The Best Protein Supplement (in the world?)

My goal might seem like a lofty one, but I am on a lifelong quest to find the best protein supplement on the market and share it with you. In the beginning of my journey, I was swayed primarily by price. As time progressed, I started to do more research and look more closely at what I was putting in my body. I am now at the point where I am running out of options. So if you’re looking for  a protein supplement I have a few recommendations:

#1 The first ingredient should be protein. Put the product back on the shelf if the first ingredient is sugar or something else.

#2 Choose whey protein isolate vs. whey concentrate. If you have any lactose intolerance avoid concentrate. Isolate absorbs faster in the body. You also get more bang for your buck with isolate.

#3 Keep it simple. The less ingredients the better.

#4 Avoid sugar if possible. Look for healthy alternatives like Stevia or Xylitol. Beware of sucralose (splenda). Its in a lot of supplements.

#5 Avoid natural flavors. What are natural flavors?  Have you ever heard of castoreum? It is a combination of secretions from the castor sacs (between the pelvis and base of the tail), anal glands, and urine of beavers. It is typically used for vanilla, strawberry, and raspberry flavoring.

#6 Avoid Dutch/Alkali chocolate. This is chocolate that has been alkalized with salts to reduce bitterness. This is done to mask low quality, cheap, and/or overroasted chocolate (cacao). It destroys natural healthy antioxidants (flavonoids). Just use a scoop of alkali-free cocoa powder for flavor.

#7 Choose GMO-free, hormone, and antibiotic free. If your goal is to just bulk-up without any regard towards health/nutrition by all means please choose GMO, hormone, and antibiotic rich supplements. The milk industry started using antibiotics on cows because it increased body mass at an early age in calves.

#8 Choose grass-fed whey protein. Keep in mind there is no official certification for grass-fed labeling/marketing. Pasture time is not a requirement for organic certification. The choice is yours to decide. Do you want your protein originating from corn fed cows or grass fed cows?

#9 Be skeptical. Is this company reputable? Contact them and ask them questions. Look for online reviews.

# Research. Check out Lab Door to start your journey.

 

 

Purity Farms Ghee

Oregon Tilth Certified Organic

Grass Fed

Clarified Butter

Ingredients: 100% clarified butter from cows

Location: Wisconsin

Elevation: 1,050 ft (mean elevation for state)

Storage: No need to refrigerate

Packaging: Glass jar with plastic lid

Taste/Aroma: Notes of caramel or burnt brown sugar

Availability: Varies. Whole Foods.

Hacker worthy? Yes. It is clarified which means it contains no milk fats or lactose. It still has all the positive benefits: CLA’s, omega-3s, Vitamin A, and etc. Note it is higher in total fat/saturated fat, but cholesterol remains the same when compared to un-clarified butter.  It pairs perfectly with tea.

Organic Valley Pasture Butter

USDA Organic

Grass Fed (note these cows only feed on grass May through September)

Ingredients: Pasteurized Organic Sweet Cream (Milk), Salt, Microbial Cultures.

Taste: Creamy out of this world taste that tantalizes the taste-buds

Comments: The product does not mention anything on the label about being GMO free. Digging deeper we find that they do not “willingly” or “intentionally” use GMOs. We should also question the cows diet when they are not grazing on grass in the off months. Per Organic Valley’s website: “All animals receive 100% organic feed. All cows get a mixture of organic forages and organic grains in their diet. Forages are grass, hay, silage, baylage and other “green feeds”. Hay is simply dried plant material like grass and alfalfa. Silage and baylage are fermented or “wet” plant material. Grains include corn, barley, soybeans, oats, field peas and flax.” Also, note the product does contain sodium.

Where can I find this product? Availability will vary, but I have seen it in Whole Foods and New Frontiers Natural Marketplace.

Hacker worthy? It’s a step above the rest. I would like to see a sodium-free version. Also, they could do better than 42% grass-fed per year.