- Whey protein isolate
Pros of Whey Protein Isolate:
- Purest form of whey protein available
- Fat free, lactose free, carb free
- Excellent amino acid profile
- More protein per serving
- Ideal for both muscle building & fat loss
Cons of Whey Protein Isolate:
- More expensive tha concentrate & blends
Top Selling Whey Protein Isolate Powders:
2. Whey protein Concentrate
Whey protein concentrate is not as filtered as whey protein isolate, but it still very high quality and rich in amino acids (the building blocks of muscle tissue). Because whey protein concentrate is not as filtered as isolate, this means you will get slightly less protein per scoop of powder and often the calorie count will be higher. This might not matter for someone who is trying to gain weight, but for weight loss or someone who is trying to prepare for a competition this might matter. The difference is usually about 2-5g of protein per scoop. For a 30g scoop whey protein isolate might have 25g of protein and 105 calories, while concentrate may have 21g and 130 calories.
Pros of Whey Protein Concentrate:
- Well priced, with 5lbs starting at under $30
- High in amino acids
- Great for muscle building
Cons of Whey Protein Concentrate:
- Higher in fat and carbs than whey protein isolate
- More calories per serving coming from fat
Top Selling Whey Protein Concentrate Powders:
So by now you're probably thinking the choice is black and white, quality protein for a higher price, or lower quality protein at a low price. BUT, there is some middle ground!
3. Whey Protein blends
Whey protein blends, as the name suggests, is a blend of whey protein isolate and concentrate. By doing this, supplement manufacturers have found a good middle-ground between price and quality.
Not all protein blends are created equal though. Some have more isolate than concentrate, and vice versa. The way to you can tell this is by looking at the ingredients. The protein source listed first in the ingredients is the primary protein source. This is good to know when you're researching on what protein powder to buy.
Of all the protein powder available, whey protein blends are the most popular.
Pros of Whey Protein Blends:
- Good mix of isolate and concentrate protein sources
- Great value for money
- Excellent amino acid profile
- Less fat/carbs/lactose than whey protein concentrate
- Loads of brands to choose from
Cons of Whey Protein Blends:
- More fat/carbs/lactose than whey protein isolate
- Some blends contain a lot of whey protein concentrate
Top Selling Whey Protein Blends:
