Apple Cinnamon With Oats
The first thing that comes to mind in regards to an apple-flavored beverage is probably apple juice or some apple sauce . Many have grown up with a squeezable pouch of fresh apple sauce, though in many cases, some were wary of the mushy, light brown substance. More often than not though, you learned to enjoy the sweet taste of the fruit-based sauce especially if it had a helping of cinnamon in it. While cinnamon and apple might be a criminally underrated flavor pairing, it is featured in numerous products such as cereals, oatmeal, and this next Premier Protein.
Apple Cinnamon with Oats is the next protein shake flavor on this list, and comes in a bright green box or bottle that brings a fresh granny smith to mind. The shake is perfect for a post-yoga breakfast, and manages to balance out the creamy shake with the warm flavors of apple and cinnamon. We could see ourselves drinking this flavor chilled or warm, and would pair it with a bowl of oatmeal or cereal. We might even argue that this flavor tastes better than applesauce itself, as it is just that fantastic. We wouldn’t limit ourselves to just having this drink with breakfast, and highly suggest you try it out.
Best Taste: Premier Protein 30g Protein Shake
With nearly 5,900 five-star ratings, Premier Protein shakes are a favorite of Amazon shoppers and dietitians alike. Both Hubert and registered dietitian Mia Syn name this option as one of their go-to pre-made recommendations. “They are packed with 30 grams of protein, 160 calories and only 1 gram of sugar, plus antioxidants vitamins C and E, which support immune health,” Syn says. “Plus, they come in different flavors like chocolate peanut butter and caramel so you can add them to smoothies or protein pancakes, or enjoy on the go.” Reviewers are particularly impressed by the great taste of these shakes, which many call “delicious.”
A Final Smoothie Suggestion:
“Another in-store option besides bottled brands is from the store itselfsome retailers like Whole Foods and Bristol Farms have in-store smoothie bars where they’ll let you build your own smoothie,” says Moon.
There, you can craft more nutrient-dense delights. This way, you’ll know exactly what goes into the blend and can ask the employee to swap out or remove certain ingredients that should never be in your smoothie .
Also Check: How To Remove Excess Protein From Body
Muscle Milk Pro Series
Muscle Milk is an excellent source of protein, and dont let the name fool youits not just for post-workout refueling.
It delivers an impressive 32 grams of protein per serving in the form of milk and casein protein, and aside from some flavoring agents, the only other ingredients are vitamins and minerals. Surprisingly, its one of the most focused, minimalist protein shakes out there, and its carb content is incredibly low.
Owyn Is Our Top Choice For Active People Short On Time
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Verywell / Chloe Jeong
The protein needs of active individuals are higher than the general population. Adequately refueling with enough protein and carbohydrates after exercise is critical if you want to optimize your training and recover quickly. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, protein needs can usually be met through diet alone, without the use of supplements. Protein can be found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, tofu, tempeh, and in varying amounts in grains and legumes.
However, there may be situations in which a ready-made protein shake can come in handy. Kathryn A. Bohling, MD, a family medicine specialist at Mercy Medical Center in Maryland, says People who may benefit from protein shakes include people who aren’t getting enough protein in their diet because of dietary restrictions, those who are trying to lose weight, or anyone trying to build muscle.
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Best For Athletes: Vega Sport Premium Protein Powder
Courtesy of Amazon
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Vegan and contains a higher amount of protein
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Contains tart cherry and turmeric for recovery
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Powder form must be mixed into liquid
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Low in non-fiber carbohydrates
If you are an athlete looking for an easy way to boost your protein intake, Vega Sport Premium Protein might be a good choice for you. This protein powder contains 30 grams of protein per serving, which is higher than many other options. Active individuals require more protein than sedentary individuals, so this can help you meet your daily needs. Please note that this is another option that is low in carbs, so we recommend pairing it with a carbohydrate food source or blending it into a smoothie with a banana and some oats.
Vega contains protein from a mix of sources, including pea protein, pumpkin seed protein, sunflower seed protein, and alfalfa protein. We also like that this powder contains 5 grams of branched-chain amino acids, with 2.4 grams of leucine, one of the branched-chain amino acids critical for muscle growth.
Vega Sport Premium Protein is NSF Certified for Sport, so you can be sure that it is free from contaminants and that it contains the ingredients listed on the label. These ingredients include tart cherry powder and turmeric extract, which have been studied for their ability to help reduce post-exercise inflammation. Vega Sport is also non-GMO and gluten-free.
Iso100 Clear 100% Whey Protein Isolate Drink
Image courtesy Dymatize
The Dymatize ISO100 Clear 100% Whey Protein Isolate Drink is low in carbohydrates and comes in a number of flavors. It’s ideal for individuals on a low-carb diet because to this fact.
