Best Whey Protein Shakes

Whey Protein Shakes are the perfect meal replacement or after workout nutrition option. For those of you who like to workout know quite well, it isn’t easy or fun to fix a full meal after you’ve exhausted yourself at the gym. You want something quick and easy, and ideally, nutritional. Whey protein shakes offer the best of both worlds, as the prep time is five minutes or less and they contain the protein, carbs, and vitamins your body needs for a quick recovery. This is essential for anyone endurance or strength training, as refueling post workout with carbs packs energy into your tired muscles for the next workout and protein helps rebuild muscle you’ve broken down.

And whey protein is our protein of choice because it is the most complete source of amino acids out there, better than beef, eggs, or chicken. And it is the most readily absorbed protein, bypassing normal digestive time required when consuming other high protein sources. Perhaps one of the nicest benefits of drinking whey protein is that it feels fresh and refreshing, like you’re putting something very nutritional in your body.

In my opinion, here are a few of the best whey protein shakes:

Banana Protein Shakes
Some of the ingredients here are by no means common place, but they’ll make the shake a real pleasure to drink. The shake itself will still be worth it even without the linseed, golden syrup, and vanilla extract though, so don’t let these ingredients dissuade you from having a try. Banana protein shakes are great post workout shakes as bananas provide quick carbohydrate replenishment for muscle recovery.
• 30g Whey Protein Powder (plain or vanilla)
• 1 medium to large banana
• 8 oz. light Soy Milk
• 1 TBSP Linseed, Soy and Almond Mixture
• 1 tsp Golden Syrup
• Few drops vanilla essence/extract
• 3-4 cubes ice
• 1 TBSP low fat natural yoghurt (optional depending on diet)

 
Chocolate Coffee Shake
This is a great shake for those who don’t mind a bit of a caffeine pick-me-up pre or post workout. I love coffee and chocolate, so whey protein shakes don’t get much better than this for me. Pre workout, this shake will give you a caffeine rush for added energy at the gym. Caffeine also causes our insulin to surge, which is a very positive factor for those looking to gain muscle. So post weight training workout, this shake will augment muscle growth. If you’re looking to lose weight, you may want to indulge in caffeine shakes sparingly or use decaf coffee. (and instant coffee with 1 cup of water can be replaced with one cup of brewed coffee if you have any leftover from your morning cup of joe).
• Mix 2 scoops of Alpine Milk Chocolate Protein Delite or other whey protein with:
• 1 cup of skim milk
• 5 ice cubes
• 1 cup of water
• 1 spoonful of instant coffee!

 
Orange Vanilla Shake
This is a nice flavorful shake with plenty of vitamins from fruits and berries.
• Mix 2 scoops of Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
• 8 oz. Orange Juice
• 4-5 ice cubes
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• ½ banana
• 2-3 frozen strawberries
• 2 packets of sweetener

 
I hope you try a few of these and they make their way into your post workout meal plan. But even if you don’t like these options or some of the ingredients are inconvenient for you, there are a few essentials for all whey protein shakes that we can reduce these recipes to. The best whey protein shakes contain:
1. Whey Protein (20 to 40 grams)
2. Low Fat Yogurt, Low Fat Ice Cream, Ice, or some combination thereof.
3. Fruit or Fruit Juice.

It’s a pretty simple equation that allows for a lot of experimentation. If your whey protein shake is made up of these three things you’ve got all of the nutritional and energy factors covered. You may just have to work with ingredients to get a killer taste. So have a try and get back to me with your choices for the best whey protein shakes.

Finding the best whey protein powder is no simple task, as presently there is no shortage of whey protein powder products. Whey comes in different flavors, quantities, degrees of purity. And unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to give you a conclusive answer on this, though I will make a suggestion.

I have been using whey protein for years, and while I’ve found a brand that I can stomach, deducing the best whey protein is beyond my, and perhaps anyone’s ability. And I’ll tell you why.

First of all, whey protein producers don’t make quantity comparison easy. It’s like they’ve decided ahead of time to make price per gram of protein incalculable when you’re looking at the back of protein jugs. The scoopers are all different sizes. The purity or quantity of protein per scoop varies slightly. And added nutrients, vitamins, or carbs may dilute it to a certain extent.

