Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Sam Taylor54 said:I grab the MVP's Pro Whey 3 g, the 32oz tub, for $67. Honestly, can't complain about the price...
Ingredients look decent enough for an amateur like me, and I haven't heard anything bad about this stuff.
Flavor is just a bit "off." I went with Chocolate Brownies, but it’s nothing like actual chocolate. It's drinkable though... I'm used to it now. Adding some glucose makes it better 🙂

It should probably have more of a cookie flavor 😁

That's a pricey buy for you. I picked it up before for $117. Don't bother buying in the US... they'll rip you off on the margins

It’s totally true—you can grab a much better deal if you just head over to a Canadian store or something. I actually had this delivered right to my door, and even with a little discount I managed to get it for $67, which isn't bad! I'd honestly love to just buy everything in bulk, but let's be real—I don't exactly have a mountain of cash lying around to drop all at once.
Cookie flavor? Man, if only it actually tasted like cookies. 🤣
I usually just mix mine with water since I'm trying to drop some weight, though I bet it probably tastes way better with milk. It’s not like it’s undrinkable or anything—it's fine—but it’s definitely not the best thing I've ever tasted either. 🙂

I don't really go in expecting much from the flavors anyway... sometimes I just toss in a teaspoon of cocoa powder

I pretty much just stick to Optimum Nutrition, specifically that double rich chocolate flavor... it’s actually decent even if you just mix it with water. But man, if you mix it with milk? It's absolutely heavenly. 😁

Kenneth Jackson3 said:I stick strictly to Optimum Nutrition—specifically the Double Rich Chocolate. It’s decent with water, but mixing it with milk? Absolute perfection... 😁

Don't even bother with Mocha Cappuccino unless you plan on drinking it with milk. I've lost nearly two pounds because it's a struggle to get down with just water... 😁

Caramel Toffee and Extreme Milk are my go-tos. Every single time I shop, I end up trying a new flavor... 😁

Look, I just stick to what I know works. There's really no reason for me to go switching up my 🙂

I’ve been sticking with the vanilla Nutrabolics Hyper whey lately. Honestly, it tastes fine whether you mix it with water or milk. I picked up a 5 lb tub for about $100, but I was just checking ProSport and it looks like they've completely pulled it from their inventory. :/

Right now I'm sitting on some Hydro Whey from The Nutrition... got the 3.5 kg tub for $150. Honestly, the price isn't bad at all

I have nothing but praise for the Gaspari Intrapro in chocolate and vanilla. That vanilla is easily the best I’ve ever had—it has this subtle hint of walnut, though unfortunately, they aren't stocking it anymore. I'm eagerly waiting for the Isofusion. Honestly, if you want my opinion, the Iso Sensation from Ultimate Nutrition actually beats out the Gaspari Intrapro. Also, the Gaspari Probiotic is top-tier. Once you've leveled up to brands like Gaspari or Ultimate Nutrition, there is absolutely no way I'm going back to Optimum Gold Standard Whey, Twinlab Whey Fuel, or Dymatize Elite.
Dymatize has an excellent product with their ISO-100..................

hollowdrifter3 said:Most of the proteins that got lab tested later showed some tiny deviation from the label, usually just traces of soy. But that’s not even the issue—the real kicker is that the whey is loaded with lactose, while soy is an isolate. Or at least, that's what people say...

I remember reading about those proteins from Walmart a long time ago, back when I didn't know a damn thing about this stuff myself 🙂

Here are a few links, give 'em a read... just forum experiences. You'll find some nonsense in there too, like claims that the defects were caused by that. Just skip over that part 😁 Focus on the actual quality and the whole deal with the soy isolate story...

After digging through everything, I’ve realized they all say: this sucks, but why? It's still totally vague. I get that someone found the taste gross a few years back, but saying a product that labels itself as having 4% carbs is "full of lactose"??? Someone did an independent lab test on the powder and found barely any deviations, so how does that work? Lactose—dairy sugar—is a carb. Was the German label on that Walmart product from 2012 just straight-up lying?

slydriver52 said:Nothing but praise for Gaspari Intrapro double chocolate and vanilla. Seriously, best vanilla I've ever had. It's got this subtle nutty aroma, but man, I'm bummed they aren't making it anymore. Can't wait for Isofusion to drop.

Where do you pick yours up? And can you give me a ballpark on the prices, please?

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Donna Johnson16 said:From everything I’ve read, I’m getting mixed signals. People say it's bad, but they aren't explaining why. It's one thing to say the taste was gross a few years ago, but claiming a product with only 4% carbs is "loaded with lactose"??? Someone did an independent lab test on the powder and found almost zero deviation, so how does that work? Lactose is just milk sugar, which falls under carbohydrates. Was that German label on the Walmart product back in 2012 just lying?

I won't get bogged down in the weeds here. I haven't done deep research and I don't have a degree in nutrition. I'm just passing along what I picked up while scouring the web for info on this specific protein supplement.
The first red flag is the soy isolate. That was the first thing I turned up— http://forum.teretana.net/viewtopic....b398e60afde80c . I recall seeing a study about it on T-Mag, too. If we're talking about soy, I think it's a disaster, but that's a whole other conversation and not really what we need right now...
Then again, you could argue that since there isn't much of it, there's not much to complain about.
I'm on my phone so I can't scroll up easily to check, but I'm pretty sure the main ingredient is milk protein, not whey. If I'm right, then you already know that whey is one of the best choices for post-workout meals.
At the end of the day, what high-quality product actually costs this little? 🙂

So, I’ve been deep-diving into this whole Master TBS thing... honestly? It’s kind of a trip. You spend all this time trying to wrap your head around the mechanics, thinking you've finally cracked the code, and then—bam—everything shifts again. It's like that feeling when you're halfway through a massive project at work and realize you totally misread the brief... just a complete reset. But man, once it clicks... once you actually start seeing the patterns instead of just staring at the noise... it’s different. It's intense. I'm still working through some of the finer points, though. Still feels like there's a layer of complexity I haven't quite peeled back yet... maybe tomorrow. Or next week. We'll see... Donna Johnson16 says:
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The very first thing that’s a total red flag? Isolated Soy. That was the absolute first thing I ran into when I started digging into this... http://forum.teretana.net/viewtopic....b398e60afde80c I mean, I think I remember seeing some study about that on T-Mobile back in the day... If we’re gonna start talking about soy, honestly? Total disaster. But that's a whole other rabbit hole and probably not what we need to get into right now...
I mean, you could also look at it from the angle that there just isn't enough of it floating around out there... honestly, if you tried to dig into that part of the problem, you wouldn't even know where to start...
Typing this on my phone while I’m out and about, so excuse the mess—I can't even scroll up to double-check right now... but if I'm reading the ingredients right, it looks like milk protein rather than actual whey. If that's the case, you know the deal... whey is hands down one of the absolute best picks for post-workout nutrition.
I mean, at the end of the day... what actually high-quality product is ever gonna be that cheap? It just doesn't happen... 🙂

Please don't hate me for still coming at you guys with all these follow-up questions... I know I'm being a bit much...

So, is soy actually good for you or is it total garbage? Honestly, it just depends on which study you happen to be digging through... there’s a massive amount of research out there that swears by it being great. Like, if you just look at the general consensus in most encyclopedias and mainstream health data, the numbers lean heavily toward it being a solid choice. But man, the debate never ends...

