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Buying a protein powder is no easy task. There are dozens of them to choose from, and they all have complex-sounding ingredients (along with the implicit threat that you’ll never see results if you don’t choose the right formula).
That’s especially true if you’re looking for a powder that will help you achieve a specific goal, like losing weight. It’s possible to take a powder that actually sabotages your weight loss efforts rather than supports them, so it’s important to do your research before picking something.
We tested 48 different protein powders in order to find the one that’s best-suited for helping you drop a few pounds, and the winner was Isopure Low Carb.
If you’re ready to finally take your fat-burning efforts to the next level, then picking one of the protein powders on this list is a great place to start.
1. Isopure Low Carb Whey Protein Powder — Best Protein Powder On the Market
Isopure Low Carb is a Great Muscle-Building Formula — But It’s Also a Whole Lot More
Whey protein powders are a dime a dozen, but Isopure Low Carb sets itself apart by offering more than just muscle-building ingredients.
It’s loaded with vitamin C and zinc for immune support, so in addition to getting big, you’ll also stay healthy (you can’t work out if you have a cold, after all). There are quite a few other important vitamins and minerals inside to give you plenty of energy for both your workout and the rest of your day.
As for the protein, there’s a healthy 25 grams per serving, which should help you pack on the lean muscle as quickly as possible. You’ll also find 5.5 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which will boost your recovery and help you look and feel your best.
There’s no sugar inside, either, and only a single gram of carbohydrates. That means that you won’t accidentally add on some flab with your new muscle, and it makes the formula quite keto-friendly. That comes at a price, of course: this won’t taste like a real milkshake. The flavor isn’t bad, per se, but there are definitely tastier options out there. It’s up to you if that’s worth slowing down your progress.
In addition to lacking sugar, you won’t find gluten or lactose inside, so it should work with even the most restrictive diets. There are 7 different flavors to choose from, which isn’t as much as some other powders can offer, but it should still be enough for you to find one that works for you.
What I Liked
- Solid amount of protein
- Includes vitamin C and zinc for immune support
- Healthy amount of BCAAs
- No sugar and few carbs inside
- Gluten- and lactose-free
What I Didn’t Like
- Taste isn’t the greatest
2. Premier Protein Powder — Best Budget Protein Powder
If You Want the Most Protein at the Lowest Price, This is the Way to Go
Premier Protein Powder is one of the most popular shake formulas on the market — and for good reason. While being ubiquitous in stores might be cause for caution with other health products, this one seems to sell like hotcakes because it truly is an excellent protein powder. (It’s also cheap, which may have something to do with its popularity.)
The protein levels are some of the highest you’ll find anywhere, as there’s 30 grams in each serving. It’s also easy for your body to absorb and process, ensuring it goes to your muscles instead of getting wasted in the digestive process.
All that protein will help you stay full for quite some time, so this makes a great meal replacement shake as well as a workout enhancer. Given that there are only 150 calories in each serving, you can quickly shave off the pounds by relying on this stuff instead of grabbing a slice of pizza. It’s quite tasty, too, so you won’t feel like you’re punishing yourself every time you pour some into your glass.
The flavor tends to accentuate other ingredients rather than dominate them or mix poorly with them, so if you like tossing some fruit into your smoothie, this is a good choice to do that. It also works equally well when mixed with milk or water.
While the taste is good, the texture leaves something to be desired. It doesn’t really clump, but it doesn’t thoroughly mix, either; you’ll likely have little flakes of unmixed powder floating on the surface no matter how much you stir or mix it.
It’s not quite sugar-free, but there’s only one gram per serving, so that shouldn’t cause your weight to balloon uncontrollably. Likewise, you’ll only find 2 grams of carbs inside, making it a keto-friendly option.
What I Liked
- Good value for the price
- Works equally well as a meal replacement shake
- Very high protein levels
- Taste mixes well with other ingredients
- Keto-friendly formula
What I Didn’t Like
- Tends to leave flakes floating on surface
- Not entirely sugar-free
3. Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder — Best Vegan Protein Powder
If You’re Worried About Ingesting Animal Products or Strange Chemicals, That’s Not an Issue with This Powder
Anyone who’s worried about their ethics as much as their abs will love Orgain Protein Powder. It’s an organic, plant-based option that doesn’t use artificial ingredients or anything sourced from animals.
