Looking for more homemade protein shake inspiration? Here are some of my favorite recipes on the blog: Protein Powder: This majorly boosts the protein content of your smoothie. If you can, use a natural and organic protein powder that contains no additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.

As discussed, a vegan option is of course healthier if you’re not able to consume dairy. But for those who can and are willing, whey has plenty of benefits for the body. To build muscle: It’s generally recommended to consume protein powder within 2 hours of a weightlifting session. Some research also suggests that taking protein powder before you go to sleep may help your muscles recover overnight. But research shows that daily protein intake is the most important factor in muscle building ( 20, 21). How is it sweetened? If having a natural product is important to you, you may want to opt for one that is sweetened with stevia or regular sugar rather than artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium. With its higher protein percentage, whey isolate may be your best bet, Butcher suggests. “If you’re eating in a calorie deficit, it will help give you high protein content while cutting down on unnecessary extras.” Whic protein powder is best for building muscle? This healthy Vanilla Protein Shake recipe is made with clean, nourishing ingredients like natural protein powder, pure vanilla extract, banana, milk, and honey. It makes an ideal post-workout shake or healthy breakfast smoothie, because it is refined sugar-free and is so easy to make. Learn how to make a homemade protein shake with this fast and effortless recipe!For this reason, it’s especially important to choose a product that is third-party tested or certified whenever possible. Are protein powders good for you? Protein powders may be convenient for building muscle but they’re only really necessary for vegans, who don’t eat enough protein or elite athletes who are training most days every week. Personal trainer Max Lowery wrote in a 2mealday blog post, “The average untrained person needs as little as 60-75g of protein and the average trained person who exercises three times a week needs 1.2g - 2g per kilo of bodyweight. You can easily get enough protein from eating real food - the western diet is protein dense.” Whether you’re trying to lose weight, build muscle, or simply fill gaps in your diet, protein powder can be a convenient way to increase your protein intake.

I found the powder mixed well with milk or even yoghurt thanks to the fine consistency and I love that it comes in so many different flavours. The powder is low in fat and sugar, although it does use sucralose and acesulfane K to sweeten, which might make some flavours a little sweet for some. Third-party tested” refers to whether the product is third-party tested to confirm purity and potency. To lose weight: Try incorporating more high protein foods throughout the day, as studies show that increasing your intake of protein could help reduce appetite and cravings ( 18). Generally speaking, it takes about 3500 calories to gain a pound, which is approximately 500 additional calories per day to gain a pound in a week.” Mix 3 scoops with 400-500ml of water and consume once per day. On workout days consume immediately post-training.We recommend 1 serving a day at least but if desired you can take more for extra calories as required.So what’s best? “Building muscle requires resistance training, sufficient protein and a small calorie surplus,” says Thompson. “In theory, any type of protein powder can be used to boost protein intake, but a protein powder with added creatine may help maximise training performance and therefore gains.” Is vegan protein healthier than whey? Each 35g serving contains 24g of protein, with 5g of BCAAs, including 2.2g of leucine. The mix of whey and casein means it can be used at any time, whether you need an instant hit of protein after a workout or a steady stream over the course of a night. A serving also only contains 2.5g of sugar and 4.4g of carbs in total, and the powder comes in five dramatically-named flavours, including Cookie Chaos and Strawberry Siege. Unlike typical protein powders, mass gainers are rich not only in protein but also in carbs and sometimes in other ingredients, such as healthy fats. Vegan protein powders are the fourth option. Pea, hemp, rice and soy are popular sources but there are plenty of others. “What’s key here isn’t just looking at the protein content, but the quality,” says Butcher. “You can tell that by looking at its essential amino acids – it’s ‘complete’ if it contains all nine. To achieve this, you’ll want a blend of at least two protein sources.” What is the healthiest protein powder to drink? The best time to take protein powder depends on your health goals. You may want to have one large portion or several small portions of protein per day.

Depending on your current intake and the number of calories and grams of protein you’re aiming to consume, you’ll be able to determine how much mass gainer might be best for you. Whatever your goal is when taking protein powders, nothing beats having a good quality, complete protein source,” says Butcher. “Whey is the gold standard there.” Who should take protein powders?Wondering if a daily shake is too much? “As long as you’re not completely relying on them over whole food protein sources, which will contain more micronutrients, it’s fine to use a protein powder every day,” says Butcher. If you’re bored, try some in your morning porridge or smoothie. Which protein powder is best for weight loss? Transparency: All products adhere to health claims and labeling requirements per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and are manufactured in facilities that adhere to the current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) established by the FDA. Quality testing: We prioritized products that are third-party tested for quality, accuracy, and purity. We also looked for products that are third-party certified to be safe for competitive athletes.