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Reviews of five of the best all-natural whey protein powder supplements, based on price, ingredients, protein content, and more.
Whey protein powder is a go-to supplement for building lean muscle and speeding up recovery after a workout. While some stick to whole foods, others find a clean, natural whey protein to be the perfect fit.
If you’re on the hunt for the purest options, I’ve reviewed and selected five of the best all-natural whey protein powders available today.
Top 5 Natural Whey Protein Supplements:
Top 5 Natural Whey Protein Supplements
We have researched the market and selected the five top-quality natural whey protein powders for you.
Further below, we have included a handy whey protein supplement buying guide with helpful tips.
1. TGS All Natural Whey Protein Powder
Managed by a group of active-minded individuals, TGS was founded as a result of a failed search for quality, clean whey protein supplements. In the few years that TGS has been in business, they have already been able to make their mark in the crowded world of protein supplements.
Their non-GMO, all-natural whey protein product is exactly that: clean whey protein with only two ingredients and no hidden surprises. One serving of 30g provides 25g of unflavored and unsweetened whey concentrate.
If organic protein powder is out of your budget, TGS all-natural whey protein is one of the best alternatives on the market today.
Summary:
- Quantity: 0.91 kg / 2 lb
- Servings: 30
- Serving size: 30 g
- Protein per serving: 25 g
2. Naked Nutrition Grass Fed Whey Protein Powder
Naked Nutrition is a protein manufacturer that prides itself in producing clean products with only the purest ingredients. They strip out nasty and unnecessary ingredients and avoid costly marketing campaigns. What they do instead is focus on creating simple but top-quality products. With Naked Nutrition, you will know exactly what you’re buying: pure protein and nothing else.
Their popular grass-fed whey protein powder comes from dairy cows with a 100% grass-fed diet. The milk is free from any artificial or growth hormones and is non-GMO. This protein product is as pure and clean as possible, suitable for those who want to build lean muscle and support the recovery process after a strength workout. With 25 grams of protein and 5.9 grams of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acid) per serving of 30 grams, this whey protein is a good choice.
If you prefer flavored whey protein, Naked Nutrition also has chocolate and vanilla-flavored grass-fed whey protein. They are just as natural, but have extra ingredients such as raw cacao, dried strawberries, and coconut sugar. The amount of protein is the same. Alternatively, you can add some fresh orange juice to this type of naked protein supplement to make it easier to drink.
Summary:
- Quantity: 2.27 kg / 5 lb
- Servings: 76
- Serving size: 30 g
- Protein per serving: 25 g
3. Opportuniteas Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Opportuniteas manufactures supplements, tea powders, and energy drinks, and prides itself in being authentic (using only natural and organic whole foods), transparent (detailed labeling), affordable, and customer-focused.
They also want to be serious about their impact on the world and have partnered with 1% For The Planet, a global network of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that work together for a healthier planet. This means Opportuniteas donates at least 1% of its revenue to non-profit partners that work on issues related to climate change. Very important!
Their unflavored, gluten-free, non-GMO, grass-fed whey protein isolate supplement provides 27g of clean protein per serving.
Summary:
- Quantity: 454 g / 1 lb
- Servings: 15
- Serving size: 30 g
- Protein per serving: 27 g
4. ProMix Nutrition Grass Fed Whey Protein
Founded in 2012, ProMix Nutrition uses the highest third-party testing standards on their whey protein supplements to ensure their products are the purest and most nutritious they can be. Their products are non-GMO and free of hormones, additives, and other extra ingredients.
Their unflavored whey protein supplement is an all-natural whey protein powder with only two ingredients: grass-fed whey concentrate and non-GMO sunflower lecithin. It provides 25g of protein (and 5.9g BCAA’s) per 30g serving.
They also sell this protein powder in flavored varieties, such as chocolate, vanilla, and even peanut butter, if you prefer a better taste. Flavors are established by adding ingredients such as non-GMO sugar cane, vanilla extract, peanuts, and organic cacao.
