In other words, they’re for everyone. Choosing the right one for you comes down to what it’s made from. With the exception of vegan protein powders, most are made from whey (a by-product of cheese production), which comes in three different forms. For more ways to reach your fitness goals, read our guides to the best exercise bikes and the best running shoes for women. For a healthy body, the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) is 0.75g of protein per kg of bodyweight per day. If you don’t typically eat many animal-based sources, protein powders can help you hit that target. And they’re not only for people who go to the gym. Mass gainer’ protein powders may seem the obvious choice for those wanting to build muscle,” says Kristoph Thompson, director of S8 Training, which offers courses in PT and sports nutrition. If you are like me and would love to build solid muscle but suffer from IBS / Dairy Tollerance. This blend maybe just what you need to grow.

It may sound unusual, but egg white protein powder isn’t quite like consuming your morning omelette in drink form. In fact, in the case of Blonyx’s Egg White Protein Isolate, it’s more like a tall glass of chocolate milk. Some powders additionally contain creatine, which can boost performance during high-intensity exercise; powders designed to build lean muscle may contain L-carnitine, which helps your body use fat as fuel for exercise. Then there’s also good old caffeine, the most beloved energy booster of all, which can be found in many protein powders. Take a look at the full amino acid profile. It's a breakdown of all the essential amino acids, including powerful BCAAs. Informed Choice Certified Heads up, these details are based on unflavoured Impact Whey Isolate. The nutritional content may vary based on the flavour you choose.Experience supreme quality with Impact Whey Isolate, a protein powder renowned for being one of the purest around. If you’re not sure your gym routine is intense enough to justify splashing out on both whey and casein protein to support it, you can opt for this combination powder. Many powders contain a mix of both fast and slow-absorbing proteins but Grenade’s Hydra 6 stands out not only because of the 50/50 blend of each, but the quality of both whey and casein used. The powder uses premium whey isolate and ultrafiltered micellar casein to create a blend that’s easy to mix, not too stodgy to drink, and easily absorbed by the body. Egg white protein is a popular choice among certain gym enthusiasts for several reasons: for one, eggs are a highly digestible ‘complete’ protein source (all nine essential amino acids are present), while they undergo much less processing than their whey and plant protein counterparts on the way to the shelves.

So what’s best? “Building muscle requires resistance training, sufficient protein and a small calorie surplus,” says Thompson. “In theory, any type of protein powder can be used to boost protein intake, but a protein powder with added creatine may help maximise training performance and therefore gains.” Is vegan protein healthier than whey? No one protein powder will be healthier than any other, unless you are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy. “In which case, I would usually suggest one of the many vegan blends on the market,” says Butcher, adding that a shorter ingredient list is best for any. Whey isolate is more refined, and therefore more expensive. “Whey isolate is refined in a process that will remove the fat and the lactose from the compound,” says Butcher. “That makes it one of the leanest options, meaning it usually comprises of upwards of 90% protein content.” I found the powder mixed well with milk or even yoghurt thanks to the fine consistency and I love that it comes in so many different flavours. The powder is low in fat and sugar, although it does use sucralose and acesulfane K to sweeten, which might make some flavours a little sweet for some.Protein powders may be convenient for building muscle but they’re only really necessary for vegans, who don’t eat enough protein or elite athletes who are training most days every week. Personal trainer Max Lowery wrote in a 2mealday blog post, “The average untrained person needs as little as 60-75g of protein and the average trained person who exercises three times a week needs 1.2g - 2g per kilo of bodyweight. You can easily get enough protein from eating real food - the western diet is protein dense.” A combination of retail monitoring and supplement verification gives you peace of mind that Impact Whey Isolate is free from any impurities or banned substances. As a whey concentrate, MyProtein’s Impact Whey offers good value for money and at 103 calories per serving, it may be useful for those adhering to a calorie deficit. Each serving contains over 2g of the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) leucine, which plays a key role in muscle synthesis. Yes. If you’re a vegan or are avoiding dairy for any reason, there are powders with non-dairy protein sources such as soy. What flavours are available?

For allergens contained in product, see ingredients marked in bold. Produced in an environment that processes Milk, Egg, Soy, Wheat, Peanuts and Nuts. Having spent many years in the Gym, and many attempts at bulking/building on protein shakes I have finally put two and two togeather and realised that the shakes I have been taking were leading to some interesting toilet habbits. Habbits I would have rather gone without. Putting its own spin on the term ‘fast food’, The Protein Works’ Complete 360 Meal is a convenient way to secure all your macros and micros (including all-important fibre) in one go. Alongside its substantial protein content, the oats in the blend – while introducing a slightly chunkier texture – add a good dose of slow-release carbs to help keep you fuller throughout the day. Meanwhile, its added extras include coconut-derived MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) – a supplement popular among athletes and bodybuilders for its potential role in boosting weight loss and energy levels.

Looking to maximise your muscle gains after a workout? Then pick up one of these protein powders and mix up a shake

Each 35g serving contains 24g of protein, with 5g of BCAAs, including 2.2g of leucine. The mix of whey and casein means it can be used at any time, whether you need an instant hit of protein after a workout or a steady stream over the course of a night. A serving also only contains 2.5g of sugar and 4.4g of carbs in total, and the powder comes in five dramatically-named flavours, including Cookie Chaos and Strawberry Siege. READ NEXT: The best meal replacement shakes How much do I need to spend – and how long will a tub last? As for the taste, it has an oat-like, almost earthy taste typical of a lot of vegan proteins. If you’ve tried Huel’s main ‘complete powder’ in the past, you’ll recognise it. That said, this is easy to drink and despite coming in flavours such as Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Strawberries & Cream, it doesn’t feel too sweet or artificial. In fact, the Vanilla is particularly creamy, even when combined with only water. Here’s how it’s made.Whey comes from cow’s milk and is rich in protein — we take the best bits to make whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate.