Best Protein Powders Unveiled & Reviewed

Protein Powders… Which ones are the best?  To use protein supplements or not to use them?  These are a couple of questions you might have when it comes to protein powders.

On this page Things Very Good will answer your questions about protein, and also reveal which protein supplements are the best for lean muscle gain, for weight loss (is there a protein powder for weight loss?), for meal replacement and more.

Before you consider taking a protein powder at all you should be asking yourself, Do protein powders work?  Let’s see if we can answer that question.

Do Protein Powder Shakes Work For Muscle Gain & Retaining Lean Muscle Mass?

The short answer is, if you are not getting enough protein, taking a protein supplement can help you meet your daily needs.

Unfortunately there’s NOT a lot of evidence based research that is specifically targeted to gaining muscle using protein powders.

We’ll diver deeper into this before revealing our favorite protein powders below, but the following video by John Venus, is very informative and answers a lot of important questions about the science supporting protein supplementation.

So Do Protein Powders Work?

You’ll be happy to know, there’s a legitimate study that looked at the effects of both whey protein and pea protein on muscle gains, compared to using no protein supplement at all?

The research has shown that muscle gains from pea protein are the same as muscle gains from whey protein.  Groups that received a placebo didn’t gain as much muscle thickness as those consuming pea protein or whey protein.

The researchers concluded that vegetable protein could be used as an alternative to whey protein.  That’s significant because the main Amino Acids that promote muscle growth are leucine, isoleucine and valine; and there are higher amounts of those amino acids in the whey protein.

The amino acids listed above are the main amino acids in most BCAA (branched chain amino acid) supplements.  I found a study that concluded leucine, isoleucine and valine together, helped subjects gain more muscle than the control group.

In addition to the control group, There were also subjects in the group taking whey protein powder instead of BCAAs.

In the same study the subjects taking BCAAs also reduced their body fat percentage and achieved a higher 10 repetition max than the control group.  The whey group didn’t increase there 10 repetition max compared to the control group, but they did increase their lean muscle mass compared to the control group.

We’ll get to our favorite protein powders pretty quickly.  First, let’s take a quick look at which protein powders are best for weight loss; Or how to use protein powder for weight loss.

How To Use Protein Powder For Weight Loss

You may be wanting a recommendation for the best protein powder for weight loss, and you’re not alone in your desire.

The reality is, protein powder can help you to lose weight, but it might not be for the reasons you may think.

In addition, as long as you have a high quality protein powder, with enough protein per serving, your protein powder can help.

The way protein powder can help is by making you feel more satisfied.

After consuming a sufficient amount of calories from protein, you’ll feel less hungry for longer than when you consume a similar amount of calories from carbohydrates or fat.

About 25 to 30 grams of protein in one serving can help you go longer without feeling hungry.

It’s important that you don’t overdo protein powders though.  Too much protein in your diet can lead to calcium loss and possible bone loss.

About 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day is about right for helping you lose weight and retain lean muscle mass while on a calorie restricted diet.

This means, you’ll still have to restrict your overall calorie intake if you want to lose weight.  But… taking enough protein can help you do it without sacrificing your muscle and without getting too hungry.

Best Protein Powders For Weight Loss, Muscle Gain and Retaining Lean Muscle Mass

This list of protein powders is not in order from best to worst.  These are our overall favorite protein powders for different reasons.

#1 Now Sports Organic Pea Protein Natural Flavored – Buy It Here!

Here’s the review LINK for Now Organic Pea Protein.
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#2 Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Powder, Vanilla Bean – Buy It Here!

Here’s the review LINK for Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Powder.
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#3 Now  Sports Organic Whey Protein Natural Flavored – Buy It Here!

Here’s the review LINK for Now Organic Whey Protein.
Paid Link

#4 Root2 Certified Organic Hemp Protein Powder Drink Mix – Buy It Here!

Here’s the review LINK for Root2 Certified Organic Hemp Protein Powder.
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#5 Organifi Organic Complete Protein Powder With Vitamins And Minerals – Buy It Here!

Here’s The review LINK for Organifi Protein Powder.
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Be sure to see our individual protein powder reviews to get the details about our favorite ones.

Have Questions About Protein Powders Or Want To Let Us Know About Your Favorite Protein Powder?

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