Category: Product Comparisons

Best Protein Powders: Counting Down The Top 5

Everyone wants to know the best protein powder, whether it be protein from grass-fed cows, plant-based protein or even whey concentrate or whey protein isolate.  Brands such as Optimum Nutrition, BSN, Gaspari & many more have found their own perfect formulas for their own protein supplements which gives you the best protein shake on offer.

The amount of protein content in protein powders can range quite wide, but on average we think it is around 24g of protein per serving.  Protein powders are great for weight loss and muscle growth as they help repair the muscles in order for you to use them again, a lack of protein in your diet does not feed your muscles correctly. It’s always best to have a protein shake post-workout as it contains all of the essential amino acids you need, especially if you’re on a muscle-building journey.

Vegan protein powders are also becoming very popular, so expect to see some inside this list. All the products in this list are either, whey concentrate, whey isolate or vegan, so, unfortunately, casein protein is not in there, but don’t worry – we’re sure you’ll see some protein sourced from brown rice to get you the vitamins and minerals you need.


Gold Standard Whey-Optimum Nutrition

Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey protein powder was voted the world’s tastiest protein in 2018. Alongside its great taste, it has a combination of high protein ingredients such as whey peptides and lecithin whey protein concentrate which gives it a protein content of 24 grams of protein per serving.

One of the main reasons why people stick to regular, high-protein foods is because of the protein-y aftertaste it leaves in your mouth. Gold Standard 100% Whey does exactly the opposite and combines all the amino acids into one protein shake that will give you the post-workout boost you need for muscle growth.

Gold Standard Whey also has a fabulous protein blend: whey protein isolates (contains Emulsifier, Soy Lecithin), Whey Protein Concentrate which contains whey peptides.

Some of the ingredients Gold Standard 100% Whey which we want to highlight are the sweeteners (Acesulfame Potassium & Sucralose), Enzyme Complex (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Beta-D-Galactosidase, Lipase) and it’s recommended that you should consume approximately 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day.

We stock Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey in a 908g version, a 2.2kg version and a 4.5kg version. All exactly the same product – just different sizes.

PhD Diet Whey

If you are on a weight management nutritional plan, then this product is for you – PhD Diet Whey is perhaps the most popular diet whey in the world. In the servings of diet whey, there are only 91 calories per 25g of protein, it’s brilliant with ice-cold water or as a milkshake to give you a high-quality protein shake on those working days when you feel drained.

If you’re looking to use diet whey daily then you can choose from a wide variety of flavours. Flavours include but not limited to Chocolate, Birthday Cake, Chocolate & Peanut, Chocolate Mint, Cherry Bakewell, Banana, Vanilla, Chocolate Orange and a delicious Belgian Chocolate flavour. The wide variety of flavours should help support adequate protein intake as you strive towards your goals.

If it’s ingredients you’re looking for, then PhD Diet Whey has Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, flavouring & CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) appear in the high-quality mixture as well as green tea extract & sodium chloride. PhD Diet Whey also has a unique protein blend: whey protein concentrate and milk protein.

We sell this market-leading diet whey in two sizes, the 1kg bag or the 2kg bag. Although, we do have a special offer on where you can get a 1kg bag of PhD Diet Whey & some Diet Whey bars for only £32.99.

Optimum Nutrition Vegan Protein

The second entry from Optimum Nutrition on this list. Vegan protein powder is so good even MensFitness are talking about it.

The protein powder contains a complete profile of amino acids and proteins, whilst not compromising any of the protein content due to it being vegan. The high protein blend comes from a variety of sources, mainly pea protein & brown rice protein which gives the Gold Standard 100% Plant Protein a very impressive 24g of protein per serving.

Whilst whey protein is traditionally the main protein powder in the world, we’re pretty sure that since there are no traces of animal or artificial colours inside this product that it’s going to be rising in popularity very soon!

If you don’t believe us, just look at the ingredients below!

Plant-Based Protein Blend (Organic Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Sacha Inchi Protein), Organic Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Natural Flavor, Organic Natural Flavor, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, AncienTrim Organic Grain Blend (Organic Amaranth, Organic Quinoa, Organic Buckwheat, Organic Millet, Organic Chia), Organic Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Organic Gum Arabic, Salt, Organic Pomegranate Powder, Cyanocobalamin.

We currently sell Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Plant Protein in a 684g tub which works out approximately £1 per serving.

MuscleTech NitroTech

Nitrotech is a high-quality protein powder made by Muscletech. Whether you’re using a glass or shaker cup, you can be assured that Muscletech has only put the cleanest and purest protein sources into their formula which also contains creatine monohydrate & amino acids.  The amount of protein in Nitrotech varies from product to product but we’re going to be focusing on Muscletech Performance Series’ version of Nitro-Tech.

The amount of protein in Nitro-Tech is a whopping 30g, in which a serving is only 1 scoop. The whey protein formula comes from whey protein isolate and whey concentrate which comes from the whey peptides.  It has much more strength than regular whey protein and it has plenty of sugar and carbs which helps keep you energised for the lean muscle and build more strength.

1 scoop of nitro tech is enough for anybody and even though the studied forms of creatine, it tastes unreal with cold water or skimmed milk.

 BSN Syntha-6 Edge

Reward your taste buds with BSN’s 1.8kg of Syntha-6 EDGE,  a great tasting, premium protein powder that can be enjoyed at any time of the day – it tastes so good you probably would drink it on cheat day as well.

Not to be confused with the BSN’s regular Syntha-6. Syntha-6 EDGE has more protein, fewer carbs and a cooler name. Designed to support the growth and maintenance of muscle mass, its ultra-premium power contains a full macronutrient profile that ensures your muscles will always be properly fed.

The unrivalled taste comes from its own unique flavour technology which makes protein supplementation easy. It’s protein sources contain soy, lecithin, sunflower oil & powder milk to make sure that you are getting the highest possible quality in your protein matrix. It even contains thickeners such as cellulose gum and xanthan gum, to add to the brilliant texture that the product has.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey vs. BSN Syntha-6 Edge

First up in our series where we review two different products from the same category, we have Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey and BSN Syntha-6 Edge. These two products are two of the most premium protein powders we have on offer. Their macronutrient profile makes them one of the best choices you can make whilst on your fitness journey.

Sources of protein foods are Chicken, Beef & Almonds but also you can source it from drinks such as mixed protein powder and RTG protein drinks. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to be focusing on the shakes.

Calories


In any fitness journey, you need to track your calorie intake, there’s no point doing all of the work to burn calories or build muscle if you’re eating too much. The number of calories you consume per day ultimately determines whether you’ll have enough energy to work out, or even put on more fat.

Gold Standard Whey contains 111kcal per serving whereas BSN Syntha-6 has 153kcal per serving. However, for the average man needs 56 grams of protein per day, therefore if we’re going to average it for the amount of you need per day then it would be 241kcal for Gold Standard Whey and 332kcal for Syntha-6. For women, it is recommended that they consume 46g of protein per day, that would mean Gold Standard Whey would be 213kcal and Syntha-6 would be 294kcal.

That means overall, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is less in calories.

Protein Content


We need protein to repair the muscles in our body when we’re working out, to ensure that we don’t damage our body by repetitive strain on our muscle groups.

Per serving, both Gold Standard Whey & Syntha-6 both have 24g of protein. However, Gold Standard Whey has a 30.7g scoop while Syntha-6 has a 37g scoop. This means that Gold Standard Whey is 78.17% protein whereas Syntha-6 is 64.86%.

That means, overall, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is higher in protein.

Price


For the price, we’re going to be using the 2.2 kg version of Gold Standard Whey, which currently retails on our website for £51.35 (as of 22/10/19) and the 1.8 kg tub of Syntha-6 Edge, which currently retails on our website for 35.95 (as of 22/10/19).

