If you’re looking for the best cheap protein powder deals, we found loads of great deals you can buy today. The variety of cheap protein powder choices can easily be confusing because the ingredient blends vary widely depending on the product’s purpose. Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, build muscle, or just get in shape and eat healthier, the right protein powder can be a foundation of a healthy nutritional program. We’ve done the legwork in lining up deals the best protein powders below and will update this post regularly. We also include tips on everything you need to know about protein for men and why protein powder could be an important part of your nutritional planning.
Today’s Best Cheap Protein Powder Deals
What Does Protein Powder Do?
Protein powder is a convenient way to add this vital nutritional building block to your diet. Protein powder isn’t just for athletes and bodybuilders. We all need sufficient quantities of protein in our diet to stay healthy. Protein helps build muscles and maintain muscle health and is essential for overall health.
Isn’t protein just protein? Not all protein sources are alike. Proteins are complex food sources. It’s essential that our diets include complete proteins, which means those that contain nine amino acids that humans require. The best way to ensure that you consume sufficient amounts of all nine amino acids is to eat protein foods that contain all nine amino acids naturally present. Most animal protein sources such as meat, fish, and milk are complete proteins. You can also combine specific non-animal foods such as beans and rice.
Especially if you don’t eat meat, and for anyone who doesn’t want to take the time to shop for, prepare, and eat meals with complete protein food sources, prepackaged protein powder is a convenient way to have enough protein in our diets. Protein shakes and protein bars are other easy ways to meet your nutritional needs.
It’s easy to go down theoretical rabbit holes listening to or reading about the respective qualities of various types of protein. There are different opinions about quantity, too. Sports trainers and some nutritionists, although not generally among medical professionals, also have widely diverging opinions about the quantity of complete protein that’s right for different health, exercise, or athletic goals.
How much is enough? For most people, it’s not that hard to consume enough protein on a daily basis. In general, adults need between 0.8 grams and 2 grams of protein per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per day. The difference depends to some degree on individual health, but also on the amount of activity. Competitive athletes and people who what significant muscle mass growth require the greatest amount of protein.
Overdoing the amount of protein, whether from protein powders or any other source isn’t healthy, especially long term. Overeating animal protein can lead to undesirable and unhealthy weight gain, but that’s not the only problem. Our livers and kidneys have to process everything we eat and too much protein can put an inordinate strain on those vital organs.
To whey or not to whey? What about types of protein powders? Whey protein is a milk product and a complete protein. Whey-based protein powders are also relatively inexpensive. Protein powders that use whey isolates can cost a bit more than whey concentrates because the isolates are processed to yield more protein and fewer carbohydrates, fat, and lactose (milk sugar). If you’re loading up on protein, chances are you don’t want to add equal proportions of carbs, fats, and sugars, so isolates can be a better choice.
Many people enjoy high-protein snacks made with real meat. If, however, you don’t want to consume protein powder made from animal products, there are plenty of options for vegetarians, vegans, and other food-specific nutritional needs and preferences. Non-whey-based