As for sugar alcohols, those are denoted by an “-ol” and include ingredients like erythritol, sorbitol, and maltitol. “We don’t digest those sugar alcohols, and so they actually enter our gut in the full molecular form, which can cause digestion upset, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas, all sorts of really fun GI things,” Grasso says. Not everyone will experience these symptoms, but it’s worth being aware of if you’ve ever found yourself worse for wear 30 minutes after downing your morning shake.
What’s the difference between whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate?
These are the two most common forms of whey protein you’ll see, and the choice between the two is another thing to consider when deciding which powder to go with. “Whey protein isolate is a filtered form of whey protein. It contains at least 90% protein and has less fat, carbohydrates, and calories than whey concentrate. It also contains very little lactose,” says Syn, which makes it a good option for those with lactose intolerance. Whey protein concentrate sits at about 70%–80% in protein content and contains more lactose than isolate, but the trade-off is that it’s often cheaper.
Best whey protein powder overall: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate, Chocolate and Vanilla
The whey protein isolate from supplement and at-home health test company Thorne won both the chocolate and vanilla flavor rounds of testing for a few reasons: Alkalized (a.k.a. Dutch-processed) cocoa in the former creates a rich dark chocolate taste, while the latter has a pleasant, subtle vanilla flavor that was a welcome change from some of the other vanilla powders I tasted, which tended to taste overwhelmingly of the kind of imitation vanilla you’d find in a boxed birthday cake mix. Both powders delivered a relatively creamy consistency even when mixed with plain water, and made for satisfyingly thick smoothies when blended with frozen fruit and almond milk. While they’re some of the pricier options on this list, I thought they were worth the extra 10 or 15 cents per serving for the flavor alone. I appreciated that Thorne’s powders are both sweetened with a mix of cane sugar and stevia, as opposed to the potentially head- or tummy ache-inducing sweeteners Grasso warns of (though it’s worth noting that stevia can cause these effects for some people). They’re also third-party tested, and because they’re isolates, they’re a great choice for the lactose sensitive.
Type: Isolate
Price per serving: $2.07
Grams of protein per serving: 21
Sweetener(s): Cane sugar and stevia
A great Stevia-free chocolate protein powder
If you’re sensitive to alternative sweeteners like Stevia and monk fruit, finding a flavored whey protein powder can feel like a Sisyphean task. Fortunately, this chocolate protein powder from Opportuniteas exists. It’s sweetened with just 8g of organic cane sugar, and has a nicely balanced flavor profile thanks to the addition of organic cocoa powder and a bit of Himalayan salt. When mixed with water, it tastes a lot like thinned out chocolate milk. I liked that the cocoa flavor wasn’t overpowering, but lent a pleasant chocolatey taste to mixed berry and banana peanut butter smoothies.—Carina Finn, contributor
Type: Isolate
Price per serving: $2.26
Grams of protein per serving: 20
Sweetener(s): Cane sugar
Best unflavored whey protein powders: Naked Grass Fed Whey Protein Powder, Promix Whey Protein Powder, and Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder
These unflavored protein powders were nearly identical in flavor when blended into a berry smoothie, which makes sense—they’re all essentially made up of one ingredient (though the Promix and Isopure both have some added sunflower lecithin). The main difference is that the Naked and Promix are made of whey concentrate, while the Isopure is, as the name suggests, a whey protein isolate, and thus may be a better pick for those who are sensitive to lactose. You can also buy the Isopure bundled with the brand’s collagen peptide powder.