If you’re looking for a price per serving, Gold Standard Whey is 70p per serving whereas Syntha-6 Edge is 75p. However, I know that a lot of people want to know the price against the amount of protein they are getting, so let me run that down for you.

For every 100 grams of protein, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey costs £2.90 whilst BSN’s Syntha-6 Edge costs £3.12 per 100 grams of protein.

So why should I buy Syntha-6 Edge?
Based on this article, it looks clear as day that you should buy Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey, that’s not entirely true. Whilst Gold Standard Whey has better macros and better value-for-money, Syntha-6 has more carbs and fats. More carbs and fats in a protein shake can improve your efforts in muscle gain, and it will fill you up more if you’re looking to use protein powder as a makeshift meal replacement.

They’re both incredible protein powders, so why not check them out on our website.

Applied Nutrition Vegan-Pro vs Reflex Vegan Protein

Challenge two in our product comparison series, is between two plant-based protein heavyweights. These contenders are Applied Nutrition’s Vegan-Pro and Reflex’ Vegan Protein.

These two sources of protein are great for those on a vegan diet or vegetarian diet, wishing to find meat substitutes. Whilst meat may be a great source of protein, vegan protein is still protein rich. Although they help vegans and vegetarians, anyone can enjoy these plant proteins in their diet.

This article shows the benefits of consuming vegan protein. It also gives a comparison of two of the finest vegan proteins that help you reach your goals.


WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CONSUMING VEGAN PROTEIN POWDER?

There’s a reason why considerable amounts of athletes across many different sports are consuming more plant-based foods. Here are three primary reasons why supplementing with vegan protein powders are highly beneficial for you.


Reduce Inflammation

Certain types of animal protein products have been shown to cause swelling and inflammation in muscles and joints. This is the case in individuals who consume high volumes of dairy proteins. These may increase recovery time, causing your workouts to suffer as a result. Vegan protein sources have been shown to reduce this inflammation.

Many vegan protein powders offer anti inflammation properties. These may help improve joint mobility and has been shown to minimize joint problems. Many vegan proteins contain added properties that fight this. For instance, you can find plant-based protein powders with turmeric, cinnamon, green blends and other recovery properties.


Increase Recovery

Most plant proteins provide a higher rate of nutrient absorption compared to animal proteins. These more natural and digestible forms of plant-protein can increase the rate of recovery after exercise.

Plant-based proteins also tend to be lower in saturated fats and cholesterol, compared to proteins from milk, such as whey. This can therefore improve your heart health. A healthier heart also leads to faster recovery times.


Improve Digestion

Many plant protein foods can improve digestion within our bodies. This is because of the amount of fibre they contain to their animal product counterparts which contain minimal amounts. It is even more evident in certain legumes and seed- based proteins such as lentils, hemp seeds, chia seeds and peas. These contain a lot of fibre, all of which help digestion in your bodies.

Some animal proteins like whey can cause bloating and digestive issues in some individuals. Vegan proteins tend to digest easier and promote good processes within the body. This good digestion is ideal for all athletes as it helps you train better, so plant proteins are ideal. It is hard to train well when experiencing bad digestion.

By using the right combination of plant proteins, you can have all the same benefits as animal proteins, and more.


LET’S LOOK AT OUR CONTENDERS:

Applied Nutrition Vegan-Pro

The challenge commences with Applied Nutrition’s plant based protein. It is a high-quality protein powder containing a blend of Soya, Pea, Brown Rice & Hemp.

These help to increase your overall daily protein intake. It is a complete protein, containing the full range of your essential amino acids you need. These are the building blocks for muscle growth and repair. It has a high protein content, packing a hefty 24g of protein per serving.

It is a big contender in the vegan protein world and is a force to be reckoned with.


Reflex Vegan Protein

It’s close competitor follows with Reflex’s plant based protein. This plant food is made from pea protein and contains 18g protein per serving. It also contains LactoSpore, a friendly bacteria and digestive enzymes that aids nutrient absorption in your body.

