I do recommend you pay attention to the cost per ounce. Being that I put protein powder in my smoothies on an almost daily basis, I have to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth!

My biggest issue with the Tone It Up protein powder is how little you get for it. Even though it’s not expensive ($23), I felt like I was buying a new tub of it like every other week because you only get 11.36 ounces.

So far, I’ve found that Naked Protein ($1.12/oz) wins the category of both cleanest ingredients and best bang for your buck. But I’m determined to find more, I promise!

I think anywhere between $1-$2/oz is a good range. Anything below that is likely filled with a bunch of crap and anything above that is basically overpriced.

So the Best Protein Powder…

Comes from clean animal or plant protein sources
Is made with simple and REAL ingredients
Doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg

That’s it friends! It sounds simple, but let me tell you it’s quite the process trying to find the best protein powder out there. This will be something I’ll continuously post about because I think it’s important to have a good powder to fall back on! Because smoothies = life. Am I right??