What Are The Top 3 Protein Powders Out Right Now?

TOPIC: What Are The Top 3 Protein Powders Out Right Now?

The Question:

We all know how important protein is for fat loss and muscle gain. But do you know what the best choice is? Help others make a choice about what the best protein powders are. When there are so many products out there finding the right one can be very frustrating.

What are the top 3 protein powders out right now? Give exact brand names and the names of products. Why did you choose these products?

How do you know which one is best for you?

Is price important when selecting a protein powder? Why?

What were your (or somebody you know) results with them and would you recommend them to others?

Show off your knowledge to the world!

The Winners:

1. Opiewags99 View Profile
2. justinc911 View Profile

Prizes:

1st place - 75 in store credit.

2nd place - 50 in store credit.

3rd place - 25 in store credit.

1st Place - Opiewags99
View This Author's BodySpace Here.

We all know how important protein is for fat loss and muscle gain. But do you know what the best choice is? Help others make a choice about what the best protein powders are. When there are so many products out there finding the right one can be very frustrating.

Top Three Protein Powders
What Are The Top 3 Protein Powders Out Right Now? Give Exact Brand Names And The Names Of Products. Why Did You Choose These Products?

Proper supplementation is essential to succeed in your goal of bodybuilding. The most important supplement of them all is protein. It is the key macro-nutrient that is used by the body for creating lean muscle mass. Unlike carbohydrates and fats which can only be broken down to create energy, protein can be broken apart into amino acids to build muscle in addition to being able to be used as energy.

When a person lifts weights, they break down a lot of muscle tissue. This muscle tissue is then in turn looking to repair itself with whatever amino acids that it can find. If there's not enough protein from foods in the body to give their amino acids to the broken down muscle, the body begins to look elsewhere for amino acids.

The body will then go into a catabolic state in another muscle, breaking down that muscle so that the initial muscle that was worked out can be replenished and repaired. This essentially doesn't allow the body to get bigger and stronger, only moving the proteins around in attempt to repair the damage done by weight lifting.

If this same person is supplementing with protein, the body takes the protein, breaks it into its amino acid components and uses them to create new lean muscle mass. This is the definitely the choice that is more desirable.

Now comes the problem of choosing a protein supplement. There is definitely a lot of personal preference involved with choosing a protein, but besides that there are three key things to look at:

1. Quality:

There are differences in the qualities of different types of protein. For example whey protein isolate is a much more pure form of protein than whey protein concentrate, so it's always a good idea to go with a more pure product than a product that has potentially less pure sources of protein.

2. Your Goal:

Depending on the time of day, there are calls for a different type of protein product. For example, whey protein breaks down in the body much more quickly than its casein counterpart. This is good for if you want an immediate supply of protein to your muscles after a hard workout. Casein then would be desirable for right before bed time to keep your body out of starvation mode which would otherwise be detrimental to muscle gains.

2. Taste:

This seems kind of silly to some of the most hardcore bodybuilders out there, but for average Joes out there, if a protein powder tastes bad it can be almost impossible to drink it. I've certainly had experiences gagging on a PWO shake or two in my time. The good news is there are quality products out there that not only are nutritionally sound, they taste great too.

So this leads us to my three choices.

1. Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein:

This product was not only Bodybuilding.com's Protein Powder of the Year, it also won the award for the Overall Supplement of the Year. And that's the third year in a row for both of those awards. This protein powder is what I like to call an "any time" protein powder. It is quickly digested so that it can quickly put you into a positive nitrogen balance for new muscle creation.

This protein has a high percentage of whey protein isolates, which means it has a greater percentage of protein per gram of powder than powders utilizing less pure sources. This product also is free of aspartame and sucralose, for those of you that have a problem with artificial sweeteners.

Most importantly, this protein tastes excellent. It has a very mild flavor which allows for the mixing in of other additives (peanut butter, flavored creatine/ no2 products, or whatever else you might like to add). The combinations that can be created are infinite, which is what makes this such a versatile product.

Another great thing about this product is the price. This protein powder has an incredibly high quality set of ingredients for the price it is. Other proteins that go for the same price are sometimes filled with impurities such as fats and carbs which are simply not wanted.

When buying a protein powder, you want PROTEIN. Even all of us amateur bodybuilders can afford a nice 5 or 10 pound container of this stuff, which I advise because it's also cheaper to buy in bulk.