It’s free from artificial sweeteners and sugars, is gluten free and free from soya, chemicals and GMO’s. It gives Applied nutrition’s Vegan-Pro a serious run for it’s money.


THEY BOTH LOOK GOOD, BUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE INDIVIDUALLY?

Calories

Calories are an important aspect of any person’s diet. Consume more than your body uses, you’ll gain weight, eat less calories than your body needs, then you’ll lose weight. Therefore, it’s important to know how much you are consuming to achieve your goals, whether that be weight gain or weight loss.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro protein powder contains 108 calories per 30 gram serving.

Reflex’s Vegan protein contains slightly less calories at 92 per serving. However, the serving size is 5 grams less than that of Applied Nutrition and works out at 110 calories when the same serving size of 30 grams.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro powder therefore has less calories than Reflex’s Vegan Protein. However, this is only by 2 calories, therefore the difference between the two is minimal.


Protein

Protein is the building block of everything in the body and especially important to building new muscle in the gym. If you fail to get enough protein it will be more difficult for your body to build more muscle in your body as there will be less protein synthesis. This is where vegan protein powders are a good source of protein as they can provide a large proportion of your daily requirements in one sitting.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro gives a whopping 24g of protein per 30g serving, this comes from a combination of Soya, Pea, Brown Rice & Hemp Protein to deliver a premium powder. This is also a complete protein source as the combination of different plant proteins fives the required amino acid profile your body needs.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein on the other hand gives 18g of protein per 25g serving, which works out at 22.8g of protein per 30g serving. This protein comes from peas only, so does not have the same amino acid profile Applied Nutrition’s protein powder has. However, pea protein is a powerful protein source and when included in your diet with other plant foods can still build muscle.

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Protein therefore has a slighter larger quantity of protein per serving but once again has a very similar amount to Reflex’s protein powder so does not vary greatly.


Nutritional Content

The nutritional content of the protein powders is important as they may help to achieve your goals better and achieve a balanced diet. Some proteins may contain different ingredients and will therefore change the nutritional content of one protein powder to another.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro contains very little amounts of Fat, Saturated Fat, Carbohydrates and Sugars. This therefore makes it a very useful product to include into your diet as it massively boosts your protein intake without impacting on your other macros.

As stated previously, it also contains all 9 essential amino acids needed for muscle growth and due to the variety of ingredients also contains more vitamins and minerals from the different protein sources. Furthermore, due to the hemp protein included, the protein will also include some omega-3 fatty acids that is also needed by your body for good health.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein has a very slight increase in fat and saturated fat but this is still very low and also has a low carbohydrate and sugar nutritional value like Applied Nutrition’s. However, it does not contain the same levels of vitamins and minerals Applied Nutrition’s vegan protein will contain. However, where this product gains an advantage is through the added digestive enzymes that make helps the body digest the protein which Applied Nutrition’s vegan protein does not have.


Price

Price is an important aspect of any purchasing decision so it is important to compare. Both products are 2.1kg in size and it is therefore easy to compare the price.

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro is currently retailing for £24.99 as of 29/01/2020, creating a serving cost of 35p.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein is currently retailing for £26.95 as of 29/01/2020 and has a serving cost of 32p

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Protein therefore has a cheaper overall cost but Reflex’s Vegan Protein has a cheaper cost per serving but this is because the serving sizes are 5g smaller.


SO WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro is clearly dominant in most areas and could be argued to be a better overall product to reach your fitness goals. However, Reflex’s Vegan Protein is a close competitor with elements Applied Nutrition does not have. Both are extremely good proteins and will help achieve your goals.

Want to purchase them now?

