Clean Eating Protein Powder
If you’ve ever wondered about protein powders and whether or not they are clean, wonder no longer. The fact is, none of them are clean. It’s true. There is no such thing as clean eating protein powder. Oh the horror!!! I know, I know. But think about it…
You can’t go out to a tree in your garden and pick protein powder. Nobody can milk a cow and get protein powder out of the udder. You can’t just pick leaves, dry them, grind them and get protein powder. It just doesn’t work like that.
So What Do I Do Without A Clean Eating Protein Powder?
Okay, now that I’ve rocked your world, I’m sure I will probably get a ton of comments defending certain protein powders, and the truth is, there are some that are better than others.
My criteria for protein powder:
My approach has always been that if I can’t make it at home and get something that is pretty darn similar, then it’s too processed and not clean. I could pretty easily make tomato sauce at home. So as long as the ingredients on a can of tomato sauce are clean, then I don’t really think twice about buying it unless there is some obvious reason to reconsider. But I can’t duplicate the process at home to make protein powder. So that tells me that it’s not clean.
Another truth is this:
Most clean eaters who use protein powders will never give them up. It just isn’t going to happen. The convenience of a meal in a shake bottle is just too great, particularly when there is highly valued protein involved.
So the only penance I can give for this treasonous blog post is to share with you the protein powders that I have found to be fairly decent, even if they aren’t truly clean.
THE CLEANEST PROTEIN POWDERS I’VE FOUND:
Natural Factors – Unflavored Whey Protein Powder
(amazon affiliate link)
I searched Whole Foods high and low for a protein powder than had relatively few ingredients AND ingredients I recognized. This brand came the closest of all the whey powders I found there. Just be sure it’s unflavored, because the flavored variety has a whole bunch of additions that made me raise an eyebrow.
- Affordability Rating: Medium, this one is pretty “middle of the road”.
- Flavor Rating: The good thing about buying unflavored powder is that you can flavor it any way you like. So this one gets an A+ in that department.
- Texture Rating: I have found that whey powders always blend into a shake really well and this one is no exception. It’s a good choice where texture is concerned.
Manitoba Harvest – Hemp Protein Powder
(amazon affiliate link)
Of all the protein powders I looked into, this one had the least amount of processing. So yes, this would the the “cleanest” among all the powders I looked at.
- Affordability Rating: Fair and affordable for the amount and quality of product you get.
- Flavor Rating: I will admit, the flavor takes a little getting used to. It’s not terrible, it’s just different. You’ll have to play around until you find the additions you like best when making your shake.
- Texture Rating: This powder is a little thicker in density. It’s not impossible to tolerate, but it is noticeable.
Shakeology
I will admit that the whole “sales pitchy” aspect of Shakeology and the Beach Body company was a little off putting for me. That sort of “hard selling” and pushiness has always made me turn the other way. But all things considered, I found this shake to be pretty darn high in nutrients, even if the ingredient list is a bit longer. ( I have personally tried the chocolate and the strawberry flavors)
- Affordability Rating: Expensive (at least to me it is).
- Flavor Rating: I couldn’t get past the flavor. I guess I’m just too used to fruit smoothies. The flavor tasted very “chemical” to me. But that could just be me. I’m a little overly sensitive to that sort of thing.
- Texture Rating: This one does pretty well with texture. It’s pretty similar to the whey powder in that it blends up nicely.
So long story short, if you must use a protein powder, choose the best quality powder you can afford. This is truly one area where you get what you pay for. Don’t skimp if your goal is to get nutrients from a shake.
CLEAN EATING RECIPE THAT USE PROTEIN POWDER:
Can you give an opinion on the Shaklee powder (found here: http://www.shaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=21242) and on Arbonne powder? I’ve used pea protein powder in the past, and it seemed like a pretty good option, but the flavor was pretty strong.
Christa – I can’t find the ingredient list on either one. Sorry…
This is a great post, thank you!
I am one of those guys who avoids processed foods, but am guilty for using protein powders. I buy mine in bulk and the only ingredients are whey isolate and soy lecithin. I’m not a fan of the soy part, but it’s the best short list I could find.
I’m curious, do you have a certain stevia you prefer or do you stay away from all of it? I have used Kal brand, but I think they add maltodextrin now. I’m currently using stevia powder from Bulk Supplements where the only ingredient is pure stevia. I’d love to have your take on this too.
RC – I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. If you use it and it works for you, then great! 🙂 As for Stevia, I’m currently growing my own to see what it’s like to make it, but my plant isn’t big enough yet to harvest it. I’ve heard of other people using Kal as well, but if they add maltodextrin that would definitely not be clean. It sounds like the bulk stevia you use is fine. I mean, honestly, if stevia (even the not-clean stuff) is the worst you are getting, you’re doing pretty good. I believe the liquid is less processed than the powder, but when it comes to things like this where you are using such small amounts, it’s kind of like splitting hairs. I’ve used the powder stuff myself on many occasions. I think as clean eaters, sometimes we can go a little overboard on the smaller things when it’s really the majority that counts most.
what do you think about this protein powder? https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-whey-protein-powder-36-5-oz-1035-grams-pwdr
Jenn – It’s not clean and few of the ingredients give me pause. But again, do what’s right for you!
