As experts in the field of diet and fitness, we are often asked about protein powder and its efficacy in regards to weight loss. This is a valid question, especially considering that some people use protein powder when trying to gain weight. We’re also sharing with you which protein powders we use and recommend to our weight loss clients. Our clients have seen success in losing weight by incorporating protein powder into their diets.

Does Protein Powder Help you to Lose Weight?

Let’s first consider this—research shows that:

Protein is an important nutrient for weight loss. Here’s the deal:

Protein can help you to feel fuller and reduce hunger and appetite by taking longer to digest than carbohydrates and by reducing hunger hormones. Protein is a good choice if you tend to feel hungry often and are eating more as a result, which can lead to weight gain. We find that our clients who come to us skimping on protein are often hungry. A LOT.

Protein is beneficial because it may help improve metabolism which then causes the body to burn more calories. This is especially true if an individual strength trains because protein helps to repair and build the muscles that were used during the workout. More muscle means more calorie burning, even when you’re at rest. Protein not only helps you build muscle, but also boosts your metabolism more than fat or carbohydrates. In fact, it takes more calories to metabolize protein than either of the other two, giving you a slight advantage.

If you’re looking to lose weight, protein is a great option because it can help prevent muscle loss. That muscle is metabolism boosting, fat blasting goodness. And protein helps you maintain muscle while losing body fat.

Does protein help you to lose belly fat?

If you want to reduce the amount of fat around your stomach, you may find that eating more protein helps. Protein can boost your metabolism and reduce your appetite, both of which may lead to weight loss. A diet that is high in protein can help you to lose more belly fat than a diet that is lower in protein. Eating protein appears to help people keep the weight off after they lose it.

This protein weight gain prevention edge is a big deal because many people regain back much of the weight they lose.

Does protein powder help you to lose weight since it has all of these benefits that protein does?

If protein has all of these weight loss benefits, it would stand to reason that adding a protein powder to your diet would help you lose weight.

Not so fast! People looking to gain weight may find success by taking protein powder, as it can help to add mass without also causing weight loss.

You may say, it’s probably the protein powder formula. One food may have a lot more protein than the other. While there are different types of protein powders that can impact weight gain or loss, there is no clear explanation for why some people gain weight while using the same protein powder as someone who loses weight.

Let’s break this down.

If you’re looking to add weight, most people find that adding protein powder to their diet is an effective way to do it. They eat more protein and calories, so they gain weight.

But obviously, if protein powder was the only thing you need for weight loss, these people would be losing weight and not gaining it. If you want to lose weight, adding protein powder to your diet is not the way to go. You will end up consuming more calories, even though they come from a source that seems to be beneficial for weight loss.

If you’re looking to lose weight, don’t rely on protein powder as your sole source of nutrition. While protein is beneficial in boosting metabolism and helping with weight loss, too much of it can actually cause you to gain weight.

Protein powder can have some benefits for weight and metabolism, but it is not a guarantee for weight loss.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT ARE INVOLVED….

The key to understanding protein intake is to know how much protein your body needs and whether you are getting that amount- and if you are getting it, whether your body is able to absorb it.

When you take in nutrients, your body benefits most when you have a steady intake throughout the day and when the nutrients come from sources that are easy for your body to use.

Everyone is unique and numerous factors come into play.

If you are already getting the amount of protein that your body requires, you may not need to increase your intake.

If you want to lose weight, it’s best to avoid consuming excess protein. Although protein is essential for the body, eating too much of it can interfere with weight loss.

In fact, if you already get plenty of protein and you try to add more in, but then CUT OUT OTHER FOODS THAT YOU NEED, you’ll fall short on the nutrients that your body needs to function at its best and that keep you healthy, make your metabolism run efficiently, provide you with energy and that also make the most of protein—like certain B vitamins that help you to turn your protein into usable energy and to be used appropriately for muscle growth. If you add protein to your diet by using protein powder, you may be cutting out other important nutrients.

Our client Shayne:

Shayne was not getting enough important nutrients because she was only eating protein bars and protein powders. Her body was not working as efficiently as it could have been, which led to problems with her energy levels and muscle development. She was very depressed and felt that her body was failing her because she was working hard and not seeing any weight loss or the muscle tone that she desired.

After analyzing her diet, we determined if she was taking in the right amount of protein for her body and if she was getting it from the right sources. We quickly saw what was happening. The protein she was getting was good for boosting her metabolism, but since she wasn’t getting other essential nutrients, her body wasn’t able to function optimally or metabolize the protein effectively.

We helped her by adjusting the amount of protein she ate and adding some healthy carbohydrates. We were able to keep some protein powder in her diet, which she loved because it meant she could have a nutritious diet despite her busy lifestyle. Shayne was stuck at the same weight for a year, until she made some changes to her diet which caused her to lose five pounds.

Best protein powder for weight loss to help keep you fuller for longer

1. OPTIMUM NUTRITION GOLD STANDARD WHEY MUSCLE BUILDING AND RECOVERY PROTEIN POWDER

powders If you’re looking to cut down on calories and don’t mind sacrificing flavor, try an unflavored protein powder. Unflavored protein powders are a great way to get all of the benefits of protein without any of the added sugars and flavors.

