Whey Protein Supplements: The Good, The Bad and The Pricey

A huge amount of teenage guys at school have been seen walking all over school before lifting or sports practice with those obnoxious blender bottles mixing a protein shake. Do you ever wonder what type of protein they use? Do they use the cheap brands like Body Fortress? Do they use higher end protein like Cellucor and BSN? Is there even a difference besides flavor? Are they over paying? You probably haven’t ever thought about it, but I have. So I’ll explain anyways. I always believe in getting the most for your money. When it comes to supplements, I also believe you should get the most macros for your money. In my mind for example, that means that when comparing a scoop of chocolate whey that is 150 calories, 20 grams of protein and 8 carbs and another of a different brand that is 140 calories, 30 protein and 4 carbs, the second option is ALWAYS better. I have tried many different brands of whey protein. Since I don’t like very many kinds of meat, I love to use protein supplements to help me get in enough protein. I’ve secretly snuck a 1/2 scoop of my brother’s chocolate peanut butter Body Fortress whey just to see how it compared with my BSN Lean Dessert Whey (An $18 product compared to a $40 product) I must say that there is an immense difference! The Body Fortress brand was chunky, gritty and hard to mix. The taste was very bland and the protein left a weird after taste. My vanilla BSN whey is smooth, easy to mix and it tastes extremely amazing! In this case, the $40 product wins. Although my BSN Lean Dessert Protein tastes amazing, the price is pretty steep for a teenage girl’s budget. I don’t have the means to replenish my supply every time I finish off a tub. I may buy a new one as a reward after finals, or when I go into a season of sports. In the mean time, I alternate supplements with my all time favorite whey protein powder. Six Star Elite Series Decadent Chocolate Whey. It’s a step up from the disastrous Body Fortress (Although I’ve heard that they’re owned by the same company?) and also about $6 more expensive but much more affordable than BSN. The taste is decent and the macros are fantastic. I love to mix in a little bit of cocoa powder for some added richness to the shake. In the end, cheaper is not always better. Sometimes it’s worth the price to get flavors like cookie dough, red velvet or cake batter (Which is my next planned splurge) and other times it’s okay to settle for less. Whatever it takes to make those gains, right?