Athlete’s Guide to Whey Protein
Not everyone needs to supplement with a protein powder, but if you find yourself falling short of meeting your daily intake, adding in a whey protein might be a good option for you. Athletes should only use products that go through a third party certification, such as NSF certified or Informed Sport. Required for athletes to assure they aren't taking any illegal supplements; this certification assures what's listed on the package is what's actually in the product. Even if you aren't in collegiate or professional sports, I still highly recommend seeking out a protein with this certification. Why? Because it's constantly going through rigorous testing to make sure it's legit.
Informed Sport certified & trusted by many athletes, Ascent Whey Protein comes in six flavors, boasts of being a fast digesting protein as well as aiding in muscle recovery, and is made from the “least processed whey available today”.
Price: $39.99/2lb bag
Quality: 4/5 *only concerns: Natural Flavors + Sunflower Lecithin + Stevia as these can be gut irritants for some
Protein: 25g serving
NSF Certified & popular amongst athletes as well as fitness enthusiasts, Thorne’s Whey Protein Isolate offers bioavailable protein for optimal digestion & absorption.
Price: $51/1.99lb
Quality:4/5 *only concerns: Flavors, Stevia, Xanthan Gum, Carboxy-methylcellulose Gum as these can be gut irritants for some
Protein: 21g serving
Tested for heavy metals, free from artificial sweeteners & fillers, no GMO’s & no hormones, Levels was crafted for the everyday athlete.
Price: $59.95/ 5lb bag
Quality: 5/5 *only concerns: Sunflower Lecithin + Stevia as these can be gut irritants for some
Protein: 24g serving
Earth Fed Muscle believes in hard work & eating good. With plenty of protein flavor options, you’re sure to find a go-to favorite.
Price: $49.99/2lb
Quality: 5/5 *only concerns: Stevia, Sunflower Lecithin
Protein: 24g serving
ATH was founded with the mission of building better athletes by providing nutrition that uses real ingredients. ZERO artificial flavoring, sweeteners, colorings. Check out their list of banned ingredients. BUILD Whey is BSCG certified and tested for banned substances.
Price: $44.95/1.6lb
Quality: 5/5 *only concerns: Natural Flavors, Stevia
Providing solid supplements for athletes, Progrenex More Muscle Whey, suitable for low -carb or keto diet. Hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, which means the casein, fat, and lactose are removed before its broken down for faster absorption.
Price: $64.95/2.42lb bag
Quality: 4/5 *only concerns: Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Sucralose
Stronger. Faster. Healthier. SFH offers Whey protein in 3 variations: Pure, Fuel, Recover—each curated for a specific purpose.
PURE is simply whey protein for anyone looking to increase their protein intake.
FUEL is whey protein plus fiber and MCTs for natural and sustained energy.
RECOVER is a post-workout supplement designed to shorten recovery time.
Price: $55.99-$71.99 /1lb 15oz (varies)
Quality: 5/5 Sunflower Lecithin, Rebaudioside A *derived from Stevia
I love that their whey is sourced from small California dairy farms, and they also offer a goat’s milk whey that would be a good alternative for those dairy sensitive. Beyond their cows being grass-fed year-round, and raised without growth hormones like rBGH or rBST, their whey is completely free of additives and artificial sweeteners. Their whey is also non-denatured meaning that the nutrients are more bioavailable due to cold processing.
Price: $89.99/5lb container
Quality: 5/5
To check if your current supplements are NSF certified, click here. For Informed Sport, click here.
*Some products listed are affiliate links— see disclosure here.