Best Types of Protein Supplements
Protein powders have been popular among health-conscious individuals for a long time due to their importance for muscle building and speeding up recovery.
As there is such a huge demand for protein powders, there are a lot of different options in the market. Protein powders can act differently based on an individual’s specific goals, diet, and needs – making it difficult sometimes to know what type of protein powder will work for you.
To make things easier, we have created the below list of what protein powders are considered the best!
Best Protein Supplements
Whey Protein
Whey protein comes from milk – it’s made from the liquid that separates from the cheese curds during the cheesemaking process. Whey protein is very high in protein, while also containing lactose, which is a milk sugar that a lot of people struggle to digest properly.
Although whey protein concentrate still retains some lactose, the isolate version only contains a small amount, this is due to most of the milk sugar being lost during processing.
Whey digests fast and is rich in BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), and Leucine – which is one of the BCAAs – and plays a large part in promoting muscle recovery and growth after endurance and resistance training.
When amino acids get digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they then become available for MPS (muscle protein synthesis) or the creation of new muscles.
There have been studies that show whey protein can help to build and maintain muscle mass and assist athletes in their recovery from intense workouts, while also increasing muscle strength in response to strength training.
You can click here to browse our large range of whey protein.
We have listed our DSI best selling whey protein below:
Kinetica whey protein is derived from grass-fed, hormone-free cow’s milk. A high-quality blend of whey protein with essential peptides and amino acids. What makes Kinetica’s whey protein unique is its digestive enzyme Aminogen. Aminogen is derived from a plant enzyme that may help the body naturally liberate free-form amino acids from food protein.
Discount Supplements 100% Whey Protein 1kg
DS 100% Whey is made from high-quality, grass-fed Whey Protein Concentrate. It offers an impressive 20g of protein per 30g serving and is naturally high in BCAAs. Providing all the essential amino acids, DS 100% Whey Protein tastes delicious and is instantised for easy mixing. DS 100% Whey Protein is also low in calories, fat, carbohydrate and lactose due to its high protein content.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein 2.25kg
Each serving contains 24 grams of the purest protein powder per serving. Optimum nutrition whey is made with whey protein isolates, which has a higher protein content than standard whey protein. The best part about whey protein isolate is that it contains an incredible range of essential amino acids.
Casein Protein
Just like whey protein, casein is a protein also found in milk – however, casein is digested and absorbed much slower.
Casein forms a gel when it interacts with stomach acid, slowing down stomach emptying and delaying your bloodstream’s absorption of amino acids. This will result in a slower, steadier exposure of your muscles to amino acids, which will then reduce the rate of muscle protein breakdown.
There has also been researching that suggests that casein is more effective at increasing MPS (muscle protein synthesis) and strength than wheat and soy proteins – but a lot less than whey protein.
You can click here to browse our casein protein range.
We have listed our DSI best seller below:
Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein Protein 908g
Optimum Nutrition Casein Protein delivers 24 g of slower digesting casein proteins. Casein proteins are pH-sensitive. While rapid protein absorption is desirable immediately before or after exercise, delayed release is probably more beneficial throughout the remainder of the day & especially last thing at night.
Pea Protein
Pea protein powder is incredibly popular among vegans, vegetarians, and those who suffer from allergies or sensitivities to dairy or eggs. Pea protein is made from the yellow split pea, which is a high-fiber legume that has 8 out of the 9 essential amino acids; it is also very rich in BCAAs.
In a study with mice, it was shown that pea protein is absorbed faster than casein, but slower than whey protein.
In a study with 161 men undergoing resistance training, it was shown that those who took 50 grams of pea protein daily, experienced similar increases in muscle thickness as those who took the same amount of whey protein daily.
You can click here to browse our pea protein range.
We have listed our DSI best selling pea proteins below:
Supreme Nutrition Vegan Protein 1kg
Supreme Nutrition vegan protein is made with pea protein – a complete and high source of plant protein with essential amino acids. Pea protein is also a great source of iron, supporting muscle growth, weight loss and heart health. Our vegan formula contains added l-leucine, l-isoleucine and l- valine, which helps with muscle protein synthesis and muscle recovery.
RAWFUSION’s exclusive mix of pea protein isolate, sprouted brown rice protein concentrate, artichoke protein concentrate, and EFA-rich sunflower oil matrix delivers this patent-pending formula that’s ideal for vegans and is a high-protein and sensible choice for non-vegans as well. In fact, with over 4.5 grams of BCAAs per serving, RAWFUSION’s amino acid profile rivals that of milk protein but without any of the drawbacks of dairy or animal-based protein.
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein 750g
SunWarrior Blend Plant-Based Protein provides a full amino acid profile with all organic fermented pea protein, goji berry protein, and hemp seed protein and MCTs from coconut. Warrior Blend is easy to digest so your body can quickly assimilate and use the protein.
Brown Rice Protein
Protein powders made from brown rice have been on the market for quite some time, but they are usually considered to be the inferior choice when compared to whey protein for muscle building, and even though rice protein contains all of the amino acids, it is much too low in lysine to be considered a complete protein.
Brown rice does, however, provide plenty of protein and fiber while being gentle on the digestive system and kind to those with allergies. This whole-grain superfood is raw and sprouted, and it will help you take your workouts to new levels with all the amino acids a growing muscle needs.
Although there isn’t a lot of research on pea protein powders, there have been some studies that show that taking 48 grams of rice protein or whey protein daily, resulted in very similar changes to the body composition, muscle recovery and muscle strength.
We have listed our best selling brown rice protein below:
Sunwarrior Classic Plus Organic Protein 750g
Organic Certified Classic Plus Vanilla builds on Sunwarrior’s original rice protein by adding in the amino acid balancing effects of peas, chia seeds, quinoa, and amaranth. This superfood combination still relies heavily on the gentle nature of whole-grain brown rice, but with a hefty dose of the strength that has made Warrior Blend so popular.
Protein powders provide high-quality protein in a highly concentrated and convenient form, and although not everyone needs protein powder supplements, they can definitely be beneficial if you do strength training or are unable to meet your protein needs with your diet alone. But remember: it’s always a good idea to speak to a dietitian, personal trainer, or health professional before you start taking food supplements.
Best Protein Food Sources
Egg Protein
As you know, eggs are a wonderful source of high-quality protein. Out of all the whole foods, eggs contain the highest protein PDCAAS (protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score) – this score is a measure of a protein’s digestibility and quality.
Usually, egg proteins are made from egg whites, and not the whole egg – although the protein quality remains incredibly high, you might experience less fullness because the high-fat egg yolks have been removed. For an easy way to consume egg whites, you can purchase our Easy Egg Free Range Egg White ready for consumption!
Just like all animal products, eggs are a complete protein source, meaning that they provide all of the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make themselves – on top of this, egg protein is second only to whey as the highest source of the BCAA leucine, which plays the biggest role in muscle health.
Egg-white protein is a great option for those with dairy allergies or for those who prefer a supplement based on animal protein.
Beans and Legumes
All kinds of dried beans, lentils, and split peas are a great way to increase your protein intake – one serving of beans can provide about 7 grams of protein, which is the same as 28 grams of meat.
Beans and legumes will also keep you fuller for a lot longer as they are so rich in fiber, while animal sources, in contrast, contain no fiber at all – on top of this, legumes are also a lot higher in antioxidants.
Wild Salmon
Wild salmon is so great as it is the perfect source of lean protein while also providing incredible benefits due to its anti-inflammatory fats.
One serving of wild salmon can contain nearly 17 grams of protein while also providing an important nutrient that our bodies cannot make by themselves – omega 3 fat.
