Protein natural taste. Testing the flavors of Optimum nutrition Whey Gold Standard protein. Girls who have set themselves the goal of losing weight
Protein has always been considered one of the most popular sports nutrition products. And this is not surprising, because the dose of protein necessary for muscle growth is much easier to obtain with the help of protein shakes, which are absorbed much faster than proteins from regular food and, moreover, do not contain additional fats and carbohydrates.
Protein is obtained in various ways from animal and plant products, and to neutralize the unpleasant odor and taste, the protein undergoes thorough purification, as a result of which the taste of the protein, ready for use, is completely neutral or slightly sweet. If the protein contains bitterness and other unpleasant odors, this indicates poor quality cleaning.
But constantly drinking a completely tasteless liquid is also not fun, so most modern protein powders add various flavoring additives, and sometimes even dyes.
You can, of course, talk for a long time about the fact that this is a harmful “chemical”, but if it were not for the additives, then protein in its pure form would hardly be drunk with such pleasure. In addition, the ordinary food that we eat today contains no less than that same “chemical”, and it has official permission for use in the food industry. This suggests that the flavoring additives included in the protein do not pose any threat to the athlete’s health. In addition, high-quality proteins use additives and dyes only of natural origin.
The most common and favorite protein flavors are banana, strawberry, chocolate, orange, raspberry, vanilla, etc. But in order to choose a truly tasty and healthy protein, you need, first of all, to look at its quality and popularity in the modern market. Therefore, as an example, we will give a number of the most popular proteins from well-known brands.
Let's start with a product called Syntha-6. This protein is produced by BSN. It contains proteins with different periods of action, but is based on whey protein concentrate enriched with minerals (calcium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium). This protein comes in eight delicious flavors and dissolves well in milk or water.
The second popular and high-quality product among the many proteins is Whey Protein from 
Optimum Nutrition company. The manufacturer of this protein has been considered one of the best companies in the field of sports nutrition since the 90s. This whey protein has the highest protein concentration and has excellent taste. 30 grams of powder contains 24 grams of protein and a minimum of fat and carbohydrates.
Proteins from Ultimate Nutrition can also be classified as high-quality high-protein products (25 grams of protein and only 1 gram of fat in 30 grams of protein powder). The taste of the protein may vary depending on additives.
However, this protein manufacturer also has a Natural series, which features completely tasteless proteins, which is an important factor for some athletes. The tasteless protein can be mixed with milk and fruit to create a delicious and healthy protein shake.
The most popular brand in the world of protein supplements is the Muscletech series from Nitro-Tech. The protein of this 
The brand is distinguished by good quality, but also quite high cost. This product contains a lot of vitamin B6, which is the main stimulant of good mood and vigor.
A 30-gram scoop of powder contains 20 grams of protein. Therefore, this protein gives the athlete everything he needs for active training and muscle nutrition throughout the day. Muscletech protein flavors are very pleasant and are available in a fairly wide range.
Proteins from the German manufacturer Power System are also very popular today. They are based on casein protein, which has a long absorption time and lasts longer (up to 6 hours). This is an ideal option for those who want to gain muscle mass and remove excess fat.
This protein provides nutrition to the muscles during active fat-burning workouts. The Power System series is also famous for its protein bars, each of which (70 grams) contains 30 grams of pure protein. The taste of this protein can be very different, but the most popular are chocolate and strawberry.
It is recommended to dilute protein powder in water or skim milk. However, due to the fact that the protein mixture is not always well mixed, shakers and blenders are used to prepare a protein shake. A properly prepared cocktail should not contain lumps, and thick foam will always form on the surface of the drink. You should also not pour hot water over the protein, as the protein will curdle.
Many athletes make it a point to study their labels when choosing quality whey protein. A wide variety of information can be found here. One manufacturer is in a hurry to surprise the buyer with the amount of protein per serving, another talks about the features of whey protein. Still others begin to inflate its properties and assure that the athlete will definitely not have any allergies from this powder.
When buying protein, you should know that the label is a sales pitch, which is usually very different from reality.
How to choose a protein
In this article we will talk about how much the taste of protein can tell about its properties and quality. To check the quality of whey protein, you do not need complex machines and testing units. It is enough to have taste buds and be able to draw logical conclusions.
