Why You Should Start Buying Unsweetened Protein Powder

If you think protein powder is something only CrossFit addicts and people who grunt at the gym use to make #gains, you’re seriously missing out on a potent ingredient that could help you lose weight.

“Protein plays a big role in weight loss because it keeps us full and satisfied so that we make it to our next meal without snacking in between,” says Brigitte Zeitlin, RD. It can also help you increase and maintain muscle mass—something necessary to burn fat, even when you’re not working out, says Zeitlin.

And here’s the thing: Even if you think you’re eating enough protein already, it can’t hurt to supplement with a bit more. “Adding some protein powder to a meal or snack that may otherwise be lacking in protein is a great way to balance your meals,” says Alyssa Lavy, RD, of Alyssa Lavy Nutrition & Wellness, LLC.

There’s just one small problem: With so many protein powders out there, it can be hard to choose the healthiest option. Zeitlin’s main suggestion? Focus on the unsweetened kinds. “They won’t add in sneaky sugars that could actually be sabotaging you.” Keeping that in mind, these are the best protein powders for weight loss:

1. RSP Nutrition AvoCollagen Protein Powders

“People tend to forget that fat is very satiating, so adding a fat-based product like AvoCollagen can [provide] the satiety one needs to prevent overeating later,” says Monica Auslander Moreno, RD, founder of Essence Nutrition. Plus the oleic acids in the avocado oil help fight inflammation and the collagen peptides go easy on the gut, and repair damaged tissue and muscles post-workout, she says.

Per serving: 90 calories, 4 g fat, (1 g sat fat), 4 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 10 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 10 g protein

2. RSP Nutrition TrueFit Protein Powder

Thanks to the “whopping 25 grams of protein in per serving,” Moreno says you’ll squash any chance of an afternoon snacking marathon since protein balances blood sugar levels—and low blood sugar contributes to hunger. “You’ll sail until dinner” with a scoop of this stuff, she says. And if chocolate isn’t your jam, opt for one of the other four available flavors all packed with eight grams of prebiotic fiber (the stuff that nourishes the organisms in your gut) from sweet potatoes and five net carbs.

Per serving: 160 calories, 3 g fat, (2 g sat fat), 13 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 160 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 25 g protein

3. Quest Chocolate Milkshake

If you’re a late-night snacker, Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, says this protein powder milkshake, which is loaded with 20 grams of protein and cocoa, is the way to go. She uses it herself and say it satisfies her sweet tooth. She also adds that sipping on it before bed can help maintain muscle mass and increase fat metabolism.

Per serving: 110 calories, 1 g fat, (0.5 g sat fat), 3 g carbs, <1 g sugar, 150 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 22 g protein

4. Quest Multi-Purpose Protein Powder

Adding powder to smoothies is nice and all, but this powder can be baked into peanut butter bars, tossed into tomato sauce, and mixed right into oatmeal.

Plus, “one scoop has only 100 calories and no sugar since it’s simply pure protein which makes it a perfect addition to any recipe to increase its nutrient density,” says Kirkpatrick.

Per serving: 100 calories, 0.5 g fat, (0 g sat fat), <1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 115 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 23 g protein

5. Trader Joe’s Organic Pea Protein Powder

This powder’s biggest draw according to Leah Kaufman, RD, is the fact that it goes easy on the wallet. But even without the hefty price tag, it still stands up against the pricier alternatives by being low-carb, vegan-friendly, and tasty.

Per serving: 130 calories, 2 g fat, 8 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 410 mg sodium, 20 g protein

6. UNJURY Unflavored Protein Powder

For anyone who has a sensitive stomach, Kaufman recommends this unflavored protein powder, which, unlike others, doesn’t have artificial sweeteners. She’s especially into the individual packets of the powder which are calorie-controlled (just 90 cals a pop!) and help you make sure you don’t run the risk of over-consuming.

Per serving: 90 calories, 0 g fat, (0 g sat fat), 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 55 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 21 g protein

7. Isopure Whey Protein Isolate Powder

Instead of adding a spoonful of honey or cocoa powder to your morning oatmeal, Kaufman suggests sprinkling a serving of this powder on top instead since it’s sweetened with monk fruit, rounding out it’s sugar count to only three grams. It packs a huge punch of protein (25 grams, to be exact), in addition to satisfying even the pickiest sweet-tooth.

Per serving: 120 calories, 0 g fat, (0 g sat fat), 4 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 240 mg sodium, 25 g protein

8. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

This is “one of the better-tasting protein powders, says Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CEO of The NY Nutrition Group, a private New York City-based nutrition practice. “Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard has 24 grams of high-quality whey protein isolates per scoop and only two grams of sugar,” she adds.

Per serving: 120 calories, 1 g fat, (0.5 g sat fat), 3 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 130 mg sodium, 24 g protein

9. Power Crunch Proto Whey

“Power Crunch comes in a variety of delicious flavors, from cookies and cream to café mocha,” says Moskovitz. She also adds that it’s easier on the digestive system than many other protein powders.

Per serving: 140 calories, 3.5 g fat, (2.5 g sat fat), 7 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 215 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 20 g protein

10. Orgain Grass-Fed Whey

Simple, tasty protein powders are often hard to come by, but “Orgain is a superior option,” says Moskowitz. Snag this one when you want a good protein powder with zero artificial ingredients or sweeteners.