In addition to being organic and vegan, it’s also gluten-free, soy-free, kosher, and has no GMOs. Whatever it is you don’t want to eat, this stuff doesn’t have it. It doesn’t use sugar, either, but it does have stevia, which may be off-putting to some (especially those with sensitive stomachs).
Even so, you won’t have to sacrifice much in the way of performance as a result of going vegan. There’s still an impressive 21 grams of protein in here; while that’s less than some of the other formulas on this list, it’s still more than enough to help you drop a few pounds and build some muscle at the same time.
It’s a versatile powder, too. It mixes equally well with milk or water, and it can even be used in baking for a little protein boost. The flavor is sweet but understated, so it can be used as a base without interfering with whatever flavors you’re mixing it with. And speaking of mixing it, it should be pretty seamless, with no clumps or flakes.
There’s a good amount of fiber inside as well, thanks largely to the fact that it includes a ton of plant-based ingredients like pea fiber, chia seeds, and brown rice protein. That should help keep you full, as well as regular. It also adds some heft to the mixture, which is excellent for anyone who doesn’t like thin, runny shakes.
However, all that fiber is likely to cause…other issues. It can cause quite a bit of gas, which can be both painful and embarrassing (but can also help ensure you have the gym to yourself).
What I Liked
- Organic and vegan formula
- Mixes smoothly
- Can be used in baking
- Includes 6 grams of fiber
What I Didn’t Like
- Stevia may cause digestive issues in some users
- Fiber levels can cause gas
4. Garden of Life Raw Organic Plant-Based Powder Shake with Probiotics & Enzymes — Best Protein Powder for Health
If You Want a Powder That Will Improve Your Overall Health, Start Here
Another plant-based option, Garden of Life Raw is made from organic peas and 13 other organic grains and seeds. All of those plants add up to give you 22 grams of protein in every serving, which is plenty to turbocharge your workouts.
There’s more in here than just protein, though. They’ve added plenty of vitamins and enzymes (like vitamin A, zinc, and arginine) to ensure your body reaches peak performance. All of those nutrients are fat-soluble, so they should get absorbed into and used by your body instead of just passing through.
There are 4 grams of BCAAs inside in addition to all that protein and those vitamins, and they should help you stave off soreness and fatigue. That enables you to work out longer and harder, thereby burning more fat and packing on more muscle.
The powder is made at low temperatures, which is important because high heat can damage the protein and make it harder for your body to utilize. It also ensures that the live probiotic cultures aren’t killed along the way, allowing them to help restore balance to your digestive tract rather than being dead on arrival.
It doesn’t use any added sugar, but it relies on stevia in its place, which can have some ill effects on users with gastrointestinal issues. It may want to rethink the lack of sugar, though, as it has a chalky taste when mixed with water. You’re better off mixing in fruits or at the very least using almond milk as a base than just plain water.
What I Liked
- Includes a vitamin mix for overall health
- Made at low temperatures to maintain protein integrity
- Has live probiotic cultures inside
- Vegan and organic
What I Didn’t Like
- Stevia may cause digestive issues in some users
- Chalky taste
5. Legion Whey+ Protein Powder — Best Flavor
This is One Sweet Powder — For Better and For Worse
Legion Whey+ is most certainly not a vegan option, as it’s made with milk taken from grass-fed cows. While that may not be ideal for animal lovers, it’s great for bodybuilders, as it gives them a solid protein base without adding a lot of chemicals and toxins.
All of that milk adds up to 22 grams of protein per serving, which should help you on your quest to getting jacked. There are also 5.6 grams of BCAAs inside, and only about 100 calories. That lets you pile on the muscle without getting flabby along the way.
The reason why they can keep the calorie count low is because they eschew artificial sweeteners and other additives. The ingredients list is short and sweet, with only foods that you’ve heard of, so you’ll know exactly what you’re putting into your body every time you drink one of these shakes.
On the negative side of the ledger, this is one of the pricer proteins out there (feeding those cows all that grass is expensive, we suppose). You might expect to get more than 22 grams of protein for how much you’ll spend on this stuff, especially since there are cheaper options that offer more.
This is also an extremely sweet powder, which may make it easier for some people to get down. However, that sweetness can be overpowering, especially if you’re trying to use it for cooking or want to throw some fruit in your smoothie.