So, here's the deal with soybean protein... it’s actually what you'd call a "complete protein," which basically means it packs every single essential amino acid our bodies need to actually function. It's pretty much the gold standard for plant stuff. Honestly, if you look at it closely, it's almost identical to the protein structure found in other legumes—you know, those 7S and 11S storage proteins they all share—but soy just hits different because it's so incredibly cheap. Like, seriously, it's one of the most budget-friendly ways to get your protein fix without breaking the bank... just a solid, reliable staple for anyone watching their wallet...
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Isolates Soy...
So, let's talk about Isolates Soy. If you're looking at the label, this stuff is basically the ultra-purified, heavy-duty version of soy protein—we're talking at least 90% protein when you strip away the moisture. It’s basically crafted from defatted soy flour where they've gone in and stripped out almost all the junk, like the fats and the carbs. Honestly, that’s the best part... since those extra bits are gone, the flavor is super neutral, and you won't be dealing with that dreaded bloating or gas from all that bacterial fermentation happening in your gut... much better...
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I don't even touch soy, honestly... just can't stand the taste. This powder I've been using only has like 4.5% Isolates Soy in it. And since I'm only taking 30 grams a day, even if there was some kind of estrogenic effect, it's literally a thousand times less than what's in my birth control pills... which, ya know, I actually take. Whatever. Personally, the artificial sweeteners bug me way more, though people can never seem to agree on whether aspartame is actually carcinogenic or not. Probably less dangerous than staring at a cell phone all day anyway...

So, about this whole "milk protein" versus "whey" thing... someone please walk me through the lingo here because I'm lost. In English, whey is just the liquid byproduct you get from milk when you're making cheese, right? But everyone keeps saying whey is a "milk protein," so what else would it even be? And honestly, you guys are always preaching about sticking to low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese at the gym and stuff... so if those are the gold standard, why the hell are these specific milk proteins being treated like they're bad news? ...

Honestly, all those posts on this gym forum just feel like a bunch of hearsay... just people repeating someone else's negative vibes without having any actual proof to back it up. Like, sure, maybe some powder tasted like absolute garbage to someone a few years ago—but that’s not me at all. I’m all about the vanilla, and my buddy swears by the chocolate one... it's really not that deep... 🤷 What kind of argument is that even supposed to be...?

So you're saying you think it’s definitely a bad move just because the price tag is low... and then everyone jumping in after you is like, "Actually, it's not even cheap, and there are better options out there for less"... except nobody can actually explain *why*... they just throw the words around without any substance. Like, what am I even supposed to make of all that...?

Look, I don't work for Walmart or anything, and I've got zero connection to them... it just drives me nuts when some amateur walks in and talks down to people like they're idiots. Like, you just snap that something "isn't good enough" without even bothering—or maybe you just don't have the actual knowledge—to explain *why*... (And hey, this isn't aimed at you, Master TBS, I actually appreciate the effort you put in)... It’s like just because someone doesn't get something right away, it means they aren't worth the explanation. Just be straight with people, no judgment... we were all clueless babies once, weren't we?...

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Whether soy is actually good or bad just depends on which study you decide to believe. Purely by the numbers, there are more studies claiming it's beneficial. According to general encyclopedic data:

I don't touch soy myself; I can't stand the taste. That DM powder has 4.5% soy in it. If you take 30g of powder a day, even if it does have estrogen, it’s at least a thousand times less than what’s in birth control pills—which, for the record, I take. Whatever. Personally, the artificial sweeteners bother me more, though people can never agree if aspartame is carcinogenic or not. Probably less dangerous than cell phone radiation...

It raises estrogen levels. It has a BV of 49. It digests much slower than whey (which is 104). It won't kill you, obviously, but there are better protein sources out there. Some claim soy has health benefits, but I'm not getting into that; I don't eat it either, for the same reasons you don't.

Regarding this idea that it's a milk protein rather than whey. Someone please explain the lingo to me, because in English "whey" refers to the liquid separated from milk during cheesemaking. Whey *is* a milk protein, so what else would it be? You guys always recommend cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt in the bodybuilding community—so why are these milk proteins suddenly bad?

Whey digests much faster than casein, making it the superior choice for PWM. Cottage cheese, for instance, is a great option for your last meal of the day. Micellar casein is designed to provide a steady release of amino acids into the bloodstream, which makes it an excellent long-term anti-catabolic protein.

To me, the posts on this fitness forum just sound like hearsay—people repeating negative opinions without any actual basis. Sure, maybe the powder tasted gross to someone a few years ago, but it doesn't taste bad to me today. I like vanilla, my friend likes chocolate 🤷 What kind of argument is that?