2. Optimum Nutrition's 100% Casein Protein:

In addition to the whey protein, casein protein is also essential to the bodybuilder's supplement collection. Unlike whey protein which is digested by the body incredibly fast, this protein is digested very slowly because it has the ability to curdle in the stomach. This is desirable at times when a person will not be eating another meal for a couple of hours, and would like to keep a high amount of amino acids in the blood for a few hours. This is why it is sometimes referred to as a "Night-time" protein. It has the ability to keep the body in an anabolic state, and out of starvation mode.

This product has a great taste that I find unnecessary to mix anything in with. The chocolate supreme is probably my favorite protein of all time. As with any micellar protein blend, more liquid is required when mixing because, as explained before, this protein has the ability to interact with water which makes it much thicker than a whey powder.

This product is also very inexpensive in comparison to many other brands. Although not as cheap as the 100% Whey Protein, it still maintains an exceptionally low price. This product has an exceptional purity for the price, seeing as it contains no "bulking agents" that some other companies have to make they protein seem cheaper, although they're actually only selling you extra fats and carbs that aren't really necessary.

3. Nature's Best Zero Carb Isopure- Ion Exchanged Whey:

This product is likely to be one of the purest protein sources out there. With zero grams of carbs and 50 grams of protein in every serving, this is the perfect protein for "cutting" down to show off those lean and mean abs. The protein coming strictly from Ion exchanged whey protein; this protein has very low amounts of fat and is completely zero carb.

With only 210 calories for every 50 grams of protein, there is almost no better way to get your protein while maintaining a low calorie diet.

This protein has EXCELLENT mixability and a great taste. When you mix this protein into water or milk, it completely dissolves and has a very smooth texture. Almost no protein that I know of goes down as smoothly as Isopure. Definitely give the vanilla a try, trust me.

The only downside to this protein is that it's a little bit more expensive than some of the cheaper whey's, but its purity and low calories make up for it. This is always part of my cutting cycles.

Which One Is Best?
How Do You Know Which One Is Best For You?

Determining which is best for you really depends on your goals. For each of the three above, I use them at different times, depending on my current goal. For example I use the Optimum 100% Whey Protein most of the year for early morning shakes and post workout shakes to get that quick spike of amino acids to my muscles.

The casein protein I have before bedtime to help prevent catabolism (muscle breakdown) while I sleep. And as mentioned before, I used the Isopure for when I'm restricting calories and want to get high amounts of protein with as few calories as possible.

I really advise that everyone have all three of these, but for beginners with a tight budget I would advise the 100% whey protein, as it will supply the biggest gains in muscle growth.

Price?
Is Price Important When Selecting A Protein Powder? Why?

Price is important for protein powder because some people just can't afford expensive supplements. Other priorities such as the mortgage and car payments are more important so they are left with little money to spend on supplements. This is why I advise buying in as large packages as possible, for example Optimum Whey comes in 10 pound bags which dramatically lowers the price of protein per pound.

If buying 1 pound bags, the cost is $12.99 each. If buying 10 pound bags, the price drops to $7.73 dollars a pound. That's a really significant price difference. And seeing that Bodybuilding.com charges $5.99 for shipping (up to 40 lbs), I always buy in bulk. After that, if I have a little extra money to throw around I go for the leaner protein, the Zero Carb Isopure.

Results
What Were Your (Or Somebody You Know) Results With Them And Would You Recommend Them To Others?

When I was in high school I was certainly the skinniest kid I knew. I barely even tipped the scales at all when I got on them. Four years later, now that I'm just finishing up in college I've moved from the skinniest, to much more muscular, and by far stronger than all of my non-gym-going friends.

I certainly attribute these gains to Optimum's 100% Whey Protein, and more recently the 5 pounds of muscle I've put on this year to the addition of casein to the mix. I would certainly advise anyone looking to add some clean muscle mass to their bodies to invest in a protein supplement such as whey protein, because it simply works. This isn't even questionable, as there are hundreds of studies that prove it as well.

Thanks for reading!

-K (Opiewags99)

2nd Place - justinc911
View This Author's BodySpace Here.

We all know how important protein is for fat loss and muscle gain. But do you know what the best choice is? Help others make a choice about what the best protein powders are. When there are so many products out there finding the right one can be very frustrating.

I wouldn't say I am an expert on the subject by any means, but I do have a fair amount of knowledge and have used most protein powders available. I am also on a budget like most people, and believe I can help someone make the right choice.

There are a couple of things you should know about protein powder, the effects they produce and which ones are the best for you based on your goals and your budget. To backup my opinion take a look at my pictures under my BodySpace profile, and add the fact I have been lifting for 14+ years.

Top Three Protein Powders
What Are The Top 3 Protein Powders Out Right Now? Give Exact Brand Names And The Names Of Products. Why Did You Choose These Products?

