How to Find the Best Animal-Based Protein Powder

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

Are you looking for the best animal-based protein powder?

Discover how to supplement your protein intake with animal-based protein sources.

Last Updated
Jan 18, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, CNC

Jack is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach.

Animal-Based Protein Powder

What Is Animal-Based Protein Powder?

There are many different types of animal-based protein powders, the most common being beef, casein, collagen, egg white, and whey.

• Whey and casein protein are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production.
• Egg white protein is made by pasteurizing and spray-drying eggs.
• Beef protein, or beef protein isolate, is made by extracting protein from beef.
• Collagen protein comes from the connective tissues of animals, usually cows, pigs, fish, or chickens.

One great thing about animal proteins is they, unlike most plant proteins, are complete proteins, meaning they provide all of the amino acids that your body needs, but cannot produce on its own.

They also tend to be highly bioavailable, meaning they are easy for your body to break down and absorb.

That said, if you eat a balanced diet (get your protein from a variety of sources), you do not have to worry about amino acids or bioavailability.

That is, you will be absorbing all of the amino acids you need to support a healthy lifestyle.

In fact, 99% of adults meet 100% of their essential amino acid needs (J Nutr, 2023).

Moreover, although there are differences between different types of animal protein, digestion, metabolism, and other biological processes are so complex that these differences are insignificant in most cases.

Additionally, the nutritional value of proteins can be affected by food processing and the presence of other ingredients, which further complicates the comparison between different protein sources (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2023).

So, the type of animal protein that you consume does not really matter.

Just pick the one that you like the most or makes you feel the best.

I personally prefer Egg White Protein Powder.

What Is the Best Animal-Based Protein Powder?

Not all animal protein powders are created equal.

Although the type of animal protein you use does not really matter, the ingredients in your protein powder do matter.

Many animal protein powders are made from ingredients that can cause painful side effects and even long term health problems.

Among these ingredients are food additives and protein concentrates and isolates.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

First of all, regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives can not only upset your stomach, but also alter the composition of your gut microbiome (North Clin Istanb, 2019).

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which contributes to a wide range of chronic diseases, including obesity, type 1 diabetes, and colorectal cancer (Microorganisms, 2022; J Exp Med, 2019).

Your gut microbiome affects various physiological processes, including immune function, metabolism, and inflammation, so when the balance of microbes therein is disrupted, it can have a huge impact on your overall health.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein supplements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Dairy-Based Proteins

Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can cause digestive issues.

This is usually because they contain lactose, a sugar many individuals with sensitive stomachs cannot fully digest.

But you might be sensitive to dairy-based proteins even if you are not lactose intolerant.

This is particularly true for casein protein, which forms a gel-like substance in your stomach that slows down digestion.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates.

Most protein supplements are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help your gut break them down.

You therefore do not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

Studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Nutrients, 2018; Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

You should thus look for protein supplements made from whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. The Journal of Nutrition (J Nutr). Amino Acid Intake and Conformance With the Dietary Reference Intakes in the United States: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2018. 2023.
2. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr). Effect of processing on in vitro digestibility (IVPD) of food proteins. 2023.
3. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2019.
4. Microorganisms (Microorganisms). Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis: Triggers, Consequences, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options. 2022.
5. The Journal of Experimental Medicine (J Exp Med). The gut microbiome: Relationships with disease and opportunities for therapy. 2019.
6. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
7. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.