Of course, not all stores offer the opportunity to taste protein, but you should strive for it. If they don’t let you try, look for a store where you can do it. By taste it will immediately become clear what kind of protein product is in front of you and what quality it is.
Protein taste
The first thing we notice when we open a can and taste the protein is how fresh it tastes. The protein itself should look like cream and taste like milk that was just about to be brought into the house. It is unlikely that the taste of milk can be confused with something else. If the protein in the jar smells like something bad and unnatural, like chemicals from a laboratory, this is a sure sign that you are being offered to buy something other than protein. Look only for a product that has the fresh smell of the milk we love since childhood. This way you can never go wrong with quality.
Another important point is the aftertaste. Some proteins leave a bitter aftertaste, which immediately indicates the presence of artificial substances used to sweeten the product. Natural protein with a natural sweetener will never “delight” with such an aftertaste.
Protein composition
You should also be wary of products that contain sugar alcohol. By the way, fructose is no less harmful than artificial sweeteners. If you have tasted the protein and it does not leave an unpleasant aftertaste, and even tastes like milk, this is what you need. Buy without hesitation.
Another important point is balance. Sometimes when you try a protein, you suspect that there is something wrong with the product. Either the milk was boiled, or something else happened while the can was being stored in the warehouse. The taste should be light, fresh, barely noticeable.
If this is not the case, and instead of freshness you feel a strong sweetness or, on the contrary, a strong smell of rotten milk, reject the purchase. Such a protein is not only not useful, it can cause harm because it is spoiled. Manufacturers often try to decorate such protein with tasty additives, but, fortunately, it is very easy to identify and distinguish.
So, what should you look for when you go shopping for whey protein? First, ask the seller to let you smell it, or better yet, try it. Secondly, check the taste and aftertaste. Third, listen to the balance. No one will be your advisor except your own body. Humans are given receptors for this purpose: to distinguish bad from good, and harmful from useful. Use them.
Video on how to check protein quality:
This article does not pretend to be objective, it was just difficult for me to choose a flavor for myself and I decided to test all the flavors. I decided, I hope it helps you too.
- TasteRocky Road.
Taste: A bit like cocoa with the addition of almonds. Good taste, no chemical taste. Slightly sweet. Recommended for those who love hot chocolate. Leaves a slightly bitter almond aftertaste, but does not spoil the experience.
Overall rating: 9 out of 10.
- TasteFrench Vanilla
Taste: It should be vanilla, but it’s unclear why it’s bitter. It also smells like some kind of chemical. I think the idea of this flavor was a failure; it would be difficult to take it for a long time. Not a very pleasant sensation due to bitterness and chemical taste.
Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
- Mocha Capuccino
Taste: I don’t know, I read that someone didn’t like this taste, in my opinion it’s very good. Sweeter than Rocky Road, but without bitterness or aftertaste. Light cocoa version. I didn’t feel any chemical impurities at all, a good option for those who like sweet tastes.
Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
- Extreme milk chocolate
Taste: The sweetest of their flavors, similar to cocoa, an excellent option for those who have a sweet tooth. I think it will get boring if you take it for a long time. But the taste is good, I didn’t notice any foreign tastes.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
- Strawberry banana
Taste: Banana with strawberries is noticeable, but in the aftertaste there is also some kind of weak chemical taste that is difficult to distinguish. I recommend it to those who are crazy about banana, although the taste is not 100% anywhere close. Not very sweet. I didn't really like it. In general, I find it difficult to imitate the tastes of berries, but if you try, you can give it a 6. Recommended for lovers of banana flavors, if you don’t like cocoa.
Overall rating: 6 out of 10.
- Caramel Toffee Fudge
Taste: Excellent caramel taste, quite sweet, but weaker than Extreme milk Chokolate. Something like cocoa with caramel, I think you can drink it for a long time, as an alternative it’s a very good option, for example, with Mocha Capucsino.
Overall rating: 9 out of 10.
- Double Rich Chocolate
Taste: Very good sweet taste, roughly similar to Mocha Cappuccino, maybe a little sweeter. But not as sweet as Milk Chocolate. I recommend it to those who love sweet cocoa flavors.