Great post! I had to chuckle when you made the comment about people who will not give up their protein powder…I am one of those people!!! I use mine in my smoothie with fruit Monday through Friday…it just is easy for me to whip up quickly as I am heading out the door and it fills me up.
Beth – I think that’s the case for most people who use it. You are not alone! 🙂
How do you feel about the Standard Process Whey Complete? I try to stay away from all processed foods including protein powders but sometimes. I find that I’m not eating enough.
Also, what do you think about this author’s take on protein powders? http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/top-five-foods-to-never-buy-at-the-healthfood-store/
Trinette – No protein powder is clean, and I hadn’t even considered the angle mentioned in the article. I don’t know a lot about that kind of stuff, but it makes sense to me.
I agree that no protein powder could be honestly clean, I use http://www.gardenoflife.com. I like but I can’t be sure how it measures up I’m very new to clean eating.
Raeann – If you can post a link to the exact product you use and it’s ingredients, I can give it a look.
What about Isagenix? It’s protein is undenatured from Australia grain fed cows! No chemicals ! Absolutely pure! Check into it! Isagenix.com it is very clean!
J Jamey – No, it’s not clean. Perhaps it’s better quality than some, but it’s still not clean.
Any thoughts on Spiru-tein?
Stacey – If it’s a powder, it’s not clean. I don’t know the brand personally, so I can’t speak to it’s nutrition value.
Here Tiffany, thank you for taking a look. I tried to get just the nutrition facts but I couldn’t figure out how, haha. This is the page for the product and the facts are just a click to the right hand side of the page. 🙂
Raeann – For protein powder, it looks pretty nutritious!
That’s awesome! Thank you for looking at it for me!
Raeann – My pleasure!
Just ordered the Natural Factors! I can’t wait to get it and throw a scoop in my daily smoothie!
Sarah – Great!
I believe Garden of Life, Raw Protein powder is clean. It’s USDA Organic, Non GMO Project Verfified, and supporting Organic Farms. It comes in Vegan.
Cheryl – I don’t believe it is. It’s a powder, so it’s processed in some way. What that process is, I’m not sure, and that’s what I’d have to look into.
This is a very helpful article in looking for a clean protein powder. I began my clean eating journey with Paleo several months ago, and then became interested in Shakeology (and I will be upfront and say that I am now a BeachBody Coach and am therefore biased here).
I’ve never considered Shakeology a protein powder, because that is not its goal at all. It’s not considered a supplement. In contrast, it is considered to provide, in a single dose, all the vitamins and nutrients one’s body needs for the day and would not receive by simply eating clean. So even when I’m eating my best Paleo meals, Shakeology is giving me what I’m not getting from my kitchen, in a natural way. There’s even a Vegan option if we’re being really picky. So, yes, it *is* “expensive,” therefore, when compared to protein powders (part of my argument is that this is a faulty category for comparison purposes). At $4 a serving, I consider it well worth it for what I’m getting 🙂 I enjoy your website and refer to it often, thanks for posting!
Sarah – Not to be argumentative, but what you describe there is exactly a supplement. Your description is exactly what a supplement is and does. I also don’t feel that people who are Vegan are “picky”. It’s a life choice. But it’s always been my perspective that if you are truly eating clean, chances are, you’re getting a lot of nutrients. Especially if you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Either way, it’s a personal choice to use it or not use it. My point with this article is simply to say that it is not clean by it’s very nature. Again, using it is a personal choice. But I’m happy it’s working for you! 😀
Very interesting…sometimes I forget it’s not just how short & natural the ingredient list is, but also the processing of those ingredients. This is the brand I use…but I like reading about all the different brands in the comments
Leslie – Yes, it’s very much about the processing of ingredients. A jar of sauce could have 40 ingredients, but if none of them are truly processed (other than being cooked to make the sauce), then it’s clean. The reverse is true as well. You can have a two ingredient item, but those ingredients can be just awful.
What about Herbalife Healthy Meal and Protein Powder? Do you think it’s a good selection for being close to clean? I think it’s soy based…
Butterfly77 – It’s most likely not clean, but if you want to post the ingredients here, I can take a look.
What are your thoughts about Betty Lou’s?
Amie – It would not be my first choice.
Great informative article!
What are your thoughts on Bare Blends?
It contains very few ingredients.
Oscar – I would not use this one. Sorry. :/
The cleanest protein powder i’ve found… Raw Whey Protein Isolate.
literally has only one ingredient… and yes i agree it’s still not actually clean, but with 100% Whey protein it’s a win in my book… (the unflavoured one only of course)
plus for some random reason i love the taste of this stuff?
T – If it works for you, I say go for it!
My family and I recently started eating healthier. I found an awesome protein powder called YES by Yoli. My family loves it…..both the vanilla and chocolate. Have you rated this one yet?
Mary Jo – No, I’ve never seen it or heard of it.
I LOVE Shakeology!!! If you know how to fix it, it’s taste and texture are great! It’s not a protein shake. Oh, and you get what you pay for!