We use cookies on this website to optimize performance and provide the very best expertise. By utilizing this website, you settle for our use of cookies. Study extra
This text shares 5 of the most effective additive-free protein powders I may discover throughout my newest analysis undertaking.
You see, after a few years collectively I’m breaking apart with my protein powder: it has a man-made sweetener I’m now not snug consuming.
So I combed by the substances & manufacturing practices of dozens of protein powders, and those I share on this article had been among the many cleanest I got here throughout.
In a while I’ll go into the product options, dietary & ingredient particulars for every of those 5 protein powders.
Subsequent, I wish to talk about my standards for selecting these protein powders above the remaining.
In different phrases, let’s have a look at what these protein powders don’t have in them.
As is my customized right here on heydayDo, I’ll present hyperlinks to the entire related sports activities science & medical sources, medical research, and dietary knowledge used on this article.
The seek for a clear protein powder
As I discussed on the outset, I dug by a ton of protein powder product materials in my quest to discover a new mate for my smoothie concoctions.
Speak about a flooded market. Simply have a look at my Amazon seek for protein powder – over 10,000 product listings:
(There’s a lot junk on the market tho’…I wager 9900 of them aren’t value swallowing should you’d actually choose a purer protein powder.)
So I made a brief listing of necessities for any protein powder I’d contemplate taking, and began hunting down all of the merchandise that had substances I don’t need in my protein powder or in my physique.
What’s in a clear protein powder
The 5 protein powders on this article can tick the entire packing containers on this listing.
No synthetic sweeteners
Elements on this class embody sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sugar alcohols**, aspartame, & another artificial sweetener they’re cooking up within the lab today.
However make no mistake: controversy and sharp disagreement encompass each one in every of these synthetic sweeteners.
One one hand they’re thought-about completely protected by the federal government.
I imply look, the FDA has accredited them for mass consumption, and lots of well being authorities agree with them.
One the opposite hand, there’s a loud refrain of physicians, nutritionists, scientists, & different involved public curiosity organizations who contemplate a number of of those synthetic sweeteners unhealthy if not toxic.
**sugar alcohols – I’m out of line for calling sugar alcohols synthetic, for the reason that FDA has dominated that they’re pure, and that they’re to be listed as a carbohydrate on Vitamin Details labels. I do know that sugar alcohols happen naturally in um…nature; they’re in a number of fruit & greens. However the stuff that’s added to processed meals like protein powders & bars isn’t fresh-squeezed, it’s “industrially made“.
Me? I simply don’t like downing synthetic substances frequently which have been synthetically made.
It’s a private weight loss plan selection and I’m nice with out ‘em, sincere.
And so are the 5 protein powders featured on this article.
No “natural flavors”
This veil is used to guard proprietary recipes/formulation comprised of pure issues like herbs, fruit, crops, and so forth., and I get that…Colonel Sanders’ secret recipe and so forth.
Nevertheless it’s additionally used as a cloaking machine for issues like MSG and different artificial issues I’m positively not into.
(Notice: I’m very accustomed to the FDA’s coverage on the time period Pure Flavors (1). I wrote about it in a analysis article I revealed right here on heydayDo on deceptive meals labels, should you’re within the matter.)
No different synthetic/artificial substances
This can be a catch-all class for another synthetic, processed junk that’s not a sweetener that’s individually listed on the product’s Elements listing (vs. being lumped in beneath Pure Flavors).
This might embody an ingredient mysteriously named Synthetic Flavors, or synthetically-produced nutritional vitamins & minerals thrown in to beef up the Vitamin Details label numbers, and so forth.
This additionally contains lab-derived (& non-essential) amino acids which might be added to the protein powder so as to increase the amino acid stats on the label, a sneaky advertising and marketing tactic referred to as amino spiking. (2)
A high-quality protein powder could have a wonderful amino acid profile with none assist from chemical components.
Simply have a look at the amino acid numbers of any 100% pure whey protein product; they’re loads ample.
No proprietary blends
Something listed as a Proprietary Mix is an undesirable ingredient in a clear protein powder.
The truth that the producer may as an alternative give it a reputation like Tremendous Amino Matrix Bomb, Yo! shouldn’t impress you both.