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro can be bought here

Reflex’s Vegan Protein can be bought here

Rich Piana 5150 Pre-Workout vs. Applied Nutrition ABE

Choosing a pre-workout that will fuel your workout can be a difficult decision, especially with the number of products that are on the market. Sometimes, you may find yourself choosing the most popular ones. That’s why we’re here today, to break down two of the most popular products, Rich Piana’s 5150 pre-workout and Applied Nutrition’s All Balck Everything (ABE).

What is Pre-Workout?

Pre-workout is a supplement that is sold by lots of companies, often promising you enhanced formulas that will benefit you during your workout (such as focus throughout your training). A lot of the time, their formula contains researched, active ingredients that give you continual focus.

Each pre-workout is different, each has its own formula that can help you in certain ways. Such as caffeine content, whether nitric oxide is present or whether it has natural flavouring. 

They’re often very high in caffeine formulas which gives you an extreme amount of energy and can increase physical performance.

Brief Overview of the Products

5150

Rich Piana’s 5150 is a high-caffeine pre-workout. Designed to give you the biggest pump possible.  Its high caffeine content is enough for two days, nevermind one. 5150 contains 6 different types of Caffeine and 4g of L-Citrulline to increase your energy and focus output.

With 3 delicious flavours to choose from, the mixture will leave a fruity taste in your mouth and prepare you properly for the workout ahead. The Guarana Extract (22%) Seed performs a vital role in the formula.

ALL BLACK EVERYTHING

Applied Nutrition ABE (All Black Everything) is a powerful pre-workout, it energises you, reduces tiredness and combats fatigue. It gives you laser focus throughout your gym sessions to boost your workout potential. ABE comes in multiple flavours such as Bubblegum, Candy Ice Blast, Cherry Cola & many more.

ABE also delivers a unique blend of the most vital and researched active ingredients to help you combat fatigue and provide continual support to your body throughout your workout.

Calories & Ingredients

No matter whether you’re trying to gain or lose weight, or even maintain your weight – counting your calories is essential during your journey. Thankfully, pre-workout tastes horrible with milk (one of the only drawbacks of protein powder is how great it tastes with milk).

Applied Nutrition’s ABE only contains one calorie per its 10.5g serving and contains 200mg of caffeine per serving. This is alongside 3.25g of Creatine, 2g of Beta-Alanine, 4g of Citrulline Malate and a significant amount of Vitamin B3 & B12.

Rich Piana’s 5150, on the other hand, is harder. We cannot find an accurate calorie count for the pre-workout, but the good news is since it’s a pre-workout we can’t imagine it being that much in the slightest – so nothing to worry about there. Their ‘Stim-Crazy Caffeine Complex’ includes Caffeine Anhydrous, Dicaffeine Malate, Green Tea Leaf, Yerba Mate Extract Leaf, Guarana Extract Seed & Green Coffee Bean Extract Seed.

Alongside that, it also offers you 4g of L-Citrulline per serving, 2,000mg of L-Taurine and 1,000mg of Vitamin B12. 5150 also contains Choline Bitartrate, a highly effective molecule which acts as a neurotransmitter for brain function.

Price Breakdown

As of the 4th of February 2020, we currently sell Rich Piana 5150 pre-workout for £22.49 & Applied Nutrition ABE for £17.95. This means that 5150 is only 75p per serving and ABE is only 60p, although if you wanted to have the same amount of caffeine as 5150 in your ABE mixture, that would go to £1.20 per serving as you’d effectively be putting two scoops in instead of one.

Reviews & Recommendations

An SS Healthfoods recommendation is that ABE is a better pre-workout across the board because it contains high amounts of creatine and beta-alanine, with a still high amount of caffeine. If you’re a seasoned gym veteran with a high tolerance to caffeine then 5150 is for you. Today.com states that caffeine can help you stop and focus, and if that’s what a cup of coffee can do, imagine what almost 10 shots of espresso can do.

Don’t just take our word for it, here are some reviews we found online.

Rich Piana’s 5150 is rated 4.5/5 stars on SupplementReviews.com with multiple users commenting on how long and effective the pump is