Overall rating: 8 out of 10.
- Chocolate mint
Taste: Chocolate with mint, there is chocolate, you can feel the mint a little, but you can use it as an option. Medium sweet. It feels like going to Rocky Road, but without the aftertaste. Same cocoa.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10
- Vanilla ice cream
Taste: In my opinion, the vanilla flavors did not work out, there is some kind of unpleasant, slightly tangible aftertaste, it is not comfortable to drink, although the taste is quite sweet. There is a faint hint of vanilla, but that's all.
Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
- Strawberry
Taste: This is a normal strawberry, I would say the taste is even more reminiscent of strawberries with milk. The taste is moderately sweet, should be suitable for taste lovers. I did not feel any foreign chemical tastes.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
- Banana Cream
Taste: Pleasant light banana taste, I didn’t feel the cream, but overall it’s a good option for banana lovers, I like it much better than Banana with Strawberries. Of course it's not a direct hit on the banana flavor, but it's very close. There are no side unpleasant tastes.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
- Tropical Punch
Taste: It’s really impossible to describe, in theory it should be a mix of fruits and there really is a rather faint aftertaste of slight sourness, the punch itself, as I understand it, needs to be imagined. At the same time, the taste cannot be said to be bad, it is not very sweet, and there are no particularly pronounced shortcomings.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
- Cookies and cream
Taste: Sweet rich taste, slightly less sweet than Extreme milk, or equal. I didn't notice any aftertaste, it's reminiscent of cookies. For lovers of sweet tastes, this is one of the ideal options. After mixing, a black precipitate remains, this is normal! :)
- Rocky Road - 9
- Caramel Toffee Fudge -9
- Mocha Capuccino -8
- Double Rich Chocolate -8
- Cookies and cream - 8
- Extreme milk chocolate - 7
- Chocolate mint- 7
- Strawberry - 7
- Banana Cream - 7
- Tropical Punch - 7
- Strawberry banana - 6
- French Vanilla - 5
- Vanilla ice cream -5
- Extreme milk chocolate
- Cookies and cream
- Double Rich Chocolate
- Mocha Capuccino
- Chocolate mint
- Rocky Road
- Caramel Toffee Fudge
- French Vanilla
- Vanilla ice cream
- Banana Cream
- Strawberry banana
- Strawberry
- Tropical Punch
Protein, is undoubtedly the most popular supplement used by athletes and amateurs alike. This is not surprising, given the extensive collection of studies that have shown that the daily amount of protein should be increased in active people, and especially those who regularly exercise, build muscle mass, or, conversely, lose weight.
It should be noted that protein itself is a source of nutrition. Don’t believe “especially smart” people who say that this is a chemical that will “make your liver fall off,” “stop standing,” and other nonsense that can only be heard from an uneducated person. So what protein to choose? In fact protein selection depends on several factors such as budget, quality, taste, lactose tolerance and purpose.
Budget
The price of protein depends on several factors: percentage of protein, speed of digestibility and biological value.
By protein percentage, protein is divided into hydrolyzate, isolate, whey, concentrate (arranged in order of decreasing prices). The higher the protein content, the higher the price.
By speed of digestibility, as we already know, protein can be fast and slow. Typically casein (a slow protein) has a higher cost compared to whey.
Biological value is a value that determines the degree of digestibility of protein (how many percent it will be digested). Calculated on a scale from 0 to 1, chicken egg white is taken as the standard, its value is 1 (100% digestible), so egg protein is more expensive due to its high digestibility.
We have already discussed the above types of protein in detail in.
Quality
The highest quality, of course well-promoted brands, such as Optimum Nutrition And Dymatize. They are known all over the world and will not risk their name by producing low-quality products. But the cost of protein from these companies is much higher. You can take medium-sized manufacturers (for example San, CytoSport etc.), but I don’t recommend choosing completely unknown and rare brands. I also recommend purchase protein in large specialized stores, to avoid purchasing a counterfeit.
Taste
Now there are a huge number of protein flavors from banana and strawberry to alpine chocolate. But most athletes complain about the chemical taste. Of course, as they say, taste and color... Opinion about taste is purely subjective and what is good for one may be bad for another. Personally, I have never come across a protein that was so disgusting that I couldn’t drink it. If you are afraid that you will not like the taste, it is better to take chocolate protein. Chocolate flavor is generally well tolerated, even despite the chemical origin.
