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Products Considered
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Hours of Research
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Experts Interviewed
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Customers Consulted
You don't have to be an expert at keto to know the importance of a balanced fat-protein-carb ratio. Of course, you need additional protein for bulking, but a neglect of the fat and carbohydrate intake will only delay the desired results.
A common but often ignored source of these unwanted carbs and fats are the protein supplements. Furthermore, the artificial sweeteners used in protein powders are just insanely disruptive for a balanced fat-protein-carb ratio.
There's only one way to ascertain that your protein powder does not contain artificial sweeteners, and has reliable nutrient sources - Thorough Market Research.
I've been into a similar kind of research for the last 3 months. So, to make life easier for you, here's my list of top five protein powders without artificial sweeteners.
Follow along to make a sensible choice today.
Best Overall
The best animal-based protein powder and comes with all nine amino acids.
• Contains protein sourced from grass-fed American cows, which provide the highest protein by weight ratio at 88%.
• Suitable for lactose-intolerant people.
• Comes in seven rich flavors without any artificial sweeteners.
Best for Active Men
Best vegan protein powder available in the market.
• Contains brown rice protein which is best in building lean muscle mass, total strength, growth, and overall performance.
• It is packed with natural enzymes which make it easier to digest.
• It is a clean product without artificial sweeteners, chemical preservatives, and artificial colors
Best Personalized Vitamins
High end plant based protein powder.
• The protein is from the highest quality European golden peas, which provide maximum gains.
• Free of artificial sweeteners but comes in seven different natural flavors.
• Suitable for different diet forms like keto diet, paleo diet, omnivorous diet due to easy digestibility.
Best for Prostate
It is a plant-based superfood protein powder.
• Contains protein from 20 different plants that provide a complete set of amino acids.
• Contains multiple macro and micronutrients along with protein.
• Contains multiple digestive enzymes, which prevent bloating, enhances digestion and increases the absorption of protein.
Best for Arthritis
Cold-Processed and Undenatured that makes it safe for consumption and also preserves the protein content of the milk effectively.
• A plant-based fat-free product that goes along with multiple recipes.
• Quality protein sourced from flash-pasteurized raw milk of cows living in small farms.
• Free from rBGH, antibiotics and GMOs, artificial sweeteners, colors, and fillers.
The Best Protein Powders Without Artificial Sweeteners
1. Transparent Labs Grass - Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Specifications:
Protein per Serving: 28 grams
Calories: 120
Carbs: 1 g
Fat: 0.5 g
Flavors: Seven rich flavors (Cinnamon Pastry, Strawberry Mocha Cereal, Splash Chocolate, Peanut Butter Milk, Chocolate Salted Caramel, French, Vanilla)
Protein source: whey (isolate)
Transparent Labs Grass-fed whey protein isolate is an animal-based clean protein powder packed with all nine essential amino acids. Being protein isolate makes its quick absorbing and also easy on stomach.
The protein is from the milk of grass-fed, hormone-free American cows.
The major benefit of grass-fed American cows being its source is that it gives the highest protein by weight ratio at 88%, which is far better than any other protein powders available.
I tried the oat meal chocolate cookie flavor, and it mixes really well, also if you are someone who loves oatmeal then it has great oatmeal after taste.
The protein powder is free from any artificial sweetener, although it contains stevia to enhance the natural vanilla flavor.
Major Benefits
Limitations:
Specifications:
Protein per Serving: 30 gram
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2 grams
Fat: 1.2 grams
Flavor: Chocolate
Protein source: plant-based
The first one on my list is a 100% vegan and organic protein powder.
It is a brown rice protein powder that contains natural enzymes and natural sweeteners minus the synthetic additives, gluten, artificial colors, and chemical preservatives.
The motto of the brand performance lab is to provide high-end and clean products that optimize one's daily performance and that improve health in the long run.
Performance lab protein is also not only an ideal substitute for a whey protein powder, but it is also the best for building lean muscle mass, total strength, growth, and overall performance.
Major Benefits
Limitations:
Specifications:
Protein per Serving: 25 grams
Calories: 100
Carbs: 1 gram
Fat: 2 grams
Flavors: Smooth Vanilla, Rich Chocolate, Wild Strawberry, Real Coffee, Vanilla Matcha, Coconut Coffee + MCTs, Chai Turmeric Maca and unflavored
Protein source: plant-based
This is another high-end plant-based protein powder without artificial sweeteners that contain all nine essential amino acids.
The protein is from the highest quality European golden peas, and is free from artificial colors, preservatives, stevia, and artificial sweeteners.
The brand also claims it to be a clean protein powder which means it is vegan and free from soy, gluten, GMOs, lectins, fillers, and artificial ingredients.
Nuzest clean lean protein powder is also suitable for different diet forms like keto diet, paleo diet, omnivorous diet. It is due to its unique formula and easy digestibility.
Major Benefits
Limitations:
4. Ora Organic Vegan Protein Powder
Specifications:
Protein per Serving: 22g
Calories: 130
Carbs: 5 g
Fat: 3 g
Flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla and vanilla chai
Protein source: plant-based
Ora organic vegan protein powder is a plant-based superfood protein powder which contains protein from 20 different plants that provide a complete set of amino acids, and multiple macro and micronutrients.
In addition, the product is rich in a spectrum of digestive enzymes, which prevents bloating, enhances digestion, and increases the absorption of protein.
Other than artificial sweeteners, the protein powder contains no colors, preservatives, and filler ingredients.
Major Benefits
Limitations:
5. Alter Ultra Clean Whey Protein Isolate
Specifications:
Protein per Serving: 30g
Calories: 110
Carbs: 0.4 grams
Fat: 0
Flavor: unflavored
Protein source: plant based
The last one on my list is a very special fat-free protein powder.
