I don’t like the taste of protein powder.

Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition

I don’t like the taste of protein powder, or at least I didn’t until I tried drink wholesome. Unlike 99% of protein supplements, it is made with real foods, not protein isolates.

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This is why you don’t like protein powder. 

3 reasons why your protein powder tastes bad.

Why does drink wholesome taste better?

How to make protein powder taste better?

3 reasons why your protein powder tastes bad.

People tell me all the time that they do not like the taste of protein powder, and I do not blame them. Most protein powders taste bad, if not terrible. I too have choked down my fair share of protein shakes, and am familiar with the chalky, sickly-sweet slime that people drink on their way home from the gym. For a while, I was just as disappointed with protein supplements as everyone else, that is until I started my own protein powder company. I now understand better than most why most protein powders taste bad, and would love to share my insights with you. Here are the top 3 reasons why you do not like the taste of protein powder. 

1. Your protein powder is made with protein isolates. 

Most protein powders have a chalky aftertaste because they are made with protein isolates. Protein isolates, which are listed on the ingredient list as “pea protein” and “whey protein” as opposed to “peas” and “whey,” have been stripped of the nutrients that make food taste good. 

2. Your protein powder is made with artificial sweeteners or stevia.

A pinch of artificial sweetener can be used to achieve the same amount of sweetness as several tablespoons of sugar, with none of the calories or sugar. For this reason, protein powder companies love to use artificial sweeteners in their products. Despite their obvious benefits, however, artificial sweeteners are bad news for your taste buds. They are either way too sweet, or have a bitter aftertaste. This is due to the fact that they activate bitter taste receptors in addition to sweet receptors. Stevia, a popular natural sweetener, also activates bitter receptors. This bitterness, which many say reminds them of licking aluminum foil, can linger in your mouth for hours.

3. Your protein powder is made with gritty plant proteins. 

Some protein powders, especially plant-based protein powders, have a gritty texture because they are minimally-processed. Although minimally-processed foods are good for you, large particles have a smaller specific surface area (surface area ÷ mass) than small particles, and therefore take longer to dissolve. Think about how long it would take to dissolve a sugar cube in water versus how long it would take to dissolve and an equal amount of granular sugar. A sugar cube would dissolve slower because the combined surface area of all of the sugar granules is much greater than the surface area of the sugar cube. More surface area means more contact with the water molecules, which allows the granular sugar to dissolve more quickly.

Another reason why some plant-based protein powders have a gritty texture is their high insoluble fiber content. Plants contain insoluble fiber, and the more insoluble fiber a plant contains, the more that it will taste like dirt. The plant proteins with the most fiber tend to be those made with seeds (pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, etc.).

Why does drink wholesome taste better?

Given that they are designed for health conscious consumers, protein shakes are inherently limited in terms of taste and texture. Low fat, low carb, low sugar – it is no wonder that protein shakes do not taste like milkshakes. If you expect your protein shake to taste like a sundae, you are going to be disappointed, every time. This does not mean, however, that you have to settle for a protein shake that tastes like dirt. 

Many people have been led to believe that healthy food does not taste good, but this is simply not true. Protein shakes do not have to taste bad. Companies just use cheap ingredients and take shortcuts to make more money. Their profit margins come at the expense of your taste buds, which is too bad. Now that you know what to look for, however, you no longer have to settle for protein supplements that taste like crap. I make a protein shake every morning for breakfast, and it is something that I genuinely look forward to drinking. It took creating my own protein powder company to get there, but it does show protein powder can be delicious.

Again, I don’t like the taste of protein powder, or at least I didn’t until I made my own. Unlike 99% of protein supplements, my protein powders are made with real foods like egg whites and almonds. There are no protein isolates, artificial sweeteners, or gritty plant proteins on the ingredient list. My customers love that they can taste every ingredient, and rave about the texture. If you are willing to give protein powder another chance, try drink wholesome. It is not a gimmick, it really is different, and it may very well be exactly what you have been looking for.

How to make protein powder taste better? 

Everyone who has shopped around for protein powder has found themselves with a big tub of protein powder that they cannot stomach. If this is you, and you are not ready or willing to pour fifty bucks down the drain, check out my tips on how to make your protein powder taste better. I cannot guarantee that they will make you fall in love with protein shakes, but they can certainly help the medicine go down. 

drink wholesome is the best tasting protein powder.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. drink wholesome is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.