Lactose intolerance
There are people who suffer from genetic lactose intolerance; their digestive tract does not have the enzyme lactase, which helps digest it. The best choice would be egg white, or isolate (hydrolysate)
Purpose
Depending on what goal you are pursuing: gaining muscle mass or cutting, depends on the choice of protein.
If, when gaining muscle mass, it is acceptable (and even desirable) to contain carbohydrates and fats in the protein, then when cutting, when every calorie counts, it is better to choose pure protein (isolate)
Rating of the best proteins
(in terms of price-quality ratio)
1. Whey protein
1) 100% Whey Gold Standard from Optimum nutrition. It’s not for nothing that this supplement is called the “gold standard.” A high-protein blend of whey protein concentrates and isolates. A variety of flavors, a global manufacturer, excellent quality - these are the main advantages of Gold Standart from ON.
Whey gold standard compound:
2)100% Pure Platinum Whey (SAN). Contains anabolic nutrients that provide the body with energy and prolong the anabolic state after taking a serving of Pure Platinum for up to 4 hours.
Compound 100% Pure Platinum Whey from SAN
3) Elite Whey Protein by Dymatize
Uniqueness Elite Whey is that in addition to protein, the composition contains digestive enzymes that improve the digestion of nutrients.
2. Slow protein (casein)
1) Elite Casein by Dymatize.
Whey protein is a concentrate consisting of proteins obtained from whey, which, in turn, is formed after milk is curdled during cheese making. Today, sports nutrition containing whey protein is considered the best for athletes who want to increase muscle mass and burn subcutaneous fat. Every year, a rating of protein supplements is compiled, based on which one can judge which whey protein is better.
What to look for when choosing the best supplement?
Concentrates are cheap but poorly absorbed; hydrolysates are expensive and taste unpleasant. The most effective protein for gaining muscle mass is whey isolate.
The most effective protein for gaining muscle mass is whey isolate.
Lactose may cause poor protein digestion. If you experience stomach problems from taking a supplement, you should prefer one that contains fewer carbohydrates, such as isolates or hydrolysates.
It is convenient to take protein if you make a smoothie. When preparing protein shakes, take 1-2 tablespoons of powder and mix it with juice or milk. If you are lactose intolerant, it is better to prepare cocktails with water.
Protein shakes can be taken anytime, replacing one of your meals. For example, if you don’t have the opportunity to have a protein snack during the day, then a cocktail can completely replace it. However, one must also take into account that the cocktail is absorbed very quickly, unlike those containing soy or casein concentrate, so the next meal is necessary after 2 hours.
The only downside to whey protein is that it is eliminated quickly, so it should be taken much more often than, for example, soy or egg protein.
Best Supplements
The 2019 protein rating was compiled based on Internet data on which sports nutrition athletes bought more often over the past year, as well as on their positive reviews of the quality of the product. The 2019 rating includes supplements that contain different types of protein. Whey and casein are the most common, and soy is absent.
- 1 place .
More than one generation of impressive athletes has grown up on this protein. Every publication and resource consistently recommends this protein. And this is not just like that. In fact, Optimum Nutrition set the gold standard for sports protein 10 years ago. It consists of a mix of whey isolate, concentrate and peptide. One serving contains the required 24 g of protein, 3 g of carbohydrates and only 110 calories.
The main advantage of this protein is the price/quality ratio. For a reasonable price, you get the best whey protein on the market.
- 2nd place Transparent labs ProteinSeries 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Protein for those who don't compromise. The most environmentally friendly and perfectly purified protein. To make it in New Zealand, cows are fed excellent meadow grass - no feed with hormones or the like. The protein consists of pure whey isolate. The product is so pure that each serving contains only 28 grams of protein and not a gram of carbohydrates.
Transparent Labs is so principled that they actually do not use artificial colors. There is only one problem - this brand is not represented in Russia, so you will have to order from abroad using third-party services, plus the price of the product is frankly not affordable (1 kg = 59 $)
- 3rd place Phase 8 Muscletech
A very unusual and effective mixture. The eight in the name indicates an 8-hour release of proteins. That is, your muscles will constantly receive nutrition for 8 hours after administration.
