How To Choose The Best Protein Powder
Protein powder is a great way to boost your protein consumption without significantly increasing your daily calorie intake. It may also help you shed a few pounds, increase muscle mass, or gain weight. Finding the best protein powder for women depends on your goals, so its important to know what youre looking for.
Here are some factors to consider when shopping for the best protein powders for women:
When Is The Best Time To Take Protein Powder
For your average person who may be trying to lose weight or maintain their muscle stores, taking protein powder any time of day is fine. In fact, its a good idea to spread your protein intake consistently throughout the day to maximize its filling effects.
However, if your goal is muscle growth or exercise recovery, you may find that its best to consume protein within the 2 hours following exercise. This floods your body with the amino acids needed to promote muscle repair, which is how they grow.
Best Vegan: Kapowder Strength Plant Protein With Superpowers
Courtesy of Kapowder
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A little expensive
Looking for a protein powder that doesnt use any animal-derived ingredients? Look no further than this alkalizing formula from Kapowder. Powered by three different plant-based proteinshemp, bio-fermented black rice, and peait works hard to give your bod a toning boost post-workout. The formula contains over 80% raw digestible protein with live enzymes and high levels of BCAA , which help boost muscle growth and help reduce exercise-induced fatigue. Also nice: The sugar-free, low-carb formula is free from synthetic ingredients and is flavored with delicious Peruvian cacao and coconut for a protein boost youll actually look forward to drinking.
Key Ingredients: Hemp, bio-fermented brown rice, and pea protein | Certified: Vegan, non-GMO, | Dosage: 2 tsps daily | Size: 7.8 oz.
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Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain Over 1000 Calories Per Serving
Optimum Nutrition is a brand built on using the highest quality raw ingredients in a state-of-the-art approach. Each product is tested and retested to ensure you know whats going into your body.
The companys Serious Mass product is our top choice overall for over 1,000 calories per serving protein powder because of the quality of whats in it, including the addition of 25 vitamins and essential minerals.
The powder is also great mixed with other foods and liquids to add more flavor and calories, like fruits, milk, and nut butters giving you endless options for a great meal replacement and workout fueler.
Best With Superfoods: Orgain Organic Protein & Superfoods Plant
The protein powder combines plant-based proteins with 50 superfoods, including vegetables, berries, herbs, sprouts, and grains. However, the long list of ingredients might make it one to avoid for people with allergies. Additionally, this powder is higher in carbohydrates than some other options.
People can choose their preferred flavors from creamy chocolate fudge or vanilla bean.
Further to that, people can also consider the nutritional value per serving 2-scoop serving:
The formulation also contains vitamin C, iron, and calcium, which may help support bone health.
Chocolate and vanilla flavors are available, and the product includes 18 servings.
The one-time price is $22.99. People may also benefit from a subscription for $16.09.
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What About Protein Blends
Many protein powders are actually a blend of a few of these common types. While whey and casein are usually just single ingredients, a lot of vegan protein powders mix hemp, pea, brown rice or soy to provide a nutritionally complete profile. Some proteins are better at encouraging muscle recovery whilst others can help you gain muscle mass combining two or more can often help you achieve a few different goals at the same time.
Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein Powder
If you take, say, chicken bones, and simmer them in water for a long time, proteins leach out of the bone into the water.
Eventually, the bone will turn into rubber.
Do this a lot to get bone broth.
Evaporate the water and you get bone broth protein powder.
But thats a lot of work and man, can it make your dorm room smelly!
Thankfully, you can buy bone broth protein powder already-made.
Its available in chocolate, vanilla, and banana creme flavors. You can also buy it unflavored.
Each scoop gives 20 grams of protein along with 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of carbs.
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Does It Have Enough Value
Last but not least, we had to guarantee that a product was worth the price. Health and workout supplements can quickly get expensive, especially if youre paying for premium formulas.
Yet, why pay for something so expensive if it isnt worth the ingredients? We calculated value based on these factors:
- Macros If a product contained more protein per serving, it made more sense for it to be slightly more expensive. Products that were overpriced and under-dosed were eliminated from the list.
- Ingredients High-quality ingredients are understandably more expensive. Therefore, we gave some leniency to brands that use organic or single-source ingredients.
- Branding Never pay for a name. The quality of the ingredients and the potency of a product should always take precedent. If products were priced higher simply because of their branding, we knocked them down a few steps.
At the end of the day, your personal budget will determine how much youre willing to pay but, from our end, we wanted to guarantee that all the products listed here provide quality results without breaking your bank.
Muscletech 100% Mass Gainer Protein Powder
Flavors: Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Vanilla Milkshake
Protein per serving: 44g
Price: $27.99 for 5.15lbs
MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer Protein Powder is uniquely formulated for people looking to conveniently increase their daily intake of protein, carbohydrates, and calories. With this protein powder, youll increase your size and strength while giving your body the fuel and nutrients it needs.