Then again, that sweetness also makes it one of the more decadent shakes out there, so it’s not something you’ll have to choke down. It can actually serve as a dessert, or it will be a meal replacement that you’ll actually look forward to.
What I Liked
- Made using milk from grass-fed cows
- Good combination of protein and BCAAs
- No artificial sweeteners or other additives
What I Didn’t Like
- On the pricey side
- Sweetness can be overpowering when mixed with other flavors
What We Looked For in the Best Protein Powders for Weight Loss
When trying to pick out the best protein powder, it’s easy to scan the labels and just pick the one that has the most protein in it. However, that’s not necessarily the best approach — especially if you want the best protein mix for losing weight.
For the purposes of this list, we looked for powders that stand the best chance of helping you shave a few inches off your waistline. They’ll also help you pack on some extra muscle, but we primarily focused on those powders that can help you lose weight.
That means we looked for the following:
-Low in calories
-Little or no added sugar
-Enough protein and fiber to keep you full
-Great taste
How to Choose the Right Protein Powder for Weight Loss
It’s one thing for us to tell you that we believe Isopure Low Carb is the best protein powder you can buy; it’s quite another for us to show you why it’s so good. While we think it’s the top powder out there today, it may not be for everyone, and you need to know what to look for if you want to try a different high-quality powder.
Below, we’ll go over some of the key features you should look for when trying to choose a protein powder to help you lose weight.
Low in Calories
This may seem like it should go without saying, but it’s amazing how many people fail to check how many calories they’re ingesting with each protein shake. These drinks can be a sneaky reason why you’re not meeting your weight loss goals, so check the calorie count before buying.
No Added Sugars
As with calories, added sugars can sabotage your weight loss efforts. This one’s a bit of a double-edged sword, though, because using sugar is a big reason why some protein powders taste great and others taste like chalk.
Many weight-loss protein powders compensate by using natural sweeteners such as stevia. This can be a good compromise, but many people have trouble digesting such sweeteners, so read the label if you have a dodgy stomach.
Other Vitamins and Nutrients
Many protein powders offer more than just protein. You’ll also find other important vitamins and minerals inside, and they’re usually designed with a central aim in mind.
For example, Isopure Low Carb has vitamin C and zinc to boost your immune system, while other formulas often use important amino acids to help speed up your recovery times and allow you to work out longer and harder.
There’s no right answer as to what secondary purpose you want your protein powder to serve, but there’s also no reason not to try to kill a second bird with your single stone.
Dietary Fiber
Fiber serves two important purposes when it comes to weight loss: it helps keep you full between meals, and it also helps clean out your pipes, ensuring you’re not carrying around unnecessary weight.
Now, a protein powder is not a fiber supplement, so don’t expect to see massive amounts of the stuff in any of the formulas you’re considering. That being said, there are some powders that place a clear emphasis on digestive health, and we feel they deserve a spot at the front of the line.
Protein Type
Not all protein is created equal. Some is made from plant-based sources, while others come from animals. It’s generally believed that animal-based proteins are more easily absorbed by your body, but the difference is likely to be negligible, so we wouldn’t worry about it too much.
If you’re vegan, though, then you should definitely check to make sure you’re getting plant-based protein.
Potential Allergens
Many of today’s protein powders take care to avoid common allergens like gluten or soy. That’s not guaranteed, however, so if you have a food allergy, you need to make sure you find a formula that can accommodate you.
There are also powders that are kosher, vegan, organic, and everything in between, so regardless of how restrictive your diet is, you should be able to find one that works for you.
Taste
If you’re looking to lose weight, then it’s unlikely that the protein powder you use will taste just like a milkshake — you simply can’t afford the extra calories that would come with all that flavor.
Still, there’s no reason why you can’t find a protein powder that tastes good, so don’t be afraid to move on if the first one you try tastes like garbage.
Wrapping Up
If you want a protein powder that will help you lose weight and add muscle, then we feel that Isopure Low Carb is the way to go. Not only will it contribute to weight loss, but it will improve several other aspects of your health as well.
At the end of the day, though, you need to pick the best protein powder for you. If you can find one that tastes great and meets your nutritional needs, you’ll be well on your way to the body of your dreams.