In today’s world, choosing between flavored and unflavored whey protein powder might be a challenging decision with several trade-offs. Unflavored whey protein offers the most adaptability while also allowing you to assess the quality of the whey (and to do so accurately).
The protein supplement business does not want you to know that the most prevalent branding technique is to combine a low-quality whey protein with a high-quality taste system.
A brand’s bottom line on protein (principle expenditure) might increase dramatically as a result of this, while maintaining a top ranking in user reviews. In the field of protein powders, nearly all customer evaluations for whey protein supplements are focused only on the flavor.
The Best Whey Protein Isolate Without Artificial Sweeteners
To be clear, you’ve come to our page because you’re not that sort of shopper and want to get your hands on the dress-up supplies yourself.
You may regulate the type of sweetener and quantity used to your recovery recipes by using an unflavored whey protein like Grass-Fed Whey Isolate.
Whey Protein Powder Without Sucralose Or Stevia
This article will look at a variety of sweeteners, both natural and artificial, many of which are excellent alternatives to sucralose and stevia.
The best-of-the-best unflavored and unsweetened whey protein powders are represented by Grass-Fed Whey. You have a blank canvas to explore and create your favorite smoothie or shake recipes while keeping full control of your nutritional macros!
When harsh flavor systems are used on a product, notably whey protein powder, the quality of the whey protein (the main component for which you are paying top dollar) is entirely disguised and impossible to analyze.
“If you look nice nude, the clothing don’t matter,” is an analogy we like to utilize. Controlling the quality of your whey is difficult, but creating a taste around a high-grade grass-fed whey protein is simple and enjoyable.
Natural Sugar Vs. Artificial Sweetener In Whey Protein Powder
What Are Natural Sugars?
The term “natural sugars” refers to sugars that occur naturally in foods, such as lactose (milk sugar) or fructose (fruit sugar). Natural sugar is regarded healthy in moderation and, when compared to other options, is absorbed over a longer period of time, helping to keep your hunger (and hence your metabolism) steady. Natural sugars have nearly lost their differentiation in the sugar discourse from what the war-on-sugar is truly about, which is processed sugars, during the last few years. While businesses are aware of the distinctions, customers are unlikely to encounter the phrase “refined” followed by the adjective “natural” when describing the sweeteners used in a product. It’s crucial to emphasize that the ONLY way to acquire a protein shake with pure “natural sugar” is to buy unflavored, unsweetened protein on its own and then prepare smoothies at home with complete fruits and vegetables. If you’re serious about your health, you’ve just discovered why unflavored grass-fed whey protein is the finest alternative.
What Are Refined Sugars?
Unlike the natural sugar found in fruits and vegetables, refined sugars are subjected to extensive processing, which results in the loss of all surrounding minerals and fiber that would otherwise help a raw sugar pass through your digestive track. Natural sugars are welcomed by the body, but processed sugars perplex and upset the body’s balance. Blood sugar levels spike shortly after consuming refined sugar, causing a cascade effect that raises insulin levels. As the “sugar rush” (sugar high) wears off, your hunger will return. When a protein business claims that its whey “contains no artificial sweeteners” but instead “natural sugar,” they’re referring to refined natural sugar that won’t help you attain your best health in any amount.
What Are Artificial Sweeteners?
“Artificial sweeteners” are sweetening agents or chemicals that are synthesized and employed as food additives or sugar replacements. Subtle chemical manipulations are frequently used to create these molecules from naturally existing components.
Artificial sweeteners can be appealing sugar substitutes since they are usually non-caloric and high-intensity sweeteners that are thousands of times sweeter than table sugar gram for gram.
Is Whey Protein With Artificial Sweeteners Safe?
The FDA has certified six artificial sweeteners as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when used as a food additive as of December 2020. The following are the six high-intensity sweeteners:
If you haven’t noticed, Stevia (Rebaudiana Bertoni) and Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) haven’t quite made the cut yet, but GRAS notifications for two forms of these sweeteners have been submitted to the FDA.
How To Identify Whey Protein Without Artificial Sweeteners
Unfortunately for whey protein, the most popular taste systems are indulgent. Chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel, peanut butter brownie, and more classic whey protein tastes are available.
A chocolate brownie, as you might expect, includes a lot of refined sugar (sucrose). To replicate the taste of a brownie in a protein powder, it’s likely that the protein was created using a variety of artificial sweeteners to improve taste while limiting the added-sugar declaration on the package to a bare minimum.
The type of sweetener used may be quickly determined by looking at the nutrition information panel. According to FDA requirements, any sugar replacements (such as artificial or super sweeteners) must be declared in the ingredient list, which is positioned just below the nutrition data and above the allergy statement. The Nutrition Facts Panel is a good place to start.
Why Aren’t Artificial Sweeteners Listed On The Nutrition Label?
Artificial sweeteners are not accounted for in the macronutrient summaries inside a Nutrition Facts Panel for two reasons.
When compared to sucrose, high-intensity sweeteners are generally defined by their sweetness multiplier, or how many times sweeter they are gram for gram. The FDA requires that all nutrition fact panels include information on a product’s macronutrients for a single serving. A single gram is the maximum resolution for any macronutrient (fat, protein, or carbohydrate). To be declared on the Nutrition Facts Panel, the quantity of sweetener per single serving of a food must be at least one full gram. A one-gram declaration of aspartame, for example, is comparable to 200 times the sweetness of sugar (sucrose). Because of the amount of Aspartame used in most foods (per serving), the single gram threshold for the ingredient to affect nutrition facts is unlikely to be attained.
Non-caloric sweeteners are chemicals that the body does not perceive as a source of nutrition (energy) and so are not digested. Although the digestive tract may break down the sweetener and subsequently metabolize the components, the sweetener remains non-caloric since it is not digested or converted to energy as a whole. Because these non-caloric, high-intensity sugar alternatives have no calories, the only indication of their presence is in the ingredient list. 1 gram of protein or carbs is equal to 4 calories on a standard Nutrition Facts Panel, however 1 gram of fat is equal to 9 calories. A standard Aspartame package for a cup of coffee will reveal one carbohydrate, resulting in four calories.
Does Whey Protein Contain Artificial Sweeteners?
In addition to actual sugar, most popular whey protein formulations incorporate high-intensity sweeteners. Sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and stevia extract are the most often used sweeteners in whey protein. Sucralose is a sweetener that is up to 600 times sweeter than table sugar. To put it in perspective, adding 600 grams (over 1 1/2 pounds) of sucrose to a product to get the required sweetness level of 1 single gram of sucralose would take 600 grams (over 1 1/2 pounds) of sucrose.
Using high-intensity sweeteners like sucralose to minimize the quantity of sugar in a product has drawbacks. Finding a great pre-made flavor for whey protein is quite difficult, especially when these goods are sensory tested for the masses, because certain pallets are more sensitive to synthetic profile notes than others.
In general, the taste matching influences the choice of high-intensity sweeteners. Each sweetener contributes a distinct part of the sugar (sucrose) sweetness profile, necessitating the addition of additional ingredients to fill up the gaps. “Odd in taste,” “lingering aftertaste,” or even “chemical notes” are examples of the holes we’re talking about.
Added Sugar-Free Whey Protein Vs. Sugar-Free Whey Protein
Defined “Total Sugar” –
Total sugar is measured in grams and includes both naturally occurring sugars as well as any “added sugar” in a food product.
When it comes to dairy goods, namely whey protein, if you subtract the Added Sugar statement from the overall sugar figure, you’re left with the amount of naturally occurring sugar in the whey protein.
Lactose is the natural sugar in whey (simple-sugar, a.k.a. milk sugar). “Total Sugars” are defined by the FDA as the total of fructose, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and lactose.
What Does “Zero Sugar” Mean On My Whey Protein Tub?
It’s crucial to know that when it comes to dietary supplements, “zero sugar” merely implies that each serving includes less than 1/2 gram of sugar. The current FDA criterion for declaring “contains no sugar” is 1/2 gram.
Defined: “Added Sugar”
Only the additional sugar given to the product during the production process will be included in this quantity, which is likewise expressed in grams.
This figure might be as high as 16 grams for flavored all-natural whey protein. Since the introduction of super sweeteners, it’s become increasingly popular to use a combination of sweeteners as part of a larger taste system instead of a lot of natural sugar or sucrose (table sugar).
Sucrose, dextrose, cane sugar, syrups, honey, and natural sugars from concentrates such fruit juices are all natural sugars that contribute to a high “added-Sugar” indication.
In contrast to the “total sugar” number, “Added-Sugar” has a suggested DV (Daily Value) of 50 grams per day based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.
The Best Way To Pick A Whey Protein
FDA laws and food labeling standards can make it difficult for consumers to understand exactly what components are in their protein powder. It’s a bit of a bet assuming a brand is compliant in their ingredient and amount disclosures when looking at food labeling, especially with post-market regulated dietary supplements.
If you detect more than 3-4 specified components (flavored goods included) or if the product lacks verification from 3rd party accreditation, it’s advisable to avoid supplement items outright. To be clear, a brand’s claim that product has been “3rd party tested” is not a guarantee of quality.
A completely flavored ingredient list may look something like this: Grass-fed Whey Isolate, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cacao, Sunflower Lecithin
Ask for farm certificates to validate a “grass-fed” whey claim, according to experts. There are just a few hundred grassfed dairy farms in the United States today, but over 25,000 whey protein manufacturers claim to source from grass-fed milk. 100 percent of the 300+ grass-fed farms have certificates that are willing to be passed on to downstream goods from the farm.
Grass-Fed Whey Protein is not only “unflavored,” but it’s also deliciously “flavorless,” which means it’s great with just water, demonstrating its raw quality. Because our community enjoys cooking and creating, we’ll look at some of the different ways to dress up your whey creations next.
Natural Vs. Artificial Sweeteners In Whey Protein
Sugar substitutes are chemical or plant-based sweeteners or flavor enhancers for food and beverages. There are several options for sweetening or flavoring your daily protein shake with the maximum versatility of unflavored grass-fed whey. Start with Grass-Fed Whey, which has no calories or sugar, and then choose from the sweeteners we’ve highlighted below, both natural and artificial!
Natural Sugared Whey Protein Powder
Natural sweeteners are sugars found naturally in a variety of plant foods that have a caloric value when added to foods and beverages. Sugar, unlike most artificial super sweeteners, is pure energy and can quickly increase the calorie content of any treat.
Consider this: the majority of pure and natural sugar consumed on the planet comes from beverages, as evidenced by the recent buzz around Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, or “SSBs.”
Sucrose, molasses, brown & raw sugars, dextrose, corn & malt syrups (including high-fructose corn syrup), glucose, fructose, honey, and lactose are some of the most well-known natural sugars used to sweeten and super-saturate standard drinks like sweet tea or sodas (milk sugar).
Despite the extra calories, many people prefer natural sweeteners to artificial sweeteners for two reasons.
The first reason is the shortcomings of artificial sweeteners; they fail miserably in their attempts to mimic the sweetness profile of natural sugar, which is why protein powders rarely contain just one artificial sweetener. High-intensity sweeteners are typically found in pairs or triplets in flavored protein powders to maximize their strengths while masking their weaknesses (that strange aftertaste you can’t quite put your finger on).
The second reason is gaining traction, thanks to the health and wellness boom, which is helping to raise general nutrition knowledge. For many people, the lack of understanding and long-term studies on synthetic sweeteners is enough to keep them away.
If one of your fitness goals is to lose weight, healthy calories are not the enemy, but rather an important ally in your efforts!
What Are The Best Whey Protein Natural Sweeteners?
Raw honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, and fresh or frozen fruit are the most popular sugar-free alternatives. The characteristics of the most popular natural sweeteners are listed below.
Sucrose (sugar)
Refined sugar is sucrose, which is extracted from sugarcane and processed to remove residual molasses, resulting in refined white sugar, also known as “table” sugar or granulated sugar. Sucrose is a disaccharide that consists of glucose and fructose. Sucrose, like honey, brown sugar, and maple syrup, is made up of glucose and fructose in varying proportions. Sucrose has an energy value of roughly 4 calories per gram, but it also contains large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Because of the empty calories associated with sucrose, many people are looking for natural sweetener alternatives that have greater nutritional value.
Raw Honey –
Honey is a healthier alternative to sugar since it has antioxidants, antimicrobial, and antibacterial qualities, as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. Honey has a higher fructose content than glucose. Because fructose is the sweeter of the two, natural honey may attain the same sweetness as sugar with less natural honey. If you have a reliable source, raw honey is the finest option. Pollen, enzymes, and antioxidants are mistakenly sacrificed by mainstream honey providers that use ultra-filtration processes to get a more aesthetically attractive end product with fewer air bubbles.
Maple Syrup
Pure maple syrup is high in zinc, manganese, and other minerals, making it a powerful antioxidant. It is made from liquid sap that has been cooked to eliminate any unwanted moisture (water). Maple syrup, like other natural sweeteners, is mainly sucrose, yet it has a lower glycemic index than sugar. However, just like honey, there are many types of maple syrup depending on the processing procedures used. Choosing pure maple syrup over a highly processed, high-fructose corn syrup substitute is better for you and your family.
Agave Nectar
Agave syrup has grown in popularity as people seek for more natural sugar substitutes. Agave nectar is derived from the agave plant and is comparable to honey in that it contains mainly fructose, making it 1.5 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose). As a result, it has a lower glycemic index than both honey and sugar, but it loses the additional nutritional advantages that unfiltered honey provides.
