Written by Daniel Amador
One of the questions I hear a lot in regards to supplementation is, “What is the best protein?” This can be answered in several ways. Before I answer, I like to follow up with: “What are your goals?” and “What is your preference on flavor?” Now when it comes to protein it all comes down to what you are using it for.
Ultimately you want the best bang for your buck, but also the highest quality. You will find a vast amount of protein shakes to choose from, and if you are lucky you will get a salesperson that actually knows what they are talking about.
From personal experience, I would get a lot of women asking, “What tastes the best, and will it help me lose weight?” The unfortunate circumstance with protein is that the best taste is usually not paired with the most effective protein. Protein powders that yield the best results usually have a funny taste/ after taste and/or texture or are at times just “too sweet”.
When you look for a protein you have to consider what it is you are trying to accomplish. I have seen women first hand, go into a supplement store ask for a weight loss drink, and walk out with a mass gainer because “IT TASTES GREAT!” That is the biggest mistake you can make when looking for a protein. However, nowadays most companies are coming out with some stellar flavors and high quality ingredients, so this mistake can be avoided.
These are the types of protein available on the market:
- Whey concentrate
- Whey Isolate
- Hydro isolate
- Casein
- Soy
- Hemp
- Vegan
- Beef Protein
I will not get into much detail about each protein; however here is a break down for the best types and brands I personally recommend for beginners to the elite athletes.
Whey concentrate is one of the standards of protein. It is in almost every protein shake out there. You will ultimately get the bang for your buck; but a lot of the time a whey concentrate blend will have a higher calorie count, as well as be loaded with a bunch of fillers and in some cases “Amino lacing” properties. Amino lacing is where extra aminos are added to increase the product’s listed protein amount. Whey protein concentrate blends usually have the best flavor, which is great, but one needs to also be aware that these blends will have a higher carbohydrate and fat content. For those who have lactose issues I would suggest you stay away and pick another option. Whey concentrate blends are great for any beginner who is looking to maintain weight, or even gain weight. Some of my top picks would be Musclepharm Combat powder, BSN Syntha 6(which has incredible flavors), Cellucor Whey (which also has delicious flavors).
Whey Isolates can usually be found in most Whey concentrate blends. You will also find whey isolates as a stand-alone product or in it’s own blend with small amounts of both whey concentrates and hydro-isolate’s mixed into it. The benefit of Isolate protein is that it is one of the fastest absorbing proteins on the market. Usually it is very low in carbs and fats and great for weight loss/control. My picks would be Gold Standard 100% whey, Magnum Quattro (Lactose/Gluten free, easy mixing, added CLA, flax seed, and digestive enzymes).
My personal favorite and the highest quality protein available is hydro isolate protein. The benefit of Hydro protein is that it has been processed in a way where the lactose and fat has been completely eliminated. It is the fastest absorbing protein, which is optimal for reaching your muscles at a much faster rate. This protein is great for anyone but it is best suited for those looking to lose weight or looking for a faster recovery. Some of the best hydro isolate products have incorporated up to 8g or more of branch chained amino acids. The main amino in hydro isolate is glutamine, containing has 4g per 30g serving. What does that mean? It means better results and faster results. The only negative the hydro isolate protein is the price. You will be paying a little bit more for a little bit less. Personally, I would rather pay the extra bit for a higher quality product. My personal favorites are Dymatize iso-100 (lactose, gluten, sugar, fat, carb free, awesome flavors and great BCAA/Amino complex), Optimum nutrition Hydro Whey (good flavors and great BCAA/Amino complex with added digestive enzymes)
Soy, hemp, and vegan proteins are usually used by those who want to avoid supplements with animal ingredients. However, these supplements do not have near as high of a biological value (protein absorption value) as animal based proteins so I don’t tend to recommend these.
A good alternative to those wanting to use a supplement that is dairy free is beef protein. Beef protein has a similar biological makeup as eggs, which is great because that means that your body will absorb close to 100% of the product, due to the high biological value. It is a fantastic choice for those who suffer from lactose intolerance. It is also a healthy choice if you have high cholesterol as the product is completely cholesterol and fat free. The only negative to Beef protein is that is it so new that there really isn’t that much data to support its benefits. Nutritionally speaking it is great, however. I have only tried Primal beef protein from Dymatize and MuscleMeds Carnivore. My personal opinion is that Carnivore by MuscleMeds is the way to go, as it is stacked with BCAA’s and 2.5g of creatine per serving.
This is my personal break down of protein and which ones are best suited for you and why. Ultimately you need to understand that these products are here to assist you reach your goals; and not to be relied solely on. I strongly suggest following a balanced diet full of unprocessed natural foods and using protein supplements to ‘supplement’ your diet.
Yours in health,
Daniel Amador, Ballistic Labs rep