If you are trying to give your health a boost, and if you’re interested in gaining muscle mass or tone, you’ll probably want to try protein powder. However, you may not know what protein powder makes the most sense for you and your lifestyle. The protein powder that works best for your everyday routine may depend on several factors.
What if you want to bake protein powder into desserts? Do you primarily want to add it to savory dishes? And will your dietary practices limit your options? If you want more information about how to select a protein powder that will work best for you, please continue reading for our complete breakdown and recommendations.
Vegan or Pea Protein Powder
If you’re vegan or can’t have dairy for any reason, you may want to select a protein powder made from peas. While there are other plant-based protein powders out there, pea protein powder is undoubtedly one of the most popular and easily accessible. Additionally, if you want to add protein powder to any savory dishes, this is one of the best options you can choose.
Pea protein powder is generally light in flavor, making it a welcome complement to savory flavors. However, many people also enjoy adding certain protein powders to their green and fruit smoothies. This helps to provide a lovely and thick texture without distracting from the sweeter flavors you are trying to enjoy.
Vegan protein powders are also best if you are trying to look more toned. While it’s possible to gain significant muscle mass with vegan protein powders, it might take a little longer for you to start seeing results. However, especially if you don’t want dairy, this is a fantastic option.
Whey Protein Powder
Whey protein powder is also a popular option, and it’s probably what takes up most of the shelf space whenever you go shopping at the grocery store. Additionally, if you don’t need to worry about any dietary restrictions, this may be the perfect choice for you. These tend to help build muscle mass pretty quickly, especially if you’re using whey protein powder to supplement your workout routine.
Whey protein powders generally mix extremely well into smoothies and desserts, but you can also simply mix many of them with water. This is a great way to stay hydrated, easily implement protein powder into your routine, and make significant gains after you’ve been to the gym.
Collagen Protein Powder
Did you know there are also collagen protein powders? These protein powders are great if you’re trying to boost collagen production in your body and if you’re trying to build up strength in your muscles. Collagen is the most common protein in the human body, and it makes up parts of your skeletal muscles, skin, hair, nails, joints, and arteries.
While there aren’t any widely available vegan or vegetarian collagen protein powders, you can still be sure you’re focusing on your health with this type of supplement. This mixed well into many items, including pancakes, smoothies, and even coffee.
Flavored Protein Powder
There are also many different flavors of protein powder, and they come in dairy-free and non-vegan varieties. Especially if you want to give a flavorful boost to your baked goods and snacks, you should look into these.
Vanilla
One of the most common flavors of protein powder is vanilla, and there’s a good reason for this. Vanilla is a common ingredient in many baked goods, and it’s also a welcome addition to many smoothies for picky eaters. If you’re looking for something sweet to add while you’re working on your health goals, this might be an excellent option for you to try.
Chocolate
Another typical protein powder flavor is chocolate, including chocolate fudge flavors. These are often rich, making a great addition to chocolate-based baked goods and breakfast items.
One of our favorite things to do is add chocolate protein powder to a good chocolate chip pancake recipe. Talk about a delicious and smart way to start the day.
Seasonal and Other
There are also other flavors of protein powder, but these are typically less common or only come out during particular seasons. For example, a few popular flavors are pumpkin spice and caramel.
However, if you aren’t a big fan of vanilla or chocolate—or simply want to mix up your breakfast routine—you may want to try another flavor. Strawberry is a popular choice, for example.
Meal Replacing Protein Powder
Did you know there are also protein powders specifically formulated to replace your meals? While this might not be everyone’s favorite, this might be just the thing for health lovers on the go. This is a great way to ensure you get enough protein and you’re able to squeeze in an extra meal on a busy day.
Conclusion
If you plan on adding protein powder to your diet and routine, there are many options at your disposal. And if you need guidance to determine which protein powder or powders would be best for you, we hope we were able to help.
