Whey protein can be used to help reach your fitness goals faster, but which is the best whey protein for beginners?
We went out in search of the top whey protein supplements for beginners in 2018 and this is what we found.Check them out below…
What Is Whey Protein?
Whey is simply a protein derived from milk. It is a complete protein source because it contains the full 9 essential amino acids.
Whey is then processed into three different types:
- Whey protein concentrate
- Whey protein isolate
- Whey protein hydrolysate
Whey protein isolate has a higher percentage of pure protein (fewer carbs/fat) compared to concentrate. Hydrolysate, on the other hand, is a “pre-digested” form of whey protein. Hydrolysate has the least potential to cause trouble for lactose intolerant individuals.
You can read more about the differences here.
When looking for a whey protein supplement ideally you would want to go with a supplement that has majority whey protein isolate or hydrolysate, but most whey protein supplements will often contain a blend of the three. This keeps the cost down.
Benefits Of Whey Protein
Whey protein isn’t just a muscle building supplement, but in fact, has plenty of other benefits such as fat burning and boosting your immune system. Here’s a list of the top 5 whey protein benefits:
- Help you burn more fat while preserving more muscle. (Source)
- Help you increase muscle size and strength. (Source)
- Help boost immunity. (Source)
- Help reduce cravings and hunger. (Source)
- And even helps fight cancer. (Source)
Are There Any Side Effects?
Whey protein is one of the safest supplements you can take, however, it has been known to cause increased bowel movements, nausea, thirst, and bloating in some individuals.
Also, if you are lactose intolerant it is probably best to give whey protein concentrate a miss or opt for rice protein isolate instead.
As with starting any new supplement, it is always recommended to consult with your doctor first.
Our Top 3 Whey Protein Supplements For Beginners In 2018
So which whey protein should you buy?
#1 MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate
MyProtein is a popular supplement brand from the UK, but how is their whey protein?
Impact Whey Isolate contains around 90% pure protein, delivers all the essential amino acids needed to build muscle and is reasonably priced. Impact Whey Isolate has an almost perfect score on Labdoor (Labdoor is an independent company that tests supplements) so you know what you are getting has been tested correctly for purity and label accuracy.
In each scoop of whey, you will be getting ~23 grams of protein, ~1g of carbs and ~0g of fats, which is diet and gym friendly (depending on the flavor, check them out here).
Impact Whey isolate doesn’t come in as many flavors as some of the other proteins on our list but there are still a few flavors to choose from (personally prefer chocolate).
Overall, Impact Whey Isolate is a high-quality protein source suitable for people looking to build lean muscle and/or lose fat.
#2 Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard
ON Gold Standard is our second choice of whey protein. ON’s protein is one of the most well known and widely used, and for good reason. They provide some of the best quality supplements on the market and their Gold Standard Whey is no exception.
In each scoop of whey, you’ll find a blend of whey protein isolates and concentrates. Isolates being the purest form of whey and the primary ingredient in Gold Standard 100% Whey.
Each scoop will give you around 24g of protein, 3g of carbohydrates and 1g of fat. Which means this is perfect for those people trying to lose weight or trying to build lean muscle.
In terms of flavors, Gold Standard comes in 22 flavors, so finding a flavor you like shouldn’t be much trouble. If you plan to add a scoop to your smoothies, I would recommend going with vanilla.
Overall this a high quality, great tasting and dependable whey protein choice.
#3 EAS 100% Pure Whey Protein Powder
For number 3 on our list, we have included a budget-friendly whey protein. This protein is made by EAS and has over 2000 positive reviews on Amazon.com.
EAS 100% Pure Whey offers no added sugar or fillers and is pure whey protein concentrate. Not as good as the other options on our list containing whey isolate, but will still provide a quality protein source for those with a budget in mind.
In each scoop of protein, you will be getting 30g of protein, 8g of carbs, and 1g of fat. Not bad at all.
Overall, great taste, good profile and a quality source of protein for those on a budget.
How Often Should You Take Whey?
You can take whey protein as often as you would like, however, I would recommend sticking to twice a day max. You want to still be getting the majority of your protein from whole foods.
You will want to take whey post workout, as whey is a fast digesting protein and will help your muscles recover from a tough workout.
Should you take whey with protein or milk?
This is also really up to you and your diet preferences, as taking whey with milk will have more calories than taking whey with water.
If you are trying to gain muscle, you can add things like peanut butter, and oats to your whey shake to bring up the quality calories, this will help you make sure you gain lean muscle and not put on tons of fat during your bulk.
Conclusion
Whey protein can help you reach your daily protein intake and provide a quality source of protein. When looking for the best whey protein, go for the MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate as it is the highest quality, contains the least amount of carbohydrates and is reasonably priced.
Just purchased Gold Standard whey so I was happy to see it on the list! Can I take whey for breakfast too?
Definitely! I like to have a serving for breakfast with some oats and peanut butter. You could even try some of these whey protein smoothie recipes https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/proteinshakes.htm