Fresh Or Frozen Fruit
Fruit is one of the most natural methods to sweeten your whey protein recipe. Fruits include natural sugars such as fructose and glucose, as do other natural sweeteners, but they also contain a variety of other nutrients. Fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid are among the antioxidants and vital vitamins and minerals included in these foods. Using fruit to sweeten your protein shake adds nutritional value that sets it apart from other natural sweetener alternatives. To prevent the typical error of mechanical denaturation, combine the fruit separately from the whey protein powder (particularly if frozen and using a high-speed equipment).
The simple truth is that all natural sweeteners contain sucrose, as well as different amounts of glucose and fructose. They’re all fantastic alternatives to processed, artificial sweeteners, but they still include sugar, so moderation is crucial. Limit your intake and replace it with fresh or frozen fruit for a better, more nutritious option.
What Are The Three Different Types Of Monosaccharides?
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Galactose
What Are The Three Different Types Of Disaccharides?
- Lactose (glucose and galactose)
- Maltose (glucose and glucose)
- Sucrose (glucose and fructose)
- What three kinds of polysaccharides are there?
- Starch (plant-based)
- Fiber (plant-based)
- Glycogen (animal-sourced)
Grass-Fed Whey Protein And Stevia
Stevia is an anomaly in the “natural” category. Stevia is a plant-based sweetener with no caloric value that comes from the Stevia Rebaudiana plant, which is native to South America. The sweet portion of the plant is removed from the leaf and is known as “steviol glycosides.” The word stevia refers to the entire plant; however, the sweet part of the plant is extracted from the leaf and is known as “steviol glycosides.”
Although stevia can be sold as “all-natural” in its raw, unprocessed form, it is classified as a dietary supplement by the FDA (DHESA). The FDA has not yet recognized crude/natural stevia extract as a safe food ingredient.
High purity steviol glycosides are the type of stevia most people are familiar with from their local coffee shop (an extract of the stevia plant). The FDA considers stevia to be “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) in this form. The GRAS form, on the other hand, necessitates severe chemical processing, prompting dispute about how much chemical processing a natural constituent may undergo before losing its “all-natural” label.
The benefits of stevia-based sweeteners like Truvia include the fact that they are around 300 times sweeter than sugar, so even a small quantity may have a big impact. The majority of stevia’s unfavorable evaluations are centered on its unique flavor and harsh aftertaste.
Artificial Sweeteners For Grass-Fed Whey Protein
Artificial sweeteners are sugar alternatives that are usually sold as tabletop sweeteners. They’re a good substitute for sugar or sucrose since they have almost no calories and just only a small quantity to sweeten food or beverages, even your unflavored whey protein powder.
Why Do Artificial Sweeteners Contain No Calories?
Artificial sweeteners, unlike natural sweeteners, are non-nutritive, meaning they provide no additional nutritional benefit. Non-nutritional can also be referred to as non-caloric. These meanings are the same for the purposes of this article.
Calories are a statistic that measures the quantity of energy made available to your body as a consequence of your body digesting (breaking down) and metabolizing (converting to energy) substances. If the body does not detect food as carrying nutrients, it will not digest it, leaving no energy available.
There are a few artificial sweeteners that are popular with flavored whey protein and may be used in moderation to make a sweet, low-calorie shake recipe with unflavored whey.
Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar as a zero-calorie artificial sweetener. Sucralose’s high multiplier makes it one of the most potent sweeteners with the smallest environmental imprint. Sucralose will very certainly be one of the sweeteners utilized in protein powders as part of a more complex taste system.
Sucralose Detailed Explanation
Acesulfame Potassium ” Also known as “Ace-K,” acesulfame potassium is a sweetener that is frequently combined with other artificial sweeteners to improve the overall flavor. Sucralose with Ace-K is one of the most common combinations. It has 200 times the sweetness of sugar and has no calories.
Ace-K Explained In Detail
Aspartame ” A more contentious artificial sweetener, aspartame is one of the most extensively investigated sugar alternatives in the United States, and the FDA considers it safe. It’s 200 times sweeter than sugar and breaks down into two amino acids when eaten: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame, unlike its competitors, is metabolized in the body and is low in calories (vs. no calorie).
Though many people prefer natural sugar substitutes, artificial sweeteners provide a variety of options for individuals who need to keep their blood sugar in check or are on a sugar-free diet (i.e., Keto). If you want to flavor your grass-fed whey protein shake with an artificial sweetener, keep in mind that a little goes a long way.