What’s in this article:
- Whey protein: A fast-absorbing milk-based protein that boosts muscle growth and recovery
- Casein protein: A protein found in milk that gradually builds muscle mass and aids fat loss
- Egg protein: A protein made from egg whites that provides all nine essential amino acids
- Pea protein: A high-fiber protein made from yellow split peas that promotes fullness
- Hemp protein: A plant-based protein rich in healthy fats and several amino acids
- Brown rice protein: A protein made from brown rice that benefits body composition
- Mixed plant proteins: Plant-based proteins blended to increase positive effects on muscle health
Protein powders are very popular among health-conscious people.
There are numerous types of protein powder made from a wide variety of sources.
As there are so many options, it can be challenging to determine which will provide optimal results.
Here are 7 of the best types of protein powder.
What are protein powders?
Protein powders are concentrated protein sources from animal or plant foods, such as dairy, eggs, rice, or peas.
There are three common forms:
- Protein concentrates: Produced by extracting protein from whole food using heat and acid or enzymes. These typically supply 60–80% protein, while the remaining 20–40% are fat and carbs.
- Protein isolates: An additional filtering process removes more fat and carbs, further concentrating the protein. Protein isolate powders contain about 90–95% protein.
- Protein hydrolysates: Produced by further heating with acid or enzymes — which breaks the bonds between amino acids — hydrolysates are absorbed more quickly by your body and muscles.
Hydrolysates appear to raise insulin levels more than other forms — at least in the case of whey protein. This can enhance your muscle growth following exercise.
Some powders are also fortified with vitamins and minerals, especially calcium.
However, not everyone benefits from these powders. If your diet is already rich in high-quality protein, you likely won’t see much difference in your quality of life by adding protein powder.
However, athletes and people who regularly lift weights may find that taking protein powder helps maximize muscle gain and fat loss.
Protein powders can also aid individuals who struggle to meet protein needs with food alone, such as people who are ill, older adults, and some vegetarians or vegans.
Summary: Protein powders come from various sources and are available in several formulations. People use them to increase muscle mass, improve overall body composition and help meet their protein needs.
1. Whey protein
Whey protein comes from milk. It is the liquid that separates from the curds during the cheesemaking process. It’s high in protein but also harbors lactose, a milk sugar many people have difficulty digesting.
While whey protein concentrate retains some lactose, the isolate version contains very little because most milk sugar is lost during processing.
Whey digests quickly and is rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Leucine, one of these BCAAs, significantly promotes muscle growth and recovery after resistance and endurance exercise.
When amino acids are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they become available for muscle protein synthesis (MPS), or the creation of new muscle.
Studies reveal that whey protein can help build and maintain muscle mass, assist athletes with recovery from heavy exercise and increase muscle strength in response to strength training.
One study in young men showed that whey protein increased MPS 31% more than soy protein and 132% more than casein protein following resistance exercise.
Suggested read: Plant-based protein vs. whey protein: Which is better?
However, a 10-week study found that postmenopausal women had a similar response to resistance training whether they took whey protein or a placebo.
Other studies in normal-weight, overweight and obese individuals suggest that whey protein may improve body composition by decreasing fat mass and increasing lean mass.
Moreover, whey protein seems to reduce appetite at least as much as other types of protein.
One study gave lean men four different types of liquid protein meals on different days. The whey-protein meals led to the most significant decrease in appetite and the greatest reduction in calorie intake at the next meal.
Some studies suggest that whey protein may reduce inflammation and improve certain heart health markers in overweight and obese people.
Summary: Whey protein is quickly digested, providing a rapid rise in amino acids that may help increase muscle mass and strength. It may also reduce appetite and promote fat loss.
2. Casein protein
Like whey, casein is a protein found in milk. However, casein is digested and absorbed much more slowly.
Casein forms a gel when it interacts with stomach acid, slowing down stomach emptying and delaying your bloodstream’s absorption of amino acids.
This results in a gradual, steadier exposure of your muscles to amino acids, reducing the rate of muscle protein breakdown.
Research indicates that casein is more effective at increasing MPS and strength than soy and wheat protein — but less than whey protein.
However, one study in overweight men suggests that when calories are restricted, casein may have an edge over whey in improving body composition during resistance training.
Summary: Casein is a slow-digesting dairy protein that may reduce muscle protein breakdown and promote muscle mass growth and fat loss during calorie restriction.
3. Egg protein
Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein.
Suggested read: Whey protein: The ultimate beginner's guide
Of all whole foods, eggs have the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS).
