The Ultimate Guide: How to buy good protein powder, 9 Pro Tips in 2024

Protein powder is a popular supplement among fitness enthusiasts and athletes. It is a convenient and easy way to increase protein intake and support muscle growth and recovery. However, not all protein powders are created equal, and hence rises the question, ‘How to buy good protein powder?’.

In this article, we’ll cover How to buy good protein powder and 9 Pro tips which I personally follow to ensure that you get a good quality product that meets your nutritional needs.

How to buy good protein powder, 9 Pro Tips

There are multiple sources of protein like whey, casein, soy, pea, and egg. I cannot cover all of them. However, I am going to give a general guideline on How to buy good protein powder, especially in India.

I would strongly suggest you understand what is whey protein and its differences so that you can make a better overall decision.

Let’s quickly begin with 9 Pro tips that will help you with, ‘How to buy good protein powder’.

Know your protein needs

Before buying protein powder, it’s important to determine how much protein you need.

The general guideline for protein intake is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

However, if you are an athlete or engage in high-intensity workouts, you may need more protein to support muscle growth and recovery. Try to increase it from 0.8 grams to somewhere 1.5- 2 grams per body weight per day (which I personally follow) or Consult a registered dietitian or a qualified fitness expert who can help you determine your protein needs.

Check the source of protein

The second factor which determines How to buy good protein powder is to check the source from which the protein is derived. There are multiple sources of protein available, including whey, casein, soy, pea, and egg.

Among all, Whey protein is the most popular and is derived from milk. It is a complete form of protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids needed by the human body.

Casein protein is another protein derived from milk and but it is slower digesting than whey.

Soy protein as the name suggests is derived from soybeans. It is a good alternative for vegetarians and vegans.

Pea protein is a plant-based protein that is majorly derived from peas. This is a good alternative for those who have dairy or soy allergies.

Egg protein is the last type of protein source in our list. It is derived from egg whites and is also a complete form of protein like whey protein.

Look for the protein content

The protein content is the third important factor to consider in the list of How to buy good protein powder. After all, you are buying a protein powder. You need to make sure that the protein content should be clearly mentioned on the label.

As a rule of thumb, Choose a protein powder with at least 20 grams of protein per serving.

The protein content per serving can vary depending on the source of protein. Whey protein typically has a higher protein content than plant-based protein powders.

Note: Personally, I would suggest going with Whey protein to anyone if possible.

Check for ingredients

Some protein powders contain ingredients like artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors to enhance the taste. These additives can surely increase the taste. However, negatively impact your health and may cause digestive issues.

Try to go with a protein powder that is free from additives and has a clean label.

Consider the price

Protein powder generally comes a bit expensive, so it’s important to consider the price when choosing a product. Although price completely varies depending on the brand, source of protein, and quality.

Try to calculate the protein cost per serving to be more specific.

I see a lot of people who purchase insanely expensive protein and end up not getting enough money to spend on a balanced diet and real foods. Choose a product that fits your budget but also meets your nutritional needs.

Do not blindly trust third-party certification

If you are in India, I would suggest not trusting blindly Third-party certification. I understand Third-party certification ensures that the protein powder is of high quality and meets certain standards. Organizations like NSF International or Informed-Choice are originally from USA or Europe. For the Indian market, they do not have any strict group to monitor our brands.

How they work in India is, ‘they simply ask our brands to send a packet to them to get them tested and to get their branding on their label. Obviously brand will send a good quality protein for that. Also, they charge a huge amount of money for this. Later, they don’t even come to check or blind test.

Filtration method

If you are buying whey protein, definitely check for the filtration method. Check if it is mentioned on the label or not. The filtration method is important to check because when a protein gets processed through Ion exchange method (which is a chemical method). It loses its other beneficial properties like anti-cancer, immunity booster, etc.

So, look for filtration methods like cross-flow, ultrafiltration, and micro-filtration. All of these are the natural method, which keeps the other properties intact.

NOTE: In concentrate-based whey or raw whey, always natural filtration method gets used. So, don’t worry if it is not mentioned in the pack. However, definitely check for isolated type whey protein.

Amino acid profile

Another thing to notice on the list of ‘How to buy good protein powder’ is whether the full amino profile is mentioned on the label or not. Make sure it matches the protein percentage mentioned on the label. It is important to check because that is what makes the whey protein a complete protein.

Number of scoops per 1 Kg

The last thing you should check in the list of How to buy good protein powder is, how big is the scoop size per serving and how much protein is in one scoop. Check the number of scoops in 1 Kg. Because there are many brands that show that you will get 27-28 gm of protein in one scoop and people often ignore the scoop size and end up paying higher prices per scoop protein percentage.

For example, Muscleblaze fuel one used to have 33gm of scoop in which 24gm of protein and a total 30 number of servings at the beginning. Now, they cleverly increased the scoop size to 39gm and reduced the number of servings to just 25 per 1Kg and the protein content is the same 24 per scoop.

Conclusion

How to buy good protein powder can be overwhelming, but considering the factors mentioned above can help you make an informed decision. It’s important to choose a product that meets your nutritional needs, is free from additives, and fits your budget.

Remember to not spend all of your budget on only protein supplement. Real food and a balanced diet should always be your priority over any supplements.

This is all in this list of, ‘How to buy good protein powder’.