Best protein powders for muscle gain?

The protein quality here is actually pretty solid.

If you want to understand why the price gap exists, you really need to talk to the marketing folks...

feralorca7 said:Look, my point is the macros: we're talking 89g of protein per 100g of powder—with 62% coming from milk and whey, 2% egg white powder, and 35% soy (yeah, that "dangerous" soy everyone loves to freak out about, despite its complete amino acid profile), plus just 3g of sugar and 2g of fat.

Actually, soy is the exact opposite—it doesn't have a full amino acid profile. I think it only hits 9.
If you want a plant-based option that actually checks all the boxes, hemp protein is the only one that's truly complete.

As for that cheap protein you grabbed at CVS, why don't you flip the container over, read the ingredients list, and let's see what kind of junk they're actually stuffing in there.

Casey Wilson3 said:The whey protein from drugstore brands is actually decent quality.

Marketing folks should be the ones explaining why people judge everything based solely on price tags.

If one container arrives $15 and it’s only 300 grams, that means I’d need to buy 7.3 units just to match the 5lb tubs you see everywhere else (the 2lb, 5lb, or 10lb sizes). You can grab a 5lb tub for $100 on eBay or even cheaper if you order directly from a wholesaler, but getting it from the local pharmacy would set you back $110. So yeah... more expensive and lower quality...

Sam Roberts said:if one pack comes $15 at 300 grams, that means I’d need to grab 7.3 packs to hit 2.2 kg, which is what those standard protein sizes usually are (900g, 2.2kg, 4.5kg). You can snag 2.2 kg for $100 on eBay or even cheaper if you order straight from a wholesaler, whereas getting this stuff at CVS would set you back $110. basically, it's more expensive and lower quality.

I just don't trust those shady, gray-market deals...

well at least you trust the liberals 😁

I have a bit of a silly question (please don't judge me!) 😬

I recently picked up a 1kg tub of Whey Elite in Caffe Mocha flavor, and I just had my first shake today—the taste is absolutely incredible! I honestly never understand how people complain about protein shakes being too bland to drink; for me, mixing it with just water is perfect... it doesn't need anything else. However, I am curious if anyone would think I'm crazy if I tried making it with hot water instead? It would basically turn into a coffee drink, which is exactly what I'm looking for ☕ I know some people use their powder to make homemade ice cream or all sorts of other things, but is mixing it with hot water actually a good idea, or should I probably avoid it?

Watch out, you might blow your shaker up while you're mixing that stuff

Oh my goodness 😲 at first I honestly thought you were going to say, "Seriously? You finally figured out how to buy protein powder and now you're asking me this?" But then I did a quick search on Google and realized you actually have a point... and a very valid one at that! Thank you so much for clarifying. I am really glad I reached out to ask 🤣

I wouldn't touch hot water with a ten-foot pole. The whole point—and the reason you pay a premium—is that these proteins are micro and ultra-filtered, not heat-treated. Heat kills the quality.

Gary Hayes98 said:I wouldn't go using hot water if I were you. The whole point—and why you pay a premium—is that these proteins are processed via micro and ultra-filtration. If you hit them with heat, you're basically undoing all that work and dropping the quality...

Look, protein denaturation isn't some fragile thing that happens just because things get warm. If it were that easy, we’d be in trouble a long time ago—think about it, you cook and grill pretty much everything you eat everyday.

I have seen just about every possible way people try to mix their protein powders... whether it's turning them into pancakes or making some kind of shake, and of course, there's the endless debate over how much milk people dump into it. I still find it so bizarre that so many people complain about the taste when mixed with water, because honestly, I think it tastes great when it's just water.

For me, though, the absolute worst thing I have ever had the misfortune of tasting was straight whey protein. Every time I remember that experience, I just 🙂 haha. Though, I suppose what works for one person might be someone else's favorite way to drink it 😬

steelskipper74 said:I still can't wrap my head around why so many people complain that mixing protein with water tastes gross—honestly, I think it’s actually pretty decent..

It's probably just because flavor profiles vary so much from one brand to the next—like, one company's chocolate might taste like actual cocoa while another's tastes like chalky sadness—and let's be real, not everyone has the same palate. Plus, when you ditch the milk... well, you do the math. 😁
Personally, I stick to the unflavored stuff mixed with water, and for me, it’s totally fine—kind of gives off a mild milky vibe.
Hell! I actually find even the flavored whey pretty good to drink on its own. 🤣

This might sound like a bit of a silly question, but is it actually safe to consume protein powder once it has passed its expiration date?
It’s a container of Microsoft protein, and I completely lost track of it; the seal was still intact, though it was first opened just seven days before the date on the label passed.

Enjoy your time in the bathroom 😁

Apparently they have expiration dates for some reason. Do you actually eat meat or drink milk once they expire?

Hey, if you’re planning on tossing those things out, just send them my way. I won't be mad at all 😉

Is anyone else celebrating Body Day over in Canada? I’m supposed to head out to a small town in the Midwest this week to pick up a package, but there's absolutely nothing posted on the USPS website ☕

Thomas Allen7 said:Might be a dumb question, but can I still drink protein shakes if they're past their expiration date?
It's some Microsoft stuff, and I totally forgot about it. The tub was still sealed—well, actually, I opened it just 7 days before the date passed.

Should be fine.
Most expiration dates are set way too early anyway, mostly for safety buffers and business reasons...

Sucralose, aspartame, those fake colors, and all those artificial flavors stuffed into your favorite whey protein...
Cheers to that.

Jonathan James7 said:sucralose, aspartame, artificial colors, and flavors lurking in your favorite whey protein...
Cheers to that.

I've been sipping on aspartame and all sorts of artificial sweeteners for years now and honestly? I feel great... totally fine.
You're actually more likely to end up with diabetes from consuming too much "natural" sugar than you are from one packet of Stevia in your coffee or a scoop of whey with artificial sweeteners...

Richard Fox7 said:I’ve been loading up on aspartame and all sorts of artificial sweeteners for years now and I feel fine—healthy as a horse.
You’re way more likely to end up with diabetes from all that "natural" sugar than you are from one packet of Splenda in your coffee or a scoop of whey loaded with artificial crap.

Two scoops a day adds up to 60 scoops a month... that's 720 scoops a year.

I totally blanked on mentioning acesulfame potassium...

The brand has a stevia-sweetened version, but you can't find it anywhere in our local stores here in the States..

Plus, they throw in potassium and baking soda just so it dissolves better, because otherwise, the texture would be a nightmare to mix.
That stuff is what makes it so you have to drown it in water and whatnot..

Honestly, I just order my whey and casein straight from the US, so I don't have to deal with any of that garbage.

Have you guys ever even tasted unflavored casein without all the sweeteners? No, you haven't, because you can't get your hands on it here in RI.