Adding whey protein to your daily routine is one of the most convenient ways to boost your intake of this essential macronutrient. You often hear the advice that taking supplements is not a substitute for eating a well-balanced diet, and there is no argument about that.
Your main dietary source of protein should be whole foods since your body requires the various nutrients that are found in whole foods to stay healthy. However, when you need to supplement your normal diet with additional amounts of protein, whey products can come in handy.
The isolate form of whey protein is considered “purer” than the concentrate in that it contains a higher percentage of protein; typically 90% or more. It also contains minimal amounts of lactose, carbs and fats, which makes it more tolerable for people who are sensitive to lactose. On the downside, because most other nutrients get filtered out, whey isolate usually has a blander taste and it’s more expensive than the concentrate.
In case you’ve already decided that whey isolate is what you want and just looking for a decent brand to try out, then keep reading. The following are five of the best whey protein isolate (WPI) brands that use quality ingredients without any unnecessary additives or junk fillers.
Fact: If this is your first time trying whey protein, you may be disappointed when you find out it doesn’t taste as great as most reviews claim. Keep in mind that whey powder in general has a bland, chalky, and somewhat of an “artificial” taste that is barely tolerable when mixed with plain water. Most of the 5-star reviews are relative and usually come from users who blend the powder into a fruit smoothie or incorporate it into baked goods.
1. Sports Research
Sports Research has a nice selection of nutritional supplements that are made in a GMP certified facility in the USA. Some of their products have also been tested and certified by third parties.
The whey protein isolate from Sports Research is certified by Informed Sport. It comes in two versatile flavors: chocolate and vanilla. It mixes well and tastes good on its own, but better when blended into a fruit smoothie or just some milk.
This is currently one of the cheapest whey protein isolate brands you can find on the market that is of high quality. The 5 pound bag sells for $69 and contains 55 servings. The smaller 2.2 pound bag costs $38 and has 25 servings. Each serving contains 25 grams of protein.
2. NOW Foods
NOW is an established supplement brand in the USA and elsewhere that is known for their outstanding quality standards and reasonable prices. Every product they manufacture is comprehensively tested for purity, heavy metals and other potential safety hazards.
You can find a few formulas of flavored and unflavored whey protein under their NOW Sports line. The isolate is very clean and contains no additives or fillers. The only other ingredient in the unflavored powder is sunflower lecithin. The flavored versions contain natural sweeteners, natural flavors, and xanthan gum as a thickener.
NOW’s WPI mixes very easily in water or any other liquid and it is gentle on the stomach. It has zero sugar in it, which makes it tolerable for people with lactose intolerance.
The 1.2 lbs tub costs about $29 and contains about 19 servings, each of which provides 25 grams protein.
3. Biochem
Biochem may not be as popular of a brand as some of the top players in the market, but they are definitely worth a mention here since their whey isolate formulas are notably clean and of high quality. The milk used to make their protein is sourced from grass-fed cows raised in US farms and free from artificial hormones.
This company offers different formulations of naturally flavored WPI. Both the vanilla and chocolate flavors are free from artificial sweeteners and any useless additives. They do use stevia as a natural sweetener in some of their formulas, while others are unsweetened. They also use xanthan gum for added thickness and creaminess.
The product comes in different sizes — the 1.5 lbs tub has a price tag of $43 and contains 30 servings.
4. Bluebonnet Nutrition
This is another lesser-known brand that you may have never heard about, but should seriously consider giving a try. The whey they use is made from free-roaming, grass-fed cows’ milk that is free from antibiotics and artificial hormones. The product is also free from artificial sweeteners and flavors.
Bluebonnet’s whey isolate comes in a few natural flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mixed berry. It contains non-GMO sunflower lecithin, and it’s free from soy, gluten and added sugar. They use stevia as a natural sweetener, but if you want to avoid it you can choose the Original Flavor formula.
You get a 2-pound tub at a price of $48 and it has roughly 28 servings.
5. Muscle Feast
Finally, you may want to let your muscles feast on some quality protein from Muscle Feast! This is one more reputable company that doesn’t put a ton of junk additives into their products. They use grass-fed whey that is free from artificial ingredients and hormones.
If you prefer to add your own flavors and sweeteners, the unflavored powder is for you; it’s very clean with sunflower lecithin being the only additional ingredient. Alternatively, you can pick one of the several natural flavors they offer, which contain stevia for a natural sugar alternative.
This product is a little on the pricey side, but for grass-fed whey isolate, a 5-pound tub at $95 is not that far above the current average retail price on the market.
Top 5 Whey Isolate Powders Comparison
Check out the following table for a quick comparison of the five best whey protein isolate brands we discussed above.
| Brand | Flavors | Sweeteners | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Research | Chocolate, vanilla | Artificial sweeteners | 25 grams/serving |
| NOW Foods | Unflavored, chocolate, vanilla | Unsweetened or xylitol/stevia | 25 grams/serving |
| Biochem | Vanilla, chocolate, coconut | Unsweetened or stevia | 20 grams/serving |
| Bluebonnet Nutrition | Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry | Unsweetened or stevia | 26 grams/serving |
| Muscle Feast | Unflavored, chocolate, vanilla, mocha, and others | Unsweetened or stevia | 21.5 grams/serving |
If you’d like to learn more about each product and its complete nutritional profile, visit the links above to be redirected either to the corresponding company’s website or to a trusted third-party vendor website.
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