Summary:
- Quantity: 2.27 kg / 5 lb
- Servings: 76
- Serving size: 30 g
- Protein per serving: 25 g
5. BN Labs Organic Grass Fed Whey Protein
Part of British Nutritions, BN Labs was launched in 2013 with a specialized line of products, including organic whey protein, vegan protein, high-performance protein, and wellness supplements. Their products are formulated with the very best and purest ingredients, and tested and certified at the highest quality standards.
The BN Labs grass-fed whey protein powder supplement is completely natural, non-GMO, hormone-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and low-temperature processed. This supplement provides 24g of whey protein per 30g serving.
It also contains a tiny bit of sunflower lecithin to make this product mix better with water and protein smoothies.
Summary:
- Quantity: 450 g / 1 lb
- Servings: 15
- Serving size: 30 g
- Protein per serving: 24 g
Buying Guide
Below are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a good quality natural whey protein powder.
In the meantime, you may also like my article about whey protein making you fat or gain weight.
1. What is Whey Protein?
Whey protein is a type of protein that is isolated from whey, a watery by-product of the cheese-making process. In short, whey protein is derived from cow’s milk. It’s considered a complete protein which means that it contains all nine essential amino acids. Whey protein is usually also low in lactose which is good for people with lactose intolerance.
Whey protein is very much marketed as the go-to food supplement to improve your athletic performance, specifically targeting people that do weight lifting and bodybuilding.
While there are lots of food sources that are rich in protein (also for vegetarians and vegans), top-quality whey protein is indeed beneficial for those that need to build lean muscle and recover from heavy workouts.
2. Different Types of Whey Protein
There are three types of whey protein: concentrate (WPC), isolate (WPI), and hydrolysate (WPH).
- Whey Concentrate:
The concentrated whey form usually provides the lowest protein content and is higher in fat and carbohydrates from lactose. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as protein can go hand in hand with fat and carbs. - Whey Isolate:
Whey isolate is processed such that fat and lactose are removed, creating a leaner protein powder. Isolate is usually more expensive than concentrate, but the quality is typically better, and it is also quicker. Whey isolate is suitable for lactose-intolerant people. - Whey Hydrolysate:
Whey hydrolysate is the most expensive form. It’s a protein that has been processed so that long chains of amino are broken down into single amino acids. It is generally believed that this leads to better absorption by the body.
There are also whey protein supplements that provide a mix of all three or two types of whey. They are usually more expensive as it’s more difficult to produce, but they provide the benefits of more than just one type of whey protein.
3. Additional Ingredients
There is nothing wrong with added flavors as long as they are natural. In fact, flavoring such as organic cocoa or stevia can even add extra health benefits.
Avoid artificial flavors as they add no value and can even be harmful. Artificial flavors are cheap, and as tempting as cheap protein powder supplements are, it’s better to go for the healthier, natural options.
Soy (lecithin) is another ingredient you may come across in whey supplements. Typically used as an emulsifier, it’s not considered harmful, but I would choose supplements without it. If you see soy lecithin in the list of ingredients, make sure it’s a non-GMO version.
4. Grass-Fed or Not Grass-Fed
Some people strongly prefer whey protein from grass-fed cows. Why? Because cows are supposed to eat grass, and therefore the end product is considered more natural and simply better.
5. Protein Content
All whey protein powder supplements should tell you how much protein per serving it offers. A good amount is anywhere between 20 and 25g per 30g serving. But don’t just focus on the protein content because a high protein content is pointless if the protein powder is of poor quality.
6. Price
When looking for a reliable and all-natural whey protein supplement, you’ll notice substantial price variations between brands. More expensive doesn’t necessarily equate to better quality, though. Look at things like additional ingredients, GMO or non-GMO, organic or non-organic, and the protein content, and decide for yourself how much the product is worth.
Last updated: August 9, 2024