While this is an important factor for many protein shoppers, it isn’t for me. Some protein users consume massive quantities of this stuff, so shopping the best whey protein is synonymous with finding the lowest price per gram. If you’re always using this in a protein shake or smoothie, than it may not make a bit of difference. Any whey protein will due. But if you mix it with milk or a light protein shake, cost is not the most significant factor.

Dissolvability is much more important to me. The first of the two most important factors in determining the best whey protein is how well this stuff disappears when I mix it with something. Choking down clumps of whey protein is not easy, and believe me I have tried. It makes the experience one to avoid, rather than one to look forward to after a workout or as an afternoon snack.

The best whey protein powders will not only dissolve perfectly in liquid and therefore any protein shake I mix, it should also be easy on the stomach. I don’t know how many are like me, but I have a sensitive stomach. And some protein powders just tear me up inside to be perfectly honest. And I don’t believe adding muscle mass is more important than the health of my organs, so price comes second to how well I digest it.

Now I’m assuming that you don’t drink this stuff compulsively. Most body builders blindly follow the gym adage of 1 gram per pound of body weight, a number uncorroborated by scientific study for muscle growth. If you need that much of it, which for some could mean up to 4 or 5 scoops a day in addition to overeating, than obviously price per scoop is more significant in deciphering the best whey protein for your purposes.

But I use whey as a supplement or meal replacement only. I have at most 2 scoops a day, and I consume it in a protein shake or simply mix it with milk and water. So I need something that doesn’t pain my stomach, that mixes well, and that tastes ok. And that brings me to the final factor in determining the best whey…taste.

There are literally hundreds of different flavors out there. I have no idea why, as few people drink the stuff straight. And most producers have been able to create some flavor that’s edible, so it almost becomes a moot point. That said, some of them still taste like crap and need a taste test. So what’s my overall pick? The single best protein powder I’ve tried is GNC protein powder. It dissolves perfectly in milk or water, and is perfect for making whey protein shakes.

The vanilla tastes great, really great. And it is easy on my stomach. I can drink it almost every day without consequences. But while GNC works well for me, unfortunately you will need to do some trial and error. Not all whey protein powders will sit well with you, and not all will taste ok. But my guess is that if you try two or three of the largest suppliers, you’ll hit a winner. And just remember that the production of whey is relatively uniform, so you’ll get quality whey with almost anyone. It’s the other factors I mentioned above that for me determine the best whey protein powder to use in protein shakes and smoothies.

Whey protein shakes are the ideal after workout refuel, healthy snack, or meal supplement. Consuming calories in the form of a shake is not only time saving and delicious; it is also a refreshing break for our digestive tracks, as digesting whey protein shakes doesn’t require the same amount of energy as your typical high protein solid foods.

But protein shakes are nothing new. We all recognize the benefits of protein in our diets, including muscle building and an increase in fat burning hormones. But why whey protein? Isn’t it enough to consume egg white or soy protein? While these are good sources of protein, they aren’t of the same quality or digestive convenience as whey.

What is whey? Whey protein is the most complete, high quality protein made from cow’s milk. It’s a glorious byproduct of the cheese making process. Think about that, cheese and whey, the most delicious and most healthy of foods from one animal. Oh, and hamburgers. Naturally, we can’t guzzle pure protein without puking, so we need to mix it in with other delicious and healthy foods or juices.

Whey protein shakes are an incredible source of nutrients and essential amino acids that the body needs for total health. The vitamins and nutrients are easily absorbed into the blood stream because your digestive track doesn’t have to work to break down solid foods. And they taste great.

Common whey protein shakes include banana, strawberries, raspberries, yogurt, low fat ice cream, etc, blended together into a delicious meal in a drink. The best time to consume this blend for an athlete is the 2 hour window following physical training. The body is primed and ready for refueling.

For non athletes or as supplements to a meal, whey protein shakes can really be consumed any time of the day. They’re perfect for busy people who need to eat their meals on the go, or people who don’t want to spend the time preparing and eating a whole solid meal.

So as you can see. Whey protein shakes are the total package, a combination of health, convenience, and tastiness.