Whey protein is the gym-goer's favourite and the perfect choice for helping you to maintain muscle, aiding growth and repair after a heavy workout.
But with so many whey protein brands out there, it can sometimes be difficult to separate the hero products from those that are more filler than killer.
At Discount Supplements, we know a thing or two about whey protein, so in this blog, we're offering our definitive guide to the five best whey protein brands, what makes them so great and why you should try them.
Prepare yourself for the best in protein-filled gains!
Table of contents:
What is whey protein, and what does it do?
Which are the best whey protein brands?- Optimum Nutrition
- Efectiv Nutrition
- XL Nutrition
- DY Nutrition
- CNP Nutrition
What is whey protein, and what does it do?
Whey protein is a useful addition to your diet that can help to build, grow and maintain muscle. It contains all 9 essential amino acids and is considered a whole protein that is relatively low in lactose.
Whey can be acquired in two ways; from milk - it can be separated and isolated from casein, the other main protein in milk, or it can be formed as a byproduct of cheesemaking. Whey is a white milky substance that, when isolated and processed to remove fat and lactose content, can be dried to form protein powder.
Whey protein isolate is a further concentrated version of whey protein, containing 90% protein. Whilst it has the same benefits in muscle growth and repair, it can be a much kinder option for those that suffer from lactose intolerance (but should still be avoided if you have lactose-related allergies).
The sole purpose of whey protein powder is to help the user gain muscle mass whilst aiding muscle repair during training. However, whey protein can also be a great supplement for those who struggle to get enough protein into their diets.
What are the best whey protein brands?
In isolation, whey protein powder lacks flavour, so many protein powders are given added flavours, such as chocolate or strawberry. When deciding on the best protein powder, always be mindful of the added sugar content, particularly if your workout goal is weight loss.
However, many great whey protein powders on the market can be beneficial to your workout or as an addition to your daily protein intake. Here are some of the best and what makes them so good;
1. Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition has set the bar high for sports nutrition for over 30 years. Experts in the field, they are one of the only sports nutrition brands that manufacture goods for every product category.
Optimum Nutrition uses only the finest, high-quality, raw ingredients in each of their products, and each is rigorously tested in their manufacturing plant in Middlesbrough, UK, to ensure they meet the highest standards of ON's sports nutrition products.
Their gold standard whey protein is favoured by many as their protein product of choice. Cramming a whopping 24 grams of the purest whey protein isolate into each serving, Optimum Nutrition gold standard whey is fast-acting, instant mixing and low in fat and sugar.
Winning Supplement Of The Year and Protein Powder Of The Year countless times, it's clear why Optimum Nutrition's whey protein powder is loved by many.
Browse the collection at Discount Supplements and find a selection of tub sizes, bundles and sachets in various flavours to try this award-winning brand for yourself.
2. Efectiv Nutrition
Efectiv Nutrition has been providing high-quality sports nutrition products for over ten years. Priding themselves on providing great tasting, high-quality formulas for a great price, each product in their range is tailored to help you achieve results effectively.
Efectiv believes that creating the best version of yourself can be achieved by combining high-quality nutrition, tailored training and the right rest and recovery. This is where their whey protein powder comes in.
Containing 21 grams of protein per serving, Efectiv's whey protein comes in a range of delicious and unique flavours, including Chocolate Bueno, Cherry Bakewell and Peanut Butter Cups, so you're guaranteed a delicious post-workout snack with every shake!
Gluten-free and low in carbohydrates, this whey protein is a delicious and Efectiv way (pun intended!) to achieve your fitness goals. The hardest part will be choosing your favourite flavour!
3. XL Nutrition
A best-seller at Discount Supplements, XL Nutrition, is known for its powerful products that enhance performance, helping you to achieve those all-important fitness goals.
Alongside their popular, The Purge pre-workout powder, which offers extreme energy and focus, comes their Xtra Whey, perfect for building muscle mass and enhancing that all-important recovery time.
Each serving of XL Nutrition's Xtra Whey contains 21 grams of protein per serving and just 119 calories. High-quality ingredients that are great tasting, Xtra Whey comes in a selection of tasty flavours, including Caramel Toffee Popcorn, Banana and Chocolate Mint!
A delicious, vegetarian-friendly post-workout treat, choose XL's Xtra Protein today and get ready to enhance those muscle gains. And if you want to try more of XL Nutrition's products alongside your whey, why not invest in an XL Nutrition starter pack?
4. DY Nutrition
Who better to trust than a six-time Mr Olympia when choosing your whey protein?
After gaining a wealth of experience working alongside British Bodybuilding Champion Kerry Kayes on CNP Professional, Dorian Yates took his knowledge from the body-building arena and his experience working on a successful sports nutrition brand to create his namesake brand, DY Nutrition.
Specialising in products packed with high-quality ingredients that focus on supporting health and achieving gains, DY Nutrition is slowly becoming one of the most successful supplement brands on the market.
The brand's Shadowhey Protein, named after 'The Shadow' himself, is the perfect choice if your goals are to build muscle and strength. Packed with amino acids to assist muscle growth and repair, you can rely on Shadowhey protein to rush your muscles back to health after even the toughest workouts.
Containing over 23g of the purest protein per scoop, it's never been easier to up that protein intake!
5. CNP Nutrition
One of the longest-serving sports supplement companies, CNP knows a thing or two about protein!
First established in 1998, their products focus on providing the correct amount of key ingredients and nutrients specifically tailored to improving performance to help you stay ahead of the competition.
Alongside their famous whey protein, CNP also specialises in protein snacks to help you enhance that all-important protein intake on the go!
CNP Whey Protein has recently undergone a rebrand and has been reformulated to improve its taste and texture. A blend of whey protein concentrate, skimmed milk powder and milk protein concentrate - it's still a worthy rival to many rookie protein and sports nutrition brands!
With 21 grams of protein per serving, alongside essential BCAAs and L-Glutamine, simply mix two scoops with water for an incredibly tasty post-workout snack.
Interested in trying other products from the brand? Why not invest in a CNP starter stack?
Discover the best whey protein products at Discount Supplements
So, now that you're well-versed in the industry's best whey protein products, why not explore the brands using the links above? Or, if you're vegan or allergic to lactose, why not explore our vegan protein powders, for the same great taste and muscle gains, without the lactose content?