Because the customers of this concoction, we don’t know the way a lot of every ingredient is in these formulation, for the reason that FDA lets the producer preserve that data to themselves. (3)
I researched this complement business observe intimately and wrote about it in an article on proprietary blends right here on heydayDo.
No fillers
That is fairly self-explanatory.
Including ineffective weight to a protein powder (when all we wish to pay for is the protein) advantages the producer, not us.
Some fillers are chemical compounds used within the manufacturing course of to make the manufacturing extra environment friendly, or to make the product extra aesthetically pleasing, i.e. enhance texture or look.
Generally I rock chocolate flavored protein powder the place even the cacao or cocoa powder in it’s technically a filler, albeit one designed particularly to change the style.
There are some undesirable/unneeded ones although.
Think about a filler as any ingredient that isn’t from the protein supply in your powder.
Right here’s a non-exclusive listing of unneeded fillers:
Sugar free
This contains any form of sugar product, excessive glucose/fructose product, and merchandise like honey or tree syrup, regardless of in the event that they’re uncooked, natural, or scraped from the hooves of unicorns.
I devour loads of naturally-occurring sugar in my weight loss plan already (4).
I don’t want any extra of it, particularly as a processed additive in a complement.
Soy free
This implies no soy lecithin, which is without doubt one of the most typical emulsifiers utilized in protein powder manufacturing.
In case you don’t know, an emulsifier like lecithin – often soy or sunflower oil – is added to protein powders to assist it dissolve & combine with liquid higher, an anti-clumping agent if you’ll. (5)
My beef with soy merchandise isn’t the identical as the principle causes many individuals give for avoiding consuming something with soybeans in it.
Why some imagine soy is dangerous
Frequent causes folks assume soy is dangerous for them is because of analysis research they heard or examine that confirmed that:
1) soy accommodates phytates which scale back mineral absorption – particularly iron – as decided in a single examine from 1992 (6)
2) soy has compounds that intervene with thyroid perform, from a 1997 medical trial (7)
3) soy’s phytoestrogens can throw our hormones out of whack, together with decreasing testosterone ranges in males, mentioned within the German Medical Science Journal in 2014 (8)
However extra thorough analysis has disproved these theories
All three of these “bad soy” concepts have been confirmed inaccurate or flat-out unsuitable by science.
Relating to:
#1 Phytates – More moderen research have proven that merely cooking, soaking, de-hulling, or fermenting the soybeans considerably reduces any detrimental impact from their phytates (9)
#2 Thyroid – A scientific evaluate of 14 analysis research on soybeans’ affect on thyroid perform said that
“the findings provide little evidence that…soy foods, or isoflavones adversely affect thyroid function”, and that even “hypothyroid adults need not avoid soy foods.” (10)
#3 Hormonal Imbalance – A number of research debunk that principle. The American Society for Reproductive Medication’s evaluation of 47 analysis research concluded that
“neither soy foods nor isoflavone supplements alter measures of bioavailable T concentrations in men.” (11)
And one other meta-review of 35 extra medical trials discovered that
“(For) women in Western countries, pre- or post-menopausal, there is no evidence to suggest an association between intake of soy isoflavone and breast cancer.” (12)
For those who’re serious about extra compelling proof proving these factors, the medical publishing big Healthline and the distinguished health journal Runner’s World each debunked these anti-soy theories as effectively.
My “no soy in my protein powder” purpose
As I stated earlier, I don’t need soy in my protein powder for a unique purpose than these talked about above:
It’s that I’m not snug with consuming genetically-modified meals, and most soybeans grown right here within the US today are genetically-engineered.
Right here’s the USDA chart displaying that roughly 95% of all soybeans grown within the US are genetically-modified. (13)
I do know that no damning proof exists that proves GMO merchandise are dangerous for us. And I’ve regarded round at lots of GMO knowledge & opinion. (14)
I suppose it’s only a private selection of mine, like me preferring shorts, a tank high, & flip flops over a Lauren polo shirt, khakis, & Sperry Docksider footwear.
One thing simply bugs me about genetically-engineered meals, so I’ll politely decline till the federal government goes Soylent Inexperienced on me, and makes me eat GMO meals.
