Protein Powders
Which Protein Supplement is Best?
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past decade, by now you are
well aware of the lean muscle-building benefits of protein. Protein provides the
building blocks for muscle development, and whey-dominated protein powders in
particular are virtually a "must-have" element of any serious bodybuilding or
fitness nutrition program.
Because of its outstanding bio-availability and its extremely rapid
absorption, a basic protein powder is still one of the best and most effective
physique enhancing supplements on the market.
But with so many quality proteins available--and so much money being spent on
overstated advertisements, added ingredients of questionable value, and
worthless hype--deciding which basic protein powder makes the most sense for you
in terms of both ingredients and cost can often be a frustrating chore.
To help you make the most intelligent decision, here's a quick comparison of
some of the highest quality and most popular brands currently on the market:
Comparing Ingredients
When shopping for an appropriate protein supplement, you'll want to pay
attention to total calories and the breakdown between protein, carbohydrates,
and fat.
Comparing Cost
Now here's a cost per serving analysis of these same popular products. In
order to keep the comparison relevant, I've decided to look at just the 2 lbs.
and 3 lbs. containers. Of course, you can often save more money per serving by
buying larger quantities, but more on that in a moment.
You'll notice that I've ranked the products for you from least expensive on a
per serving basis to most expensive.
So now you have an idea of what's in these popular protein products and where
each one ranks on a cost per serving basis. Another piece of the protein puzzle
involves looking closely at the quality of the various powders.
Comparing Purity
The chart below compares the purity (the % of the powder that is actual
protein as opposed to fillers and/or other ingredients) of the most popular
protein powders. In general, the higher the purity percentage number is, the
better. The products are ranked from purest in terms of protein content, to
least purest.
My general feeling, is that if you're looking for a quality protein product
and not a meal replacement, than a purity number of over 70% is desirable. Over
80% is outstanding.
Conclusions and My Protein Recommendation
As you can see from the Purity chart above, AST's VP2 is tops. It's one of
the best whey protein formulas I've seen. But at over $1.00 per serving it's
pricey, and I have to confess that I'm not a big fan of the taste either: it's a
bit harsh.
In terms of purity, 2nd place goes to Optimum's 100% Whey at an
excellent 81%. 100% Whey also comes in as the most economical per serving of the
entire bunch. And I love the taste! For me, that's a winning combination.
If you're looking for a high quality, versatile, and economical protein
powder, then Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey is an excellent choice. At only $0.45
per 23 gram serving, and a rock-solid purity reading, 100% Whey is truly a
protein bargain.
100% Whey is also available in a 5 lbs. size that drops the cost per serving
down to a very appealing $0.37.
If you're willing to pay a little bit more and want the best whey protein
available regardless of taste, then
AST's VP2 is worth
a try. Pure, clean, and effective.
If taste is the main issue for you, then you'll want to go with one of the
handful of protein powders consistently rated among the very best tasting. Those
include Optimum's 100%
Whey and EAS's Precision Protein.
