How to Choose The Right Whey Protein Powder

1. Do I really need to supplement?

The first thing you need to do is decide if you even need to supplement with protein powder. Many people have unrealistic expectations of what protein powder can do for them based on advertisements and magazine articles.Protein powder is simply food. It is not a substance that will make your muscles grow faster or larger. The reason why some people need to use protein powder is because they have difficulties getting the amount of protein they need from their daily diet. I am one of those people. My daily protein needs are about 150g of protein per day. As a busy mom, mixing up a quick protein shake before heading out of the house helps me reach my dietary goals and maintain my sanity.

2. Calories vs. Protein content

Now that you've decided you really need protein powder, take a moment to think about your daily calorie intake. If you're trying to gain mass and add muscle, you probably won't be too worried about how many calories are in your protein powder. But, if you are on a low calorie diet, then the amount of calories suddenly becomes very important.Compare the calories in the protein powder you're considering with the actual amount of protein in each serving. For instance, if one protein powder contains 100 calories and 22 grams of protein, then it's better than a powder that contains 80 calories and only 10 grams of protein. Sure, you're saving some calories with the 80 calorie powder, but it has less then half of the protein. That means you're just getting more filler instead of protein.

3. Price and Taste

Protein powder can be pretty expensive, but if you look at it as actual food, it suddenly seems much more affordable. You want to make sure you're getting plenty of protein for your buck, but you also don't want to make the mistake of buying an economy size tub of a protein powder that you can't even gag down.The most affordable way to buy whey protein is in large tubs ranging from 3 to 10 pounds. To avoid being stuck with a powder you can't stand, buy a smaller container first, or see if the company offers a sampler kit, or even single serving envelopes of powder. At the very least, search on the internet for user reviews to see what other people say about the taste of the protein powder.