How To Pick The Best Protein Powder (CHOOSE WISELY!)

Once you do decide that you’re ready to invest in a protein powder, it’s important that you first get well informed of the differences between the various protein powder types out there (e.g. whey protein isolate vs whey protein concentrate) , as well as the things to look for and things to avoid when comparing different brands. This helps you get the best protein powder available. By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly how to pick the right protein powder type for you, and how to separate the good from the not-so-good options out there.

First, let’s cover what the best protein powder type may be for you. Now, research has made it clear that Whey protein comes out on top. This is because Whey protein is both higher in leucine, one of the most important amino acids for muscle growth, and more effectively absorbed and used by the body when compared to various other protein powders and other protein sources in general. But Whey protein can be further broken down into: Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, and Whey Hydrolysate.

When it comes to whey protein isolate vs whey protein concentrate, the main difference here is that Whey Concentrate can range anywhere from 35-80% protein and typically contain the highest amount of lactose, carbs, and fats. Whereas Whey Isolates, although typically a bit more costly, are required to be at least 90% protein by weight, and therefore have considerably less fat and carbs. Hydrolysates on the other hand are whey concentrates or isolates that have been “pre-digested” to help with its absorption but have not been shown to be any more effective at increasing size or strength, yet is typically the most expensive option. Meaning that for the best bang for your buck, for most people a good quality Whey isolate protein is your best bet.

Plant-based options can be good if you have intolerances or sensitivities to Whey. The problem with plant-based proteins though is that they tend to be deficient in certain Essential Amino Acids and are less effective at promoting protein synthesis than Whey is. But you can partially compensate for this by combining different plant-based sources (e.g. a blend of rice and pea protein). Soy protein, although subject to much controversy, is another good plant-based protein powder.

Now, after you’ve chosen the protein powder (of all the protein powder types available) that best suits your needs, the next step is learning how to separate the good brands from the not-so-good brands. The first thing to avoid is the use of something called proprietary blends. You can do so by looking at the amount of protein you’re actually getting relative to the total scoop size.

The next trap you want to avoid falling for is something called protein spiking. Some companies add cheap nitrogen containing compounds into their formula, such as BCAA’s or creatine. To avoid this, again, just take a closer look at the nutrition label. The last and final thing to look out for is contamination (heavy metals and plastic derivatives). To minimize your risk as a consumer, simply find out what their testing protocols are and specifically what they test for.

Here are the main points to keep in mind when it comes to how to pick the right protein powder:

1. Whey isolate protein is likely the best bang for your buck. If going for a plant-based option, opt for a mixed protein powder (e.g. rice/pea protein).
2. Avoid powders with proprietary blends by looking closely at the nutrition label. There should not be a ton of listed ingredients (e.g. “blends”) nor should there be a big gap between the actual protein you get per serving compared to the total serving size.
3. To potentially avoid harmful levels of contaminants, do some research on the quality-control practices and testing protocols of the manufacturer.

If you’re going to be investing in protein, it’s worth putting in the additional effort to ensure that what you’re getting is a high quality product aligned with your specific goals. And for a step-by-step program that applies this same level of science and detail to your workouts, nutrition, and supplementation so that you can truly transform your body in the most efficient way possible, then simply take the analysis quiz to discover which science-based program would be best for you and where your body is currently at below:

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - What is the best type of protein powder?
1:23 – The 3 types of Whey protein
2:59 – The best plant-based protein
4:13 – Proprietary blends (avoid these!)
6:47 – Protein spiking
9:39 – Contamination
10:43 – Summary & Application

[JeremyEthier]

What protein powder do you use and why? Comment below! Hope you enjoyed this one. Let me know in the comments if there are any other supplements you'd like to see me cover more in depth and I'll get on it! Cheers!

[Urbrainongaming]

When you started talking about chicken everything made sense.

[DrSwole]

It's interesting to see how many fitness articles on the internet are designed to sell supplements. Great to see Jeremy sharing solid information

[davidc]

POV: you’re listening to the first few minutes of the video, scrolling through comments, and wondering when the chicken analogy will come up so you can have an epiphany about protein powder selection

[seiyulyu]

That chicken thigh, chicken breast, ground chicken breast analogy was brilliant. Such a simple and effective way to communicate an idea. That's why Jeremy is the best fitness youtuber, not only is he honest but also has a gift for teaching. And... he's Canadian!!! (posting from Coquitlam, BC)

[nielsen]

Jeremy looks like he's 19; acts like he's 35

I love him

[Devillionaire]

You’re seriously one of the most informative, easy-to-understand, and trustable fitness educators on youtube. Hell yeah Jeremy.

[MegaGamingforthewin]

i can appreciate his dedication. He stop training his left bicep for the thumbnail

[abidiyoussef]

I appreciate that he didn't recommend a brand

[armandocarvallo]

Jeremy’s videos always come in so clutch. I just recently asked in the facebook group chat for a protein powder and he legit made a video about it!! <3

[MrBecket]

Refreshing to see a YouTuber give in-depth, helpful information on protein without trying to flog the brand that they are sponsored by at the end. Cheers Jeremy 👍🏼👌🏼

[Polynyce]

I only found your videos a couple of weeks ago. They're concise useful and to the point, I've learned a lot from you in a short period of time

[iCarryBoatsAndTheLogs]

Jeremy always coming through with the studies and facts. What a guy, I’ve learnt a lot from this brother.

[rdaniadi]

This video is like 100% whey protein isolate, less junk and full of nutrients

[Nizybi]

Thank you as someone who is getting back into my health/fitness I am looking to avoid all pitfalls and after watching this video i jumped over another one!

[TheWellNourishedHomemaker]

You do sooo well at breaking things down !!! Thank you for good quality videos! I always turn you on when I’m in a funk and unmotivated 😁🙌

[cliffffffffffffff]

I've seen a lot of channels about weightlifting and such and never have I seen someone tackled and explained the best use of protein powders. I'm glad I found this channel. Thank you!

[saijeetdogra]

He fed different kinds of proteins to his two arms to help us understand.
That’s dedication.

[Daler]

I love these sort of research videos, with main points summarized and explained. Good job!

[antoniovasquez]

As a chemist, I appreciate the legitimate research (citing a published scientific article and speaking to an expert in the field) you did on the different types of protein and the dissection of their nutrition information. Simple yet very informative video. Welcome to my subscribers list! Hopefully with more information like yours, I can develop as much brawn as I have brain haha