Yeah, there's plenty of misinformation passed around through word-of-mouth, but there's also plenty of useful stuff to read. For example, the FAQ is perfect for anyone who doesn't know the difference between steroids and protein, or sets and reps. I tried it two years ago, by the way, and it really was disgusting 😁

You're saying it's definitely bad because it's cheap, while others in this thread say it isn't even cheap and that there are better, cheaper options—but they can't explain why. What am I supposed to conclude from that?

No clue. High-quality whey certainly won't cost less than that protein powder from DM.

Oh boy, you’re really digging your heels in on this one... Honestly, I’d rather just set aside whatever change I would’ve blown on those drugstore protein powders and save up until I can actually afford the high-quality stuff. Personally, I wouldn’t touch them. It’s not that they’re necessarily trash, but think about it: who’s actually going to make a superior whey protein? A big-box retailer that produces ten different lines of body wash, lotions, and soaps? They aren't bad, but when you compare them to a brand like Dove—which actually specializes in skincare—you start to see where the gaps are. If a company tries to be everything to everyone, someone has to cut corners somewhere. Take those protein bars from the pharmacy aisles, for example; they’re basically sugar bombs, yet people flock to them because the packaging screams "healthy."

If you ask me, the vanilla from GNC is delicious. 😁

The issue is also that there's a ton of GMO soy out there

@tanveer
Those proteins from Delta Air Lines are top-tier!!
:giving the answer they want to hear:

@Master TBS - thanks 🙂

As for everyone else—honestly, how much more do I have to explain? All I wanted was to hear what the actual issue was, not just get hit with stuff like "that's crap" or "yeah, sure, whatever, you do you..." I don't make this stuff, I don't sell it, and I'm not out here pitching it to anyone—but man, reading this is getting exhausting...

Sam Roberts said:those proteins aren't even cheap—I pick up higher quality protein, 2200g, for less than $100

obviously there's no consensus on the price

@cocorina - I wasn't even looking to buy them because they were a bargain, it's just that they're easy and fast to grab. The store is right by my place, and the packaging size works way better for me than those massive 5lb tubs.

Some store brands are total garbage, some are just okay, and some are actually great... and it's the same deal at Walmart. I highly doubt they manufacture all this themselves—they probably just repackage powder made by someone else, just like they do with pasta or nail polish remover. For example, I love Dove cream from the same manufacturer, but then I get a nasty allergic reaction to Dove Soft Cream. I can't really judge one specific product based on whether some other random item in the same aisle doesn't work for me.

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Sam Roberts said:I don't really go into it expecting much, honestly—sometimes I'll just toss in a little spoonful of cocoa to give it some kick

🙏 tried it today and oh my god, I am obsessed! It’s actually drinkable now—it has flavor and is genuinely delicious! Totally killed my chocolate cravings 😍

Donna Johnson16 said:After reading through all this, I’m getting the sense that everyone is saying "this sucks," but nobody is actually explaining *why*. It’s one thing if someone had a bad taste experience a few years back, but claiming a product labeled as having 4% carbs is somehow "loaded with lactose"??? Someone ran an independent lab test on the powder and found negligible deviations, so how does that math work? Lactose is just milk sugar—it's a carbohydrate. Was the label on that Walmart product from 2012 just straight-up lying?

Where are you picking it up? Can you give me a ballpark price?

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In Austria.....
They used to carry it at Nike, but they probably won't anymore. Intrapro is pulling it from production, and they're replacing it with Fusion, which is supposed to be on par with Sensation or maybe even Iso-100. The only real question left is what the price tag will look like.

slydriver52 said:Down in Canada...
They used to carry it at Nike, but they probably won't anymore. Intrapro is being phased out, and they're replacing it with IsoPure, which should be right up there with stuff like ISO100... just wondering what the price tag is gonna look like.

thanks for the heads up (honestly, just like in any small town, the "pros" always forget how to talk to us mere mortals in plain English 😛 but yeah, that's how they tell me—don't ask, just Google it, so I won't drag this out any longer)

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