If you’re not on a low-carb diet, your muscle growth and recovery might be limited you usually want some carbohydrates alongside protein to restore the energy in your muscles. Artificial sweeteners, including stevia and sucralose , are avoided.
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Is Protein Coffee Healthy
Coffee consumed in moderation is considered healthy since it contains antioxidants as well as B vitamins, potassium and riboflavin. And, caffeine can give you a boost of endurance while exercising and help with alertness and concentration when you need to study. Just be sure not to over do caffeine since it can have some negative health benefits.
If youre struggling to meet your protein needs or are trying to gain muscle, added protein can be a great supplement! Having protein with breakfast helps curb mid-morning snacking by keeping you fuller longer, and may help with weight loss.
To read more about the healthy benefits of Proffee, heres a good article from the Cleveland Clinic.
Muscle Milk Zero 100 Calorie Protein Shake Chocolate 20g Protein 11 Fl Oz 12 Pack
Price: $17.07
| Liquid |
About this item
- Contains 11 fluid ounce bottles of muscle milk 100 Calorie Protein Shake, packaging may vary
- 20 grams of protein per serving to help support muscle rebuilding, muscle growth, and maintenance of muscle mass.Hunger satisfaction
- The Combination of high-quality slow releasing and fast releasing proteins provide a more sustained delivery of protein compared to whey alone.Non-Caffeinated
- 100 calories and zero grams of sugar per serving
- Excellent source of calcium and vitamins A, C, & D
- Vitamin D and calcium for strong bones
- Essential amino acids, including Leaucine, play a role in muscle growth
- Uses: Helps rebuild muscle, post-workout recovery, anytime snack, on-the-go-breakfast, helps satisfy hunger, energizing
- Tested for banned substances. NSF certified for the sport. NSF screens for more than 200 substances banned by most major athletic organizations.
Recommended Reading: Protein Shake Recipes For Weight Loss
How To Make A Protein Shake
Should You Diy Your Protein Shake
If you have some time on your hands, you can absolutely whip up your own protein shake quite simply.
Combine a scoop or two of protein powder with healthy and tasty ingredients , and you’ve got yourself a refreshing gourmet protein shake.
If you don’t have protein powder on hand, other protein sources like nut butter, milk, and Greek yogurt can be used as a protein source, as are any of these 24 Ways To Add Protein To Your Smoothie Without Powder.
But most people don’t have a blender laying around in their car or when they are at their office. Nor do they have fresh ingredients handy when they are out and about. Or perhaps you don’t want to mess up your blender when craving a protein shake .
This is where other store-bought protein shake options can come into play.
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Ranking The Best Protein Shakes Of 2022
Protein shakes are flavored blends of protein supplements that are easy to mix up into a shake or smoothie when youre on the go.
The right protein shake can help you lose fat, maintain muscle mass, get toned, recover from tough workouts, and stamp out hunger pangs.
However, theres a lot of variability in quality when it comes to protein shakes. Our research team has picked out the ten best protein shakes to help you stay lean, fit, and healthy.
Research
Ladder whey protein comes in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla, that are 100% naturally sweetened without the use of artificial colors or flavors.
Since it is NSF-certified for sport, this protein powder is ideal for athletes, gym-goers are rally anyone who wants a clean and pure protein shake.
What Are Protein Drinks Made Of
Protein drinks are typically made from whey protein, which is a byproduct of the cheese-making process. However, there are also plant-based protein drinks that use ingredients like soy, rice, or peas. Protein drinks usually come in powder form and need to be mixed with water or milk before drinking.
Don’t Miss: Low Carb Low Fat Recipes High Protein
What Is Protein Coffee
Proffee is exactly what it sounds like. Coffee that is combined with protein powder or a prepared protein shake, usually served over ice, and sometimes flavored syrups are added. Its a delicious drink for anyone who wants to up their protein intake or post workout muscle recovery.
The recipe Im sharing in the recipe card below is made with cold brew coffee and a bottled store-bought protein shake. But, there are many ways to customize it depending on your preferences. Ill be giving several variations and optional add-ins for protein coffee throughout this post.
Pure Protein Meal Replacement Shakes
4.5 out of 5 stars33,500+ Amazon customer reviews
Pure Protein shakes are loved for good reason: The typical bottle offers 30 grams of protein for only 140 calories and one gram of sugar. However, these drinks are low in both fiber and fat, so you may want to sip on one with a snack on the side for a complete meal replacement. Still, if youre craving something sweet, they come in satisfying flavors like cookies and cream, peaches and cream, chocolate, vanilla, and more.