Each scoop is packed with mass-producing calories and high-quality protein sources. MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer Protein Powder is also formulated with creatine monohydrate, an anabolic driver that supports strength gains and mass.
A 6-scoop serving offers 44g protein and a whopping 1,330 calories. For best results, drink one serving each day between meals. On workout days, drink MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer Protein Powder mixed with skim milk immediately after your workout.
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Best For Allergies: Aloha Organic Protein Powder
This plant-based protein powder is ideal for women with allergies because it is free of gluten, lactose, and soy. It may also suit people who prefer more sweet powders.
It uses natural coconut sugar as a sweetener and contains 4 g of added sugar per serving. This powder contains no genetically modified organisms and is low in carbohydrates. The main ingredients used in this powder are pea, brown rice, hemp seed, and pumpkin seed proteins.
Add two scoops to water or plant-based milk to make a healthy shake.
The chocolate-flavored version of this product contains the following nutrients per serving:
- 0 milligrams of cholesterol
- 320 mg of sodium
- 18 g of protein
ALOHA Organic also offers a vanilla-flavored protein powder.
This product costs $32.99, but a person can also enroll in a monthly subscription for $29.69.
Best Protein Powders For Weight Gain In 2022
Protein powder can help with weight gain in a few ways. It can help you to feel fuller longer, which can help you to eat fewer calories and lose weight or to maintain your current weight. Protein powder can also help you to build muscle, which can boost your metabolism and help you to burn more calories.
If you are trying to put on weight, then you need to be sure that you are including protein in your diet. Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair. In this article, we will discuss the 25 best protein powders for weight gain in 2022.
These powders come from a variety of sources, including whey, casein, and plant-based proteins. So, whether you are looking for a powder that is dairy-free or vegan-friendly, we have got you covered.
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Things To Consider Before Buying Weight Gainer
Some stereotypes have it that women shouldnt buy weight gainers, as theyre used to gain weight and theyre mainly used by bodybuilders and rather extreme athletes. The truth is that anyone who wants to get stronger and more massive can use weight gainers, that includes women.
According to a study weight gain supplements are a great source of healthy weight gain and help with producing lean muscle mass.
Still, before you embark on this journey, here are some things that will help you purchase the right weight gainer, and that it will be more comfortable to use.
Why Is Protein So Important For Women
Maintaining muscle mass and strength is important for your overall health, for preventing chronic diseases and for everyday movement, like lifting heavy objects.
High protein foods help to support exactly that and protein powders, in particular, offer bang for buck. ‘Your muscles are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein,’ explains Dr Stuart Gray from the University of Glasgow. ‘Powders deliver a huge amount of amino acids to the muscles.’
For busy women a protein powder can help us hit our protein goals without meal prepping every other evening or losing precious hours of sleep in the morning.
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Best Taste: Olly Plant Powered Protein Protein Powder Chocolate
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Tastes like chocolate, a.k.a. tastes great
Key Ingredients
Amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins and have a role in virtually all the biological processes that occur in our bodies, including the reparation of skin.
Customers report that this protein powder is unbelievably deliciousnot too sweet or chocolatey and not at all powdery-tasting. In addition to packing in 18 grams of plant-based protein per serving , it also contains eight of the nine essential amino acids, which are important in encouraging healthy tissue in muscles, bones, skin, and hair. Mix a scoop in your iced coffee for a delicious kick that will keep you full for hours.
Key Ingredients: Pea protein, flax seed | Certified: Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan | Dosage: 2 scoops daily | Size: 14.8 oz.
Bodybuildingcom Signature Mass Gainer
Flavors: Chocolate Ice Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream
Protein per serving: 50g
Price: $31.99 for 5lbs
Looking for a simple, clean product that will help you pack on muscle? Bodybuilding.com Signature Mass Gainer is a worthy contender. This protein powder is stocked with 50g of protein, 133g of carbohydrates, and 810 calories per serving. Its formulated with other key ingredients, including probiotics, maltodextrin, BCAAs, and organic grains.
Whether mixed with water, milk, or any other liquid, this protein powder creates a deliciously thick shake that will leave you satisfied and fueled for hours each day. Bodybuilding.com Signature Mass Gainer offers quick calories so that you can effortlessly increase your intake each day.
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Best Low Cost Protein Powder For Women
- Other nutrition info: 10 g fat, 2 g carbs, 1 g fiber
- Added sugar: 0 g
- Certifications: non-GMO
If youre on keto, you may want a protein powder with some slightly more favorable macros for your low carb lifestyle and this is just the thing. Its got more fat than most other protein powders to give you some extra keto-friendly energy and just 1 g of net carbs per serving, so its a great keto workout companion.
The protein blend also contains some metabolism boosters like MCT oil and coffee fruit extract , along with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory extracts of ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and ashwagandha that may assist with recovery.
You can get it in chocolate or vanilla.
