What is the best clear protein powder?

If you are looking for the best clear protein powder, you have come to the right place. Learn how to choose a clear protein powder that will help you easily and safely meet your protein needs. This article was written by Jack Schrupp.

How to choose a clear protein powder

What is clear protein powder?

Clear protein powder is a protein supplement that dissolves completely in water. It is perfect for people who want an easy way to boost their protein intake, as it can be mixed with practically anything.

Note that some clear protein powders contain added flavors and sweeteners. If you are looking to add clear protein powder to your morning coffee, you want to use an unflavored, unsweetened option.

Clear protein powders are made from one of two different protein sources: collagen or whey protein isolate.

Whey protein isolate

Whey protein isolate is a concentrated form of whey protein, a byproduct of cheese and yogurt production. By removing virtually all of the lactose (sugar) from whey, manufacturers are able to create a fine powder that dissolves almost completely in water. I say “almost” because mixing pure whey protein isolate with water creates a cloudy solution that is translucent, not clear. The only protein powder that dissolves completely in water is collagen protein powder.

Collagen

Collagen is a protein found in the skin, bones, and connective tissue of animals. Our collagen protein powder, for example, is made from very small pieces of cowhide. When mixed with water, collagen protein powder dissolves completely, creating a clear solution. It is the only truly clear protein powder.

Whey vs collagen

The type of clear protein powder you choose will depend on your personal dietary needs and preferences. Both whey and collagen are great sources of protein, but there are a few differences between the two.

First of all, whey protein powder has a complete amino acid profile, meaning it contains all of the amino acids that your body needs, but cannot produce on its own. Collagen protein powder is not a complete protein. For some, this may be a disadvantage. For most, however, it is not. As long as you eat a balanced diet and get your protein from a variety of sources, you will get all of the amino acids that you need.

Whey protein is not suitable for people with dairy allergies. It may not be suitable for people with lactose intolerance either. Although virtually all of the lactose has been removed, there may still be trace amounts, which can be enough to cause digestive issues. Unfortunately, there is no way to know exactly how much lactose there is a whey protein isolate, so we recommend using collagen protein powder if you are at all sensitive to lactose.

In case you were wondering, there are no vegan clear protein powders at this time. The closest you are going to get to a clear plant-based protein powder is probably soy protein isolate. When mixed with water, soy protein powder is by no means clear, but it does have a plain flavor and texture compared to other vegan protein powders.

How to use clear protein powder

Some clear protein powders come in flavors like lemonade, and can be mixed with just water to make a high protein drink. For someone who does not like creamy protein shakes, or classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, these types of clear protein powder are a great option.

Other clear protein powders are unflavored and unsweetened, which means they can be added to almost any recipe or dish to increase the protein content. I like to add unflavored collagen protein powder to everything from smoothies to pancake batter.

Unflavored clear protein powders can also be added to hot drinks like coffee. If you choose to use them this way, I recommend mixing with a handheld electric mixer to help them dissolve. Stirring with a spoon can leave clumps.

Why should you use clear protein powder?

Protein powder is a dietary supplement, meaning it should be used to fill in nutritional gaps in your diet. It should not be used to replace other sources of dietary protein. Whenever possible, you should try to get your protein from high protein foods like eggs, dairy, fish, legumes, meat, nuts, and seeds. This is the healthiest way to meet your protein needs.

For some people, especially those with dietary restrictions, eating enough protein this way can be challenging. This is where adding protein powder to your diet can help. Clear protein is a great choice because of how versatile it is. As you just learned, unflavored clear protein powder can be added to practically anything without changing the flavor or texture much at all.

What is the best clear protein powder?

Not all clear protein powders are created equal. Many options, especially flavored ones, contain added emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives that can cause painful side effects and long term health issues. This is less of a concern when it comes to unflavored clear protein powders, but you should still read the ingredient list closely.

Here are the top ingredients to avoid when buying clear protein powder:

Avoid food additives

Clear protein powders tend to be full of food additives like emulsifiers and thickeners, which can not only upset your stomach (more about this later), but also alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in your gut microbiota. Gut dysbiosis is a leading driver of inflammation and contributes to wide range of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 1 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.

Avoid artificial sweeteners

Of all the food additives to avoid, artificial sweeteners are at the top of the list. First of all, several studies have shown that they can increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, which can lead to binging and feelings of withdrawal. If you are trying to lose weight, you are probably better off just eating sugar. Research has also associated artificial sweeteners with a higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes, and disruptions to your gut microbiome.

drink wholesome is the best clear protein powder

One of the reasons why we make the best clear protein powder is that we do not use any food additives (including artificial sweeteners) whatsoever.

our ingredients:

collagen

the alternative:

Whey Protein Isolate, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Malic Acid, Sucralose, Polysorbate 80, Sunflower Lecithin, Citric Acid, Beet Root Extract (Color), Reb A (Stevia), Silicone (Anti-Foaming Agent)

In addition to being linked to long term health problems, food additives are hard to digest and feed your gut bacteria, which release gas as they eat. As you might imagine, too much intestinal gas can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain.

Partially digested food additives also cause your colon to absorb too much water, which can lead to diarrhea. Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:

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, maltodextrin, mono- and diglycerides, ‘natural’ flavors, rice bran extract, rice dextrin, rice hulls, rosemary extract, silica, silicon dioxide, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, soluble corn fiber, soy lecithin, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, tocopherols, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, xylitol, zinc oxide

With only 1 simple ingredient, our clear collagen protein powder is easy to digest and super versatile. You can add it to practically any recipe for a convenient, safe protein boost. Order samples.

★★★★★

simple and delicious

“It’s nice and easy on the tummy and VERY tasty.” – Tammy

Samples

Collagen Protein Powders

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.