What Protein Powder is Right for You?

Protein powders are kind of like supplements, so many to choose from it can be confusing. How do you know what’s right for you? It used to be that only weight lifters drank protein shakes but now we know that high quality protein is good for everyone. And, there are good quality protein powders available from both animal and plant sources, so there is one for most any diet plan.

I’ve literally tried them all over the years it seems. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits and why you might choose one over another:

• Whey protein: This is dairy so you will want to avoid if dairy bothers you or you are sensitive. Whey protein isolate is the best option if you have lactose intolerance, as the lactose content is significantly decreased during processing. It supports muscle growth when consumed pre or post-workout. It has branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), which can help promote muscle recovery and support muscle synthesis after exercise. doTERRA has a super clean and tasty chocolate and vanilla version.
• Plant based protein: Plant based protein powders are often made with pea protein, which may not be digested well if you have gut issues. Just be aware of that. These help with muscle recovery, fat metabolism, and stress induced food cravings. Ancient Nutrition has a plant based Protein Powder made without pea protein that tastes delish. It has seven organic seeds like pumpkin, flax, chia, hemp, sunflower, MCT oil, adaptogens.
• Collagen protein: The most abundant form of protein in the body, collagen is found in the muscles, skin, bones and blood vessels. However, collagen levels naturally begin to slowly decline as you get older. My fav is Vital Proteins unflavored. You can put it in just about anything coffee, shakes, soups, etc.
• Bone broth protein: This has lots of collagen as well. The main advantage is that it contains many other nutrients besides collagen. Nutrients like essential amino acids, including glutamine which is involved in synthesizing proteins. It’s great for the gut and healing leaky gut. My favorite is Ancient Nutrition chocolate. This is what I use every day in my shakes and smoothies.

Do you have a favorite protein powder?