This protein powder is a great value for money and is very versatile. We love how easy it is to mix this into liquid, with no lumps or grainy bits, creating a smooth texture that is neither too gluey nor too thin.

It had a pleasantly neutral, milk-like flavor that vanished when mixed in with even the lightest flavors. When we tested the powder by adding flavor drops, it created a delicious shake. Furthermore, it mixed well into mashed potatoes to add an extra boost of protein.

It’s popular amongst reviewers, earning mostly positive reviews. The majority of users are satisfied with the price of the product, though a few have noted the recent increase in cost. Users also enjoy the quality and texture of the product, and appreciate that it doesn’t have an aftertaste. Although reviewers would prefer recyclable packaging, they are still enthusiastic about the product.

WHAT THE USERS SAY

Most people who have tried this protein powder really like it. It gets 4.5 stars on average on Amazon, and people have said good things about its flavor, quality, and price. Some reviewers say this whey protein powder works best when mixed with water, while others say milk works best. Either way, it’s a great powder to take before working out for an extra boost. However, if you do order this protein in sachet form, make sure to check how many sachets you receive. Some customers said they ordered 24 sachets and only got 23.

2. MUSCLETECH NITRO-TECH RIPPED

is whey protein. Whey protein powder is the best type of protein powder to take if you are trying to lose weight or boost your metabolism.

MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Ripped is super high in protein, packing in 30g per serving. This amount is higher than any other product we have tested. The protein is a combination of high quality whey protein peptides and isolate. Isolate is generally easier on the stomach than concentrate. This product is also packed with fat-burning ingredients, including the scientifically tested weight loss ingredient C. canephora robusta, a non-stimulant green coffee bean.

L-carnitine is also in this supplement – something that athletes love because they say it helps them burn fat and prevents muscle fatigue. This amino acid derivative can help boost the body’s metabolism, which can aid in weight loss. It does this by providing your cells with energy in the form of fatty acids.

The powder is available in three flavors: chocolate fudge brownie, French vanilla bean, and French vanilla swirl. There is a choice of a 2lb or 4lb container. Although it costs more than some other options ($39.99 for 2lb), the protein is high quality.

We tried the chocolate fudge brownie flavor. We were struck by how fine the powder is. We then took a scoop of powder and mixed it with water in a protein shaker. We shook it for 30 seconds. Although there were a few tiny pieces of powder left, the drink was still smooth. The flavor of the fudge was just right, not too sweet or artificial tasting. This drink is not very dense, so if you prefer a thicker or more velvety texture, you might want to mix it with milk instead. After trying the chocolate powder in oatmeal, we found that it mixed well without any lumps and had a pleasant chocolate flavor.

WHAT THE USERS SAY

Products on Amazon that have a lot of stars are usually good products. This product has 4.6 stars out of five, so it is probably a good product. People who have tried this whey protein say that it has an excellent flavor and that it doesn’t cause bloating, which is likely due to the high quality of the whey protein. Some reviewers said that the product had a bad aftertaste, but we did not have any problems with the flavor. In fact, quite the opposite.

3. PHD NUTRITION DIET WHEY PROTEIN POWDER

are soy powders. Soy powders are the best protein powders for both weight loss and those on a budget.

Launched in 2010, PhD Diet Whey is a weight loss management shake that is still going strong. This protein powder is high in protein, low in carbs, and low in calories. It is macro-friendly, great for anyone trying to lose weight on the keto diet, and diabetics too.

The added nutrients in this food help with fat loss and energy by doing things such as boosting the body’s metabolism, helping the body to use stored fat, and preventing overeating. This protein powder has 17g of protein per serving, which is slightly lower than other protein powders. However, the serving size is only 25g, so you could always add more protein powder to your shake if you want a bigger protein hit.

We tried the strawberry flavor. The label suggests combining one (25g) scoop with 175ml of water and allowing it to sit for 10 seconds. We put the claim that we shake all of our powders for 30 seconds to the test. We were surprised that it mixed so well in such a short time, and it didn’t seem to make a difference when we mixed it for 20 extra seconds. I was surprised at how consistent the shake was, given that it was only mixed with water. It was thick and creamy, like a smoothie. Although the cereal had flaxseed, we were unable to taste or feel them. However, there were a few clumps of powder left in the bottom of the shaker. This could have been due to our shaker bottle not being of the best quality.

This beverage has a great berry flavor that is neither too tart nor too sweet. The protein blend helps to reduce hunger between meals. For sensitive tummies, it also digests very well. With 13 different flavors, even if you don’t like strawberry, there will be another flavor that you do like.

WHAT THE USERS SAY

This protein powder is loved by customers on Amazon, with over 8,000 global ratings giving it 4.5 stars out of 5. Seventy-one percent of reviewers rated the protein powder five stars. Many praised the product, saying it helped them lose weight and tasted delicious. A few buyers marked the protein powder down because they didn’t like the taste or the packaging.