This score is a measure of a protein’s quality and digestibility.
Eggs are also one of the best foods for decreasing appetite and helping you stay full for longer.
However, egg protein powders are typically made from egg whites rather than whole eggs. Although the protein quality remains excellent, you may experience less fullness because the high-fat yolks have been removed.
Like all animal products, eggs are a complete protein source. That means they provide all nine essential amino acids that your body can’t make.
Moreover, egg protein is second only to whey as the highest source of leucine, the BCAA that plays the most significant role in muscle health.
Remember that egg-white protein hasn’t been studied as much as whey or casein.
In one study, it demonstrated less potential to reduce appetite than casein or pea protein when consumed before a meal.
In another, female athletes taking egg-white protein experienced similar gains in lean mass and muscle strength as those supplementing with carbs.
Egg-white protein could be a good choice for people with dairy allergies who prefer a supplement based on animal protein.
Summary: Egg-white protein is high in quality and easily digested — though it may not keep you feeling as full as other protein powders.
4. Pea protein
Pea protein powder is especially popular among vegetarians, vegans, and people with allergies or sensitivities to dairy or eggs.
It’s made from the yellow split pea, a high-fiber legume that boasts all but one of the essential amino acids.
Pea protein is also particularly rich in BCAAs.
A rat study noted that pea protein is absorbed slower than whey protein but faster than casein. Its ability to trigger the release of several fullness hormones may be comparable to that of dairy protein.
In a 12-week study of 161 men doing resistance training, those who took 1.8 ounces (50 grams) of pea protein daily experienced similar increases in muscle thickness as those who consumed the same amount of whey protein daily.
In addition, a study revealed that humans and rats with high blood pressure experienced a decrease in these elevated levels when they took pea protein supplements.
Though pea protein powder shows promise, more high-quality research is needed to confirm these results.
Suggested read: Hemp protein powder: The best plant-based protein?
Summary: While studies are limited, pea protein may promote fullness and increase muscle growth as effectively as animal-based proteins.
5. Hemp protein
Hemp protein powder is another plant-based supplement that is gaining popularity.
Although hemp is related to marijuana, it only contains trace amounts of the psychoactive component THC.
Hemp is rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and several essential amino acids. However, it is not considered a complete protein because it has very low levels of the amino acids lysine and leucine.
While very little research exists on hemp protein, it appears to be a well-digested plant protein source.
Summary: Hemp protein is high in omega-3s and seems to be easily digested. However, it is low in the essential amino acids lysine and leucine.
6. Brown rice protein
Protein powders made from brown rice have been around for some time, but they are generally considered inferior to whey protein for building muscle.
Although rice protein contains all essential amino acids, it is too low in lysine to be a complete protein.
There isn’t a lot of research on rice protein powder, but one study compared the effects of rice and whey powders in fit young men.
The eight-week study demonstrated that taking 1.7 ounces (48 grams) of rice or whey protein daily resulted in similar changes in body composition, muscle strength, and recovery.
However, more research on brown rice protein is needed.
Summary: Early research on brown rice protein powder suggests it may benefit body composition. However, it is low in the essential amino acid lysine.
7. Mixed plant proteins
Some protein powders contain a blend of plant sources to provide your body with all the essential amino acids. Two or more of the following proteins are usually combined:
- Brown rice
- Pea
- Hemp
- Alfalfa
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Artichoke
- Quinoa
Due to their high fiber content, plant proteins tend to digest slower than animal proteins. Although this may not pose a problem for many people, it can limit the amino acids your body can use immediately after exercise.
One small study provided resistance-trained young men with 2.1 ounces (60 grams) of whey protein, a pea-rice protein blend, or a pea-rice blend with supplemental enzymes to accelerate digestion.
The enzyme-supplemented powder was comparable to whey protein in terms of the speed at which amino acids appeared in the blood.
Summary: Several protein powders comprise a mixture of plant proteins. Adding enzymes to these plant-protein mixtures may increase their digestion and absorption.
Which protein powders are best?
Although all protein powders provide a concentrated source of protein, certain types may be more effective at giving your body what it needs.
For muscle gain
Research has consistently confirmed whey protein’s ability to promote muscle mass and recovery. While whey concentrate is cheaper than whey isolate, it contains less protein by weight.
For weight loss
Casein protein, whey protein, or a combination of the two may be the best protein supplement for promoting fullness and fat loss.
For vegetarians and vegans
Pea, hemp, and mixed plant protein powders are best if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Summary: It’s best to choose a protein powder based on your dietary preferences, food tolerances, and health and fitness goals.