1. MHP Probolic-SR:
(Price Per Serving It Is The Second Cheapest Of The Three)

Number one is MHP Probolic-SR, because I prefer 12 sustained release protein powders, not only to feel less hungry throughout the day, but also because it has a better amino acid profile, also it is loaded with glutamine. It tastes better than the Dymatize product, and it has soy, whey, and casein combined.

It also contains a fair deal of fat loss aids in the mix as well. Some include, Medium Chain Triglycerides Complex, Borage Seed Oil Powder (10% GLA), Conjugated Linoleic Acid Complex (78% CLA), Evening Primrose Seed Oil (4.8% GLA), and Flaxseed Powder (8% ALA).

The only downfall is the exclusion of egg protein, and the fact that soy can give males the female looking pec syndrome.

2. Dymatize Elite Whey:
(Price Per Serving It Is The Cheapest Of The Three)

Much like MHP Probolic-SR, Dymatize Elite Whey is a 12 sustained release protein powder, and has all the benefits mentioned above, but it has egg protein too. Also this product includes an enzyme and digestive aid mixture as well, always good for people with easily upset stomachs. Downfalls: the taste is not the best and it also has less fat loss aids, and no casein.

3. CytoSport Muscle Milk:
(Price Per Serving It Is Most Expensive Of The Three)

CytoSport Muscle Milk is a casein/whey based protein supplement, and is easily the best tasting protein powder ever, and is loaded with the most fat loss aids, and even a creatine aid. If it wasn't for price per serving this product would be number one.

Which One Is Best?
How Do You Know Which One Is Best For You?

Well to determine which one is best for you you'll need to assess what your goals are and what you are trying to accomplish. Obviously if you are trying to gain size then a mass gainer may satisfy your needs, if you are looking to lose fat casein protein may be your need, since studies have shown that it can significantly aid in fat loss with a proper diet and training program, as apposed to whey.

Then there is whey - it has its advantages, like taking it immediately following weightlifting, within the 45 min. anabolic window of course; but the absorption rate for this type of protein as apposed to egg or casein isn't as good.

Egg protein has a great amino acid profile in most cases which is also extremely important when choosing a product since amino acids aid in the digestion, absorption or uptake, and synthesis of protein, which is what will create the anabolic state, and not the catabolic state. Egg protein also tends to last a lot longer, and in some cases even up to 12 hours.

So here are your options:

Note: All proteins can help aid in fat loss, as well as muscle growth and repair. Keep in mind that most of the time no stomach irritation occurs, but in some cases it does. Most of the new protein powders available have enzymes and digestives aids built into their products. Also to learn more check out the link backs in the names of each on Bodybuilding.com.

Price?
Is Price Important When Selecting A Protein Powder? Why?

Now obviously after reading the above you can guess that buying all these products could get a little pricey, and yes price per serving does matter when you are on a budget. Also remember you get what you pay for, and amino acid profiles, mixture, and taste are part of that too.

Unless you don't have to worry about car payments or credit cards or students loans, then you could buy the individual items, or buy them in bulk. If price is an issue with you I would recommend for you to stick to a mixture of proteins as it can be the most beneficial in that it does all the things you want it to do, but you only have to buy one version. Some of the top products in this category are:

• MHP Probolic-SR
• Dymatize Elite Whey
• BSN Syntha-6 (Expensive Price per Serving)
• CytoSport Muscle Milk (Expensive Price per Serving)

Results
What Were Your (Or Somebody You Know) Results With Them And Would You Recommend Them To Others?

Typically I would use a sustained released protein powder when I wake up and before bed and it would be about 40 grams of protein. During the day I also tend to steer towards the sustained release to help me feel less hunger and give me the constant surge of amino acids to aid in the synthesis of protein.

Post workout I would use a mass gainer or whey product to help with repair and growth. Also it is important to remember you only have an anabolic window of 45 min. after your weights to force feed your muscles for repair and growth. The product powders I typically use include all mentioned above. For results purposes I have chosen two and listed them below:

CytoSport Muscle Milk:

Results: Enhanced Fat loss went to 11.7% body fat from 14.2%.

Although, the results I received were in conjunction with a proper diet and training program. It definitely helped with my fat loss. Keep in mind I was also taking other supplements at the time.

CytoSport Cyto Gainer:

Results: Gained 2 inches to chest, legs, and arms

This product is full of complex carbs, so I was able to gain the above stats with a minimal gain in body fat percentage.

Conclusion

In conclusion just remember to choose the product that is right for your goals, and do your research before hand. That way you aren't wasting your money on a knock off product that barely mixes. Always remember that a supplement is not a substitute for diet or exercise.