Protein powder offers a super easy and convenient way to get some extra protein in your life. While not everyone needs to supplement with it, certain conditions and health goals may warrant some added amino acids:
So, youre ready to choose your fighter. Heres what you should keep in mind:
Does Whey Protein Make Women Gain Weight
On a reduced-calorie diet, no whey protein will not make you gain weight.
However, it can help with muscle growth, which often trips up folks who are trying to lose weight. If your muscles are growing while youre losing fat, you may not see the scale moving as much as you expect it to. But with consistency you will notice your shape and measurements changing to reflect these changes to your body composition (and thats better than pure weight loss, TBH.
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Iconic Protein Powder Vanilla Bean Single Serve
If you are new to using protein powders, the iconic protein powder is a good way to break the yoke. This single-serve product is perfect for newbies, and you can trust the product because it has a 70% 5-star rating. What about the other 30%? Well, just a few modifications from the company are all they require. However, this does not affect the benefit your body would derive from this product.
It easily becomes peoples favorite, and satisfied customers have passed comments such as tastes like melted chocolate ice cream when mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, this is one of the best vanilla protein powder. No artificial additives, so it is great for diabetic patient and people that want to reduce their sugar level.
- It can be mixed with different types of products
- Ideal for new users of protein powder
- Brand: Iconic protein
- Type: casein protein
Truth #: Protein Powder Is A Low
Not only does protein take care of many essential body functions, but it provides great benefits to complement your workout routine.
Protein powder can provide hunger and weight control in addition to muscle growth.
Most diet plans that are paired with exercise benefit from a protein supplement.
In fact, many women who are on the go opt for protein supplements as snacks or meal replacements.
Protein powders can easily be transformed into flavored waters or smoothies, allowing you to stick to your diet on a busy schedule.
Watch this video to calculate your daily protein needs!
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Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein Powder
Optimum Nutrition took a bold leap when they named their brand of workout supplements Gold Standard.
It seems to have worked out for them.
Gold Standard whey protein is one of the best-selling protein powders in the world, and for good reason.
Its a blend of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate.
There are also other ingredients to make it a better tasting protein shake.
If you like whey protein, theres probably a Gold Standard flavor for you!
There are your old standbys such as chocolate and vanilla.
Like bananas, coffee, or mocha cappuccinos? Those are flavors, too!
There are even silly ones such as vanilla ice cream and extreme milk chocolate .
Im not sure how milk chocolate can be extreme, but there you go!
Its available in 1, 2, 3.3, and 5 pound containers, depending on the flavor.
Here are some serious, easy-to-eat calories
Each scoop of powder dumped into 6-8 ounces of water gives you 24 grams of whey protein.
Each serving also has 3 grams of carbs, 2 of which are from sugar. So, its reasonably low-carb, which can help you hit your macros.
Theres also only 1.5 grams of fat per serving.
However, if you want to maximize weight-gain with a protein powder, theres also Serious Mass by Optimum Nutrition.
Each serving contains 50 grams of protein, 250 grams of carbohydrates, and a whopping 1,250 calories!
Another low-carb choice is the protein powder by Quest Nutrition.
Also, unlike the Gold Standard whey protein, it contains zero soy!
Best Whey Protein Powder For Women
- Other nutrition info: 2 g fat, 5 g carbs, 2 g fiber
- Added sugar: 0 g
- Certifications: NSF for Sport, Informed Sport
Whey isolate is often preferred over whey concentrate because it contains more protein and fewer milk sugars and fats. ONNITs whey comes from grass-fed New Zealand cows, and its formula focuses on the protein with minimal flashy extras. However, it does contain a bit of medium chain triglyceride oil, which may help you burn more fat while you get your pump on, according to a small 2012 study.
You can get this powder in Mexican chocolate or vanilla.
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How Much Mass Gainer Should You Take Daily To Gain Muscle Mass
Theres no blanket recommendation for the amount of mass gainer to take each day to gain muscle mass. However, research suggests that increasing both calories and protein will help promote muscle gain .
Depending on your current intake and the number of calories and protein youre aiming to consume, youll be able to determine how much mass gainer might be best for you.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the individual product for the best results.
Here Are Our Quick Answers:
- Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
- Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass
- Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving: CytoSport Muscle Milk Gainer
- Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Over 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Dymatize Super Mass Gainer
- Top-Rated Protein Powder For Weight Gain By Customers: MuscleTech Mass-Tech Extreme 2000
- Best Vegan Protein Powder For Weight Gain: Vegan Naked Mass
- Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain With Lower Carbs: Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer
- Protein Powder For Weight Gain With The Most Flavor Options: ALLMAX Nutrition QuickMass
- Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain With Creatine: MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass Beef Protein
Now lets get into the details about our picks and why. Stay to the end if you want to learn a bit more about mass gainers and using protein powder for weight gain and see some frequently asked questions!
Note: Pricing is subject to change or may vary based on where you purchase and current sales.
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