Hormone free
The U.S. meat, poultry, & dairy industries have an extended historical past of hormone use, as dairy farmers & beef cattle ranches are at all times making an attempt to spice up their milk & meat manufacturing effectivity. (15)
As early as 1954, the FDA allowed using artificial development hormones in dairy & beef cattle, ignoring scientific proof that confirmed hurt to people & the animals concerned too.
Analysis research have constantly proven that the artificial hormone residues make their manner into the meat & dairy merchandise US residents devour, as said by the American Public Well being Affiliation. (16)
Apart from the Monsanto-funded research, their Coverage Assertion provides.
“Now there’s a surprise.”
And for the final 27 years now, the dairy business within the US has been allowed by the FDA to shoot up their cows with the expansion hormone rbGH (recombinant bovine development hormone), AKA rbST (recombinant bovine somatotropin). (17)
This, regardless of these hormones being banned to be used in each the European Union & in Canada, attributable to their cancer-causing means in people who eat the meat & drink the milk. (18)
The Middle for Meals Security states that
“Canadian and European regulators have found that the FDA completely failed to consider a study that showed how the increased IGF-1 in rBGH milk could survive digestion and make its way into the intestines and blood stream of consumers.”
The FDA’s choice to facet with business will get worse:
These findings are vital as a result of quite a few research now display that IGF-1 is a crucial issue within the development of cancers of the breast, prostate and colon.” (19)
That is essential data to me as a result of in any case, whey protein powder comes from milk after all.
So if I’m going to drink a milk product, I’d positively wish to see the “rbGH-free” label please.
GMO free
Reality be instructed, the non-GMO label on meals merchandise has its personal set of free interpreters (20), controversies (21), and shortcomings (22).
On high of that there’s what I stated earlier, when speaking about soy: no exhausting proof exists proving GMO meals is dangerous for you.
However once more: I’m simply not snug consuming genetically-modified merchandise, and I don’t need any in my protein powder if I can keep away from it.
And so, since protein powder is a completed product from an extended line of dairy business processes, I’d choose a model that each shows the label AND is clear with their prospects about the place they supply their milk from.
Bear in mind: Some big meals corporations use the non-GMO label on their milk even when the cows are consuming genetically-engineered grain. (23)
So in response, many smaller non-GMO dairy product corporations (together with protein powder makers) have taken to tooting their very own non-GMO horn of their product advertising and marketing materials, bragging up their non-GMO standing whereas disclosing their clear sourcing practices.
I’m OK with their delight of possession; it helps me make a extra knowledgeable buying choice.
Finest protein powders with out sucralose
OK, time to get to the highest 5 protein powders.
Earlier than we do, right here once more is the listing of what all of them should not have:
(You possibly can click on on the product identify if you wish to test it out on its Amazon product web page.)
1. TGS – All Pure 100% Whey Protein
Options:
*25g protein per serving, 5.5g BCAAs
*4.7 ⭐ – 2,100+ evaluations on Amazon
*2 substances: whey & sunflower lecithin (for mix-ability)
*American cows, made in USA
*Un-denatured filtration course of
*Gluten free
See evaluations & present value on Amazon
2. Pure Label Vitamin – Grass Fed Whey Protein – “protein powder no artificial sweeteners”
Options:
*24g protein per serving
*4.6 ⭐ – 1,400+ evaluations on Amazon
*1 ingredient: whey
*Premium American dairy cows, made in USA
*Gluten free
See evaluations & present value on Amazon
3. Opportuniteas Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Options:
*29.7g protein per serving
*4.5 ⭐ – 1,200+ evaluations on Amazon
*Solely 2 substances: whey & sunflower lecithin (to enhance mix-ability)
*Chilly-processed
*American cows, made in USA
*Gluten free
See evaluations & present value on Amazon
4. Muscle Feast – Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Options:
*#1 ranked protein powder for high quality by Labdoor**
*4.6 ⭐ – 900+ evaluations on Amazon
*20.5 g protein per serving, 4.5g BCAAs
*Glorious amino acid profile
*Kosher licensed
*Gluten free
*German cows, made in USA
(** – Labdoor is an impartial third get together complement testing firm.)
See evaluations & present value on Amazon
“protein powder no artificial sweeteners”