Ive been drinking this for breakfast for a few months. I find the packaging very convenient for on-the-go breakfast. Its quite tasty and you really cant beat the macros. an Amazon reviewer writes.
Make it a meal: If youre grabbing this shake for breakfast and know you need to keep hunger at bay until lunch, drink this shake after you nosh on a slice of multi-grain bread topped with 1/4 of an avocado. Youll boost your meal by 150 calories, 6 grams of filling fiber, and about 8 grams of healthy fats.
Nutrition info for vanilla: 140 calories, 1.5 g fat , 6 g carbs , 250 mg sodium, 30 g protein
ALOHA Organic-Plant Based Protein Shakes
ALOHA Organic-Plant Based Protein Shakes
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What Does Protein Powder Do
Protein powders are dietary supplements designed to increase your intake of protein. Once marketed primarily to athletes as a way to build muscle and aid in post-workout recovery, these products have garnered appeal with a wider consumer audience in recent years.
Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in human healthit helps build and repair muscle tissue, and it can provide energy, too. Dietary protein can come from plant or animal sources, such as meat, seafood, legumes, nuts and seeds. However, many people turn to protein powders for a convenient and concentrated dose of protein, often after exercising. While a serving of 100 grams of black beans contains 24 grams of protein, a couple scoops of protein powder can provide nearly 30 grams of protein.
Many protein powders contain other nutrients, too, such as added vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids or fiber, and can often be mixed with milk or water to make a shake or smoothie.
Best Budget Protein Shake
Sugars:< 1g
Protein: 30g
Pros: Affordable, 30g of protein per serving, excellent afternoon snack, packed full of vitamins and minerals, 4g fiber
Cons: Unimpressive flavor, contains sucralose and other questionable additives
For a mere $1.66 per bottle, Pure Protein Complete Protein Shake offers up 30g of protein from a blend of milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate, and whey protein concentrate, which has the additional benefit of being packed with calcium as well.
And, while the Pure Protein shake didn’t serve as a good meal replacement, I found it did a terrific job of staving off hunger in the afternoon. During the testing period, I noticed that I performed well in my weightlifting and running workouts, which suggests the Pure Protein drink may have aided in muscle building and recovery, though this is a subjective observation, and it’s hard to say for sure.
Pure Protein is not without its negatives, though: Of the three flavors I tried , vanilla was my favorite, but all three flavors were close to the bottom in my taste rankings among competitors. There’s less than 1 gram of sugar so the shake relies heavily on sucralose for its sweetness, which smacks you initially and then disappears as your taste buds acclimate.
Recommended Reading: Should I Use Protein Powder
Bolthouse Farms Protein Plus Strawberry
“Make sure you always read the back where the label and ingredient list are located. For example, Bolthouse Farms’ ‘Protein Plus’ line, a well-known smoothie brand in the smoothie section of the pharmacy or grocery store, may seem like a smart choice,” says Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of NY Nutrition Group. “Before you grab-and-go, stop and flip it over to the back. Your jaw will hit the floor. There may be strawberries and the word ‘protein’ on the front, but there are a whopping 39 grams of sugar per bottle. And 26 grams of which are purely added.” For reference, that’s basically the amount of sugar you’ll find in a 10-ounce chocolate milkshake. No thanks! In this case, it’s probably best to make your own high-protein smoothie recipe at home.
What Else We Considered
I tested 11 different brands of protein shakes including several flavors and variations of each brand while researching this guide, and the following just missed the cut but are still worth considering:
Core Power High Protein Milk Shake : There’s a lot to like about the Core Power Protein Shakes. The drink comes in 26g, 30g, and 42g protein varieties all from filtered, low-fat Grade A milk and several flavors of each. It was a good afternoon snack, and I experienced several good workouts while testing it. Unfortunately, it relies on sucralose for sweetening and didn’t have an impressive enough taste to usurp any of our top picks above, though Carson said these are actually her favorite RTD protein drinks so it may be a taste test of your own.
Atkins Protein-Rich Shake : The Atkins shake was the cheapest of the drinks I tested, but it only has 15 grams of protein, which is on the lower side. It tasted pretty good and served as an adequate meal replacement option. But, it features soy protein isolate, which our expert Samantha Cassetty, RD, said could be unsafe. The shake also relies heavily on sucralose.
American Body Building Pure Pro 50 Protein Shake : The Pure Pro 50 shake has 50 grams of protein, which comes from good sources of milk and whey protein concentrates. But, it’s packed with sucralose and artificial ingredients, and your body can’t digest this much protein in one sitting anyway. Also, I didn’t care for the strawberry flavor I tested.
Read Also: Does Protein Build Muscle Without Working Out