Best Tasting Protein Powders 2014
Best Tasting Protein Powders
Yuck! Blah!! Ewwww!!! That's the reaction I had following my first sip of a protein shake I made after my doctor told me I needed to change up my diet and start exercising more. Obviously that $15 canister of protein powder I bought at Walmart wasn't going to work for me. All protein shakes couldn't taste this bad, could they? Since a cousin of mine works at our local Max Muscle store and I was sure I wouldn't be the first person asking him, I simply asked him, "what is the best tasting protein powder?"
Research... Research... Research
I'm sure this is the question almost every person has when first using protein powder. Like me, you're probably already familiar with some of the benefits of protein powder whether it's for muscle gain, weight loss, weight gain, or simply convenience. I learned that no concensus exists on what the best tasting protein powder is. Since everybody's taste preferences are different, there is no single answer. It's the same as asking somebody what the best looking car is. You ask ten people and you'll probably get ten different answers.
After doing extensive research by talking with my cousin and spending hours reading online fitness, diet, and bodybuilding forums, I created a list of about 15 types of protein powders which were known for their good taste. I had my him order samples of these protein powders (including different flavors) through his connection at work. After trying every single sample over a period of time, I came up with a list of what I consider the top 5 best tasting protein powders for men and women. Honestly, they're all delicious except for a certain flavor here and there which I note. You will notice that one of the most popular protein powders of all time, Optimum Nutrition, is not on the list. While most of its flavors are not bad tasting, it's simply not as good tasting as the others. It's still a good choice if looking for a good cheap protein powder.
Note:
Since I'm not an expert on nutrition, I did not factor in nutritional information such as how much protein, calories, fat, or carbs were in each product. I understand that certain products may be better for putting on mass or losing weight so I've done my best to note what type of person would most benefit from that particular protein powder.
#1 - BSN Syntha-6
Syntha 6 is hands-down the best tasting protein available.
— IDoSquidoo#5 - Beverly International UMP
Best Way to Mix Protein Powder
There are three main ways to mix protein powder: using a blender, with a spoon/fork, or some sort of shaker cup. While a blender is the optimal way to make a protein shake (and the ONLY way if you want to blend ice or fruit in it), cleanup can be time-consuming and you can't exactly take a blender with you to work or plug one into your car's cigarette lighter.
While it's possible to simply use a spoon or fork to stir protein powder in milk or water, you're almost always guaranteed to have at least a few clumps of powder that won't break up. Some brands of protein powder mix better than others, but simply stirring liquid and powder to make a protein shake is the worst way of doing this.
A shaker cup, specifically a Blender Bottle, is the absolute best way to mix protein powder when you consider how cheap, effective, and easy to clean up it is. The secret to making a clump-free protein shake is its stainless steel wire whisk ball. You simply add your liquid first (water, milk, juice, etc.), add your protein powder, screw on the lid, and shake. Since the whisk ball does most of the work, it doesn't even take much effort. I have never had the lid leak on me either as with other shaker cups I've tried.
Honestly, for under 10 bucks it's a must-have item for anyone that uses protein powder. I have one I use at home as well as another I take to work. While I've never used it for anything other than mixing up a protein shake, I hear it's great for making salad dressing, pancake batter, scrambled eggs, and pudding.