When choosing a protein powder, it’s not just the ingredients list that matters. Looking at the amount of protein per serving and the amino acid profile can help you compare products more effectively.
Protein Content Per Serving
Many protein powders provide between 15 and 30 grams of protein per serving. The amount that’s right for you will depend on your overall protein intake and your reasons for using protein powder. Rather than focusing on a specific number of grams, it can be helpful to compare products on a like-for-like basis and consider how they fit into your wider diet.
It’s also worth looking at how much of the powder is protein. Protein isolates generally contain a higher percentage of protein, while whey concentrates retain slightly more of the naturally occurring components found in whey, including small amounts of lactose and milk fat. The right choice depends on your personal preferences.
Amino Acid Profile and BCAA Content
Protein quality is about more than quantity. Whey protein is considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. It is also naturally rich in all three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), leucine, isoleucine and valine.
Leucine plays an important role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, supporting muscle health and growth. Whey protein is naturally rich in leucine compared with many other protein sources.
Quality and Sourcing Matter
Once you’ve checked the protein content and amino acid profile, it’s worth looking at how the product has been made.
At The Organic Protein Co., we only use organic whey protein from organically-raised cows, and carefully select a handful of whole foods to add to our blends. Pure Unflavoured Organic Whey Protein is made with just one ingredient: organic whey protein.
Our whey is made without chemicals, with cold filtration protecting the natural structure of protein so that delicate bioactive proteins such as immunoglobulins and lactoferrin are preserved. Every one of our powders is free from artificial additives, sweeteners and preservatives.
Explore our range of organic whey protein here.
If you’re searching for a UPF-free protein powder, it’s helpful to understand that all whey protein powders are technically classified as NOVA Group 4 (ultra-processed) because of the methods required to produce whey. However, there can still be significant differences between product ingredients and how powders are made.
Rather than focusing solely on the NOVA classification, we think it’s helpful to consider both the nutritional profile and the ingredients list when comparing protein powders.
You can read more in our full guide: Is Whey Protein a UPF? What “UPF-Free” Really Means