Usually a protein shake is quickly digested and you feel hungry again, but not in this case! The protein is a mixture of 7 different proteins, namely: milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, casein, calcium caseinate, hydrolysate and whey protein isolate.
Each type of protein is released at its own time, thereby achieving the desired 8-hour period.
One serving contains as many as 26 grams of protein, 7 grams of carbohydrates and 150 calories. A great option for muscle growth!
- 4th place rightfully occupies BSN Syntha-6 from BSN. Their protein is an excellent sports nutrition designed to constantly supply muscles with amino acids. They achieved this through a mixture of different types of protein: whey concentrate, whey protein isolate, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolate, egg white. This mixture has an excellent amino acid profile and allows you to build high-quality muscle mass. One serving contains 22 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 200 calories.
- 5th place Optimum Nutrition Pro
This protein is a real royal complex for real bodybuilding monsters. In addition to containing high quality whey and egg protein, it contains minimal carbohydrates and fat.
This protein is taken in a non-standard large portion, meaning that at one time you will receive 60 g of protein and only 5 g of carbohydrates. The PRO prefix immediately makes it clear that the product is intended to provide superior results, and the price accordingly becomes higher than the market average.
- 6th place Dymatize Iso-100
On the 6th line is protein from hydrolyzed whey protein. This method produces the purest protein, and therefore you get the best protein on the market. One serving will contain 25 grams of pure protein, no carbohydrates and 106 calories.
This protein is ideal for the cutting period, when all efforts are focused on burning fat and preserving muscle. The disadvantages include the high cost, plus some are confused by the taste (due to sugar substitutes). We believe that the product is high quality, and the price and taste are justified by the specifics of this protein.
- 7th place Muscle Pharm Combat Powder
This is a high quality blend of 5 proteins. This protein was immediately created as an all-in-one protein, so that there would be no need to use various protein supplements throughout the day. And so what’s good about it: after one dose, your muscles receive amino acid replenishment for 8 hours.
One serving contains 25 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 140 calories. This suggests that the protein is great for beginning athletes and amateurs. Can be taken at any time of the day.
- 8th place Nature’s Best Zero Carb Isopure
This is what happens when a manufacturer tries to make an unprecedented quality protein. Nature's Best has put all their expertise to work to create Zero Carb Isopure, a whey isolate protein that is the most thoroughly purified.
One serving will contain 50 g of protein, 0 g of carbohydrates and 220 calories. This is an excellent solution for athletes who are actively building muscles while simultaneously reducing subcutaneous fat. As expected for such a product, the only downsides are the price and a slightly unnatural taste due to the sweeteners.
- 9th place BPI Sports ISO-HD
This protein enjoys great popular love for its excellent quality and reasonable price. It contains whey isolate and hydrolyzate, due to which rapid absorption occurs. This is a necessary condition for fueling the muscles immediately after training. One serving will contain 25 g protein, 5 g fat, 3 g carbohydrates and 120 calories.
- 10th place Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion Advanced Protein
Interesting products on the sports nutrition market. A special feature of this protein is the use of probiotics, which help absorb proteins as efficiently as possible. In one serving you will get 25 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates and 150 calories. The only disadvantage is the relatively high cost.
A review of the best proteins revealed the 10 most popular supplements, but it is important to know how to choose a supplement in the store based on your individual characteristics and needs and what to look for.
Choosing whey protein for weight loss
Many girls are interested in the question, which protein is best for weight loss? Most girls who want to become slimmer know that taking a protein shake is good for the body and for losing weight, especially if you combine it with regular workouts.
For girls, a protein shake that does not contain fats and carbohydrates is suitable. After all, only pure protein helps you lose weight. Conversely, sports nutrition, which contains carbohydrates, sugar and fats, is not the best choice for girls, as it serves to gain weight.
Conclusion
For beginners, whey protein is also considered the best. However, for many beginner athletes, this supplement may be too expensive. In this case, you can pay attention to cheaper sports nutrition.
This review will help novice bodybuilders choose the right supplement.
If you compare which of the presented types of protein is better - whey, soy or egg, then the first one will definitely win.
