Achieving nutritional ketosis means you’ll have limited choices when it comes to food and supplementation. Despite that, you need to make sure that you’re getting the right nutrients while increasing your testosterone levels – and that’s why we’ve searched for the best keto protein powder.
Best Keto Protein Powders Comparison Table
Picture | Product | Brand | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MuscleTech |
| |
 | Isopure |
| |
 | Optimum Nutrition |
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 | Now Sports |
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 | BPI Sports |
| |
 | Optimum Nutrition |
| |
 | Perfect Keto |
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 | BioTrust |
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 | Quest Nutrition |
|
A Quick Look at the Best Keto Protein Powders
Muscletech’s NitroTech is designed to boost recovery, performance, and strength. It does this by packing 30 grams of protein isolates and peptides, 5 grams of Glutamine and its precursors, 6.8 grams of branched-chain amino acids, and 3 grams of Creatine Monohydrate in each serving.
Nature’s Best Zero CarbIsopure presents a good option for those looking for a protein powder that’s lactose and/or gluten free. Each serving provides 50 grams of protein, a blend of multivitamins and minerals, branched-chain amino acids, and 4.6 grams of L-glutamine.
Optimum Nutrition’s Whey Gold Standard is the go-to protein shake whenever you need to kick start your workout. Each serving provides 24 grams of protein (with 5.5 grams of natural branched-chain amino acids) and 4 grams of natural L-glutamine.
NOW Sports’ Egg white Protein Powder is specifically designed for those looking to increase their protein intake without relying on lactose-containing supplements. It has 16 grams of protein in each serving, with all the essential amino acids.
BPI Sports ISO HD is a whey protein isolate supplement designed to provide protein at a fast rate, improving both recovery time and muscle growth. Each serving provides 25 grams of protein in isolate and hydrolysate forms.
Platinum Hydro Whey is made with advanced whey protein isolates to ensure that protein gets into muscles faster. Each serving would give you 30 grams of protein and about 9 grams of naturally occurring branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine).
Keto Collagen is a lactose-free protein supplement for those currently in a ketogenic diet. Each serving would give you 10 grams of protein (derived from grass-fed bone broth) and 5,000 milligrams of healthy fat (medium-chain triglycerides).
BioTrust’s protein powder blend only uses hormone-free, grass-fed sources – and it doesn’t contain gluten and soy, as well as artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. Each serving of this supplement contains 24 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.
Quest’s Protein Powder is quite versatile (it can be mixed in water or added to pancakes) and doesn’t contain soy, gluten, and sugar (it’s sweetened with Stevia and sucralose). Each serving provides 23 grams of protein and has 9 essential amino acids.
Reviews of the Best Keto Protein Powders
On paper, NitroTech is among the top when it comes to protein content. But, once you see how large their scoop is, you’ll realize that you’re just taking in a lot of protein powder for every serving.
Despite this, NitroTech gives good value for its low carbohydrate content and optimal Creatine content. With this product, you’d be taking calories packed with protein.
If you could get over the ridiculous amount of artificial sweeteners, it would be a great pre- and post-workout protein powder – especially if you’re aiming for weight loss.
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This is a good pre-workout and morning drink. With Isopure protein powder using whey isolates and having minimal carbohydrates, you’re getting as much protein as you can get from each serving.
Just make sure to gradually adjust into taking the full serving of the product. Going from zero protein supplementation to full serving can give you gas or cause stomach upset.
Also, note that despite its name, the product isn’t a vegan protein source.
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Optimum Nutrition is one of the well-known brands out there due to their reputation and history in the industry of sports and fitness nutrition. This still holds true with their whey as it’s one of the most cost-effective per serving.
However, with their new formulation, they have removed the digestive proteases that improve protein absorption. Furthermore, they added sugar substitutes and artificial sweetener for better flavor.
You can purchase their naturally flavored variants, which are often pricier.
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There’s no difference between the amount of protein your body can get from whey protein supplements, milk protein supplements, and casein protein supplements. However, this does not mean that they can be used in the same way.
A protein powder made of egg whites is a good option for those looking to supplement with protein but intolerant of lactose.