The protein in this is supplement is sourced from the raw milk of cows living in small farms in the Midwest.
Traditionally, the Midwest has been one of the largest milk producing regions in America, with the yield being highly nutritious and of supreme quality.
Furthermore, the processing of this milk is done in a way that kills all harmful microbes while preserving the nature of milk proteins at the same time.
For this, the milk is first flash-pasteurized once at 161º for 15 seconds before the production.
With flash pasteurization, the natural flavor, nutrients, and color of the milk remains intact, thereby eliminating the need for adding any artificial ingredients for taste, color, etc.
Major Benefits
Limitations:
What to Consider When Choosing the Protein Powder?
You've got to be a smart buyer when it comes to purchasing the ideal protein supplement.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the best protein powder without artificial sweeteners.
What are your requirements?
The two main things that you should consider to ensure that you buy a protein powder suitable for your needs are:
1. Body goals
Every other individual has their own body goals and personal preferences.
Some might be interested in bulking up and gaining muscle mass, while others might want to lose weight.
Muscle gain
If you are into muscle gain, then choose a product with overall high nutrition value. High protein along with high carbs will definitely ramp up muscle growth.
Weight loss/ fat loss
For weight loss, opt for a protein powder with high protein content but low carb and sugar.
Also, make sure it is free from and artificial sweeteners and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
Many brands also come up with fat-burning ingredients like green tea, L-carnitine, and CLA. So, make sure to check them out.
2. Diet type
If you are vegan or vegetarian, then go for a plant-based protein powder.
I would suggest the Performance Lab Sport Protein, which along with being 100% vegan, provides maximum gains.
For someone looking for animal protein powder, grab the Transparent Labs Grass-fed whey protein isolate.
It will provide you your required protein, and the plus point is that it tastes good.
3. Animal-based or plant-based
An animal-based protein powder is a complete protein supplement. It provides all 9 essential amino acids, which are important for muscle gain.
For this reason, animal-based protein powder is always a better option.
Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein is the best animal-based product on my list.
But these days, thanks to better formulation technology, even plant-based powders can be enriched with almost all the essential amino acids.
Performance Lab Sport Protein is a plant-based protein powder that provides all 9 essential amino acids with its other benefits.
It is also the best alternative to animal-based whey protein, which promotes even better growth of lean muscle mass.
What are the ingredients to avoid?
As we check the product labels and specifications for things that we need to include, listed below are the things that you need to avoid in a good brand of protein powders.
•
Gluten
•
Heavy metals
•
Artificial colors
•
Chemical preservatives
•
Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame k, aspartame, or neotame)
•
Fillers
•
Thickeners and gums
•
Vegetable oils and fats
•
Carrageenan
Also, make sure the product is a soy-free and non-GMO product.
Why to choose a powder without artificial sweeteners?
The main use of protein powder is to provide the additional protein that the body needs.
That said, artificial sweeteners provides very less nutritional benefit. Also, artificial sweeteners do more harm than benefit to the body so, it is always a better option to avoid it.
Anyway, a protein powder without sucralose won't be any better than that with natural sweetener so, it's always a win-win situation.
Some research has also found that artificial sweeteners increased the appetite, cravings, binging in a person, which further led to fat gain instead.
Additionally, according to a study done at Harvard Health: there was an increased risk of atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome among people taking protein powder with artificial sweeteners. [1]
Addressing Controversies
Despite the fact that experts have started speaking out against artificial sweeteners in protein powders quite openly, many are still okay with sweeteners and flavoring agents being added to their supplement.
Some believe that most artificial sweeteners are not as impactful when it comes to adverse body effects, while others want sweeteners to make their protein powders "delicious".
There are three very convincing reasons to avoid protein supplements with artificial sweeteners.
1
These ingredients are associated with health problems like bladder issues and abnormal weight gain. [2]
2
They are counterproductive and may disturb the balance of your a diet routine. [3]
3
They make the protein supplement more expensive.
Recommended posts:
- Best Paleo Protein Powders
- Best Gluten Free Protein Powders
- Best Protein Powder for Smoothies
- Best Rice Protein Powders
Conclusion
All the 5 protein powders that I have listed above have shown exceedingly good results, something that I can say based on my personal experiences, reviews given by nutrition experts, and a positive customer feedback.
Having said that, if I were to mention my top choice, it would certainly be the Performance Lab Sport Protein.
This high-quality protein sourced from brown rice easily ticked all my requirements. It contained natural sugars and provided me 30 grams of protein per serving, which is the best that I could expect.
Its rich chocolaty taste was the cherry on the top!
The Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein and the Nuzest Clean Lean Protein hold the second and third positions on my list, respectively.
Both are decently effective protein powders, devoid of harmful additives like artificial sugars, colors, soy, fillers, and preservatives.
The reason why I've kept the Alter Ultra Clean Whey Protein Isolate at the bottom is that while it certainly does not contain any artificial sweeteners, it's nutrient profile is still not as balanced as the others on the list.
Nonetheless, all 5 of these products are the best that you can find in the market today.
William Toro ‧ CPT & Nutritionist
William is a certified personal trainer from NASM, he has also been a rehab physiologist for sports persons. He has more than 15 years of experience training people. And has featured in multiple publications like FoxNews, CNBC, Bustle, and other.
References:
1. Harvard Health, Artificial sweeteners: sugar-free, but at what cost?, retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030
2. Kirtida R. Tandel, Sugar substitutes: Health controversy over perceived benefits, retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198517/
3. WebMD, Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts, retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040630/artificial-sweeteners-damage-diet-efforts