Per serving: 150 calories, 3.5 g fat, (1.5 g sat fat), 14 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 140 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 21 g protein

11. BiPro Whey

Their plain flavor is straight-up whey protein—and it’s sugar-free, lactose-free, and gluten-free, while “the flavored ones simply have natural flavors, some stevia, and sunflower lecithin” says Tara Collingwood, RD, team dietitian for the Orlando Magic.

But, the thing that really makes it one of the best protein powders for weight loss: “I like that it has 20 grams of protein for only 90 calories,” says Collingwood.

Per serving: 80 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 170 mg sodium, 20 g protein

12. Ascent Native Fuel Micellar Casein

“Ascent uses only natural ingredients, and it has 25 grams of protein for only 110 to 130 calories, depending on the flavor,” says Collingwood. “It’s also an excellent source of all essential amino acids.”

Per serving: 110 calories, 1 g fat, (0 g sat fat), 2 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 30 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 25 g protein

13. Naked Nutrition Egg White Protein

“Naked Nutrition uses clean ingredients and non-GMO eggs, and the only other ingredient is sunflower lecithin,” says Collingwood. “It doesn’t have any added sweeteners or colors, and it packs 25 grams of protein for 110 calories.”

Per serving: 110 calories, 0 g fat, (0 g sat fat), 2 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 380 mg sodium, <1 g fiber, 25 g protein

14. Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein

“Garden of Life is a trusted brand, and their plant-based variety of protein powder doesn’t have a significant aftertaste like many others do,” says Collingwood.

Per serving: 110 calories, 2.5 g fat (0 g sat), 180 mg sodium, 2 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 22 g protein

15. Navitas Organics Cacao & Greens Essential Blend

“This is a great blend that consists of pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, flax, and hemp,” says Lauren Antonucci, RD. She also adds that it has added greens for fiber, as well as probiotics for gut health, which solidifies its place on the list of best protein powders for weight loss.

Per serving: 100 calories, 2 g fat (0.5 g sat), 200 mg sodium, 10 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 12 g protein

16. Profi Vegan Protein Powder

“Profi Vegan Protein Powder is my favorite because, unlike a lot of other plant-based supplements, it’s a complete protein source—meaning it has all of the essential amino acids,” says Abbey Sharp, RD. “It’s also been shown in research to be 100 percent digestible, non-GMO, and in my opinion, is the tastiest on the market!” Have a little fun with it by using it to make Sharp’s Vegan Matcha Rainbow Protein Pancakes or Vegan Red Velvet Protein Pancakes.

Per serving: 110 calories, 1.5 g fat (0.2 g sat), 180 mg sodium, 2 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 20 g protein

17. Naked Nutrition Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder

“Naked Nutrition Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder has just one ingredient: whey protein!” says Sharp. “That means there are no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors added.”

Per serving: 120 calories, 2 g fat (0.5 g sat), 45 mg sodium, 3 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 25 g protein

18. Tera’s Whey Protein

“TERA’s Whey Protein is one of my go-to choices because it doesn’t contain the myriad of artificial ingredients found in many protein powder products,” says Edwina Clark, RD, head of nutrition and wellness at Yummly.

Per serving: 110 calories, 1.5 g fat (1 g sat), 50 mg sodium, 4 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 21 g protein

19. Kura Grass-Fed Dairy Protein

“Kura blends have added fiber and probiotics, which offer additional benefits like digestive health, satiety, immunity, and cholesterol control,” says Clark.

Per serving: 160 calories, 5 g fat (3 g sat), 75 mg sodium, 7 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 18 g protein

20. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

“Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is completely tasteless, so it makes a great addition to any dish if you’re trying to increase the protein content of the meal, like in a soup or stew,” says Brigitte Zeitlin, RD.

Per serving: 70 calories, 110 mg sodium, 18 g protein

21. Huel Powder

“I recently tried Huel and I really liked the nutrition lineup and plant-protein source,” says Sharon Palmer, RD, noting that the product is vegan. The ingredients, which include oats, brown rice protein, and pea protein, have been “carefully planned by dietitians to meet nutrient needs,” she adds.

Per serving: 13.2 grams fat, 36.7 g carbs, 7.9 g fiber, 29.6 g protein

22. Vega Protein & Greens

“I like Vega because it includes many nutrients that I’m interested in,” such as pea protein, brown rice protein, and organic kale powder, says Palmer.

Per serving: 120 calories, 2.5 g fat (0.5 g sat), 270 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 20 g protein

23. Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein

“This protein powder is vegan and made without soy or sweeteners, making it suitable for various diets,” says Lavy. It doesn’t taste like much—which is actually a good thing if you want to add it to smoothies or other foods.

Per serving: 90 calories, 3 g fat (0 g sat), 0 mg sodium, 9 g carbs, 8 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 15 g protein

24. Solgar Whey-To-Go Natural Vanilla

This protein powder is whey-based, but it’s actually 98 percent lactose-free, which means it’s easily tolerated by those with lactose intolerance (unlike many other whey protein options), says Lavy. It’s also got just one gram of sugar, but still has a sweet flavor, she adds.

Per serving: 90 calories, 0.5 g fat, 55 mg sodium, 2 g carbs, <1 g sugar, 20 g protein

25. Crazy Richards 100% Peanut Powder

Though this isn’t technically a protein powder, powdered peanut butter is a great way to add extra protein (and a delish PB flavor) to smoothies or other foods, says Lavy (this one’s her favorite). Something else to note: Powdered peanut butter might be easier on those with finicky digestive systems, she says.

Per serving: 50 calories, 1.5 g fat (0 g sat), 0 g sodium, 3 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 6 g protein

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