But, the gas it gives to those who take it is quite a bit of a deal breaker. Furthermore, for the amount of protein it provides, it is quite expensive for its price range.
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This product is designed to provide protein at the most optimal rate of absorption – and that’s achieved through the presence of protein hydrolysate.
BPI Sports’ offering comes in several flavors (such as chocolate and vanilla), but most of them don’t taste great at all. As for texture, well, there’s really nothing to complain about.
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Platinum Hydro Whey is your all-in-one protein supplement. It has all the amino acids your body would need to effectively absorb protein.
We found that it’s quite easy to mix with the aid of a shaker. However, the taste could do with a bit of an improvement – for better flavor, get the chocolate or vanilla and mix it with banana.
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This one’s a very good option when you’re on the keto diet. It’s lactose free and would give you the best amount of protein no matter how limiting your low-carb diet might be.
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We like that it’s sourced from certified hormone-free and grass-fed cows. The combination of different whey and casein protein makes it rather versatile, but the taste can be a really big turn-off.
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The combination of whey and casein isolates makes it a good source of protein throughout the day. However, it does have a chemical aftertaste that greatly affects its palatability.
This is why many choose to integrate it into an existing recipe. Yes, it’s possible to turn your favorite smoothie, ice cream, keto bread, almond milk, and even Greek yogurt into something that better suits your diet.
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Studies shown that whey protein powders get absorbed the fastest, while casein protein supplements provide a slow and steady source of protein for up to eight hours.
How to Choose Protein Powders
Know Your Needs
There’s no difference between the amount of protein your body can get from whey protein supplements, milk protein supplements, and casein protein supplements. However, this does not mean that they can be used in the same way.
Studies have shown that these three protein supplements are absorbed at varying rates.
So, if you’re looking for a quick source of protein after a workout or upon waking in the morning, whey protein is the best kind of protein powder for you. But, if what you need is a protein source for extended periods like during sleep or throughout the day, casein protein powder is ideal.
Isolates Over Concentrates
Protein powders containing protein isolates are always better than those containing protein concentrates. It’s true though, that they mainly differ in the extent of filtration during production.
To put it simply, protein isolates contain at least 90% of whey, while protein concentrates range from 25% to 89% whey protein. The remaining percentage would contain lactose, milk fat, or both – all of which are unnecessary to the goals you’re trying to achieve.
With isolates, you’re getting more protein per gram. And, with more protein per gram, you’re getting more value for your money.
Protein isolates contain at least 90% of whey, while protein concentrates range from 25% to 89% whey protein. The remaining percentage would contain lactose, milk fat, or both – all of which are unnecessary to the goals you’re trying to achieve.
On the Matter of Fillers
A protein powder supplement contains ingredients other than protein – and those are generally referred to as fillers. These could include substances for improving flavor, shelf-life, taste, or effect.
Of course, we would want to get the best value so as much as possible we want none of these substances in our protein powder. But, that’s quite unrealistic since some fillers are necessary for a protein powder supplement to give the best effect.
So, the secret is to identify those fillers that you’ll always have to avoid. If you see any of these in a supplement you’re planning to purchase, don’t hesitate to look for another one:
- Glucose and/or dextrin
- Skimmed milk powders or milk solids (these add to thickness but make protein harder to absorb)
- Soy protein (due to a high chance of it coming from genetically-modified origins, and the possibility of developing hormonal imbalance)
The Verdict
Best Low Carb Protein Powder: Quest Nutrition Protein Powder
If you’re looking for a protein powder with no added sugars and low on carbohydrates, we recommend Quest Nutrition Protein Powder. With it containing whey and casein, you can use it both as a protein source post-workout and as a constant protein source for the whole day.
Best Protein Powder for the Ketogenic Diet: Perfect Keto, Keto Collagen Protein Powder
For those with difficulties processing lactose, Perfect Keto’s Keto Protein Powder is highly recommended. Aside from serving as a great source of exogenous ketone body(or ketones), it has everything that you’d need for your ketogenic or high-protein diet.
All in all, while there’s always the matter of preference, you’ll probably have a hard time looking for other products that could compete with the best keto protein powder in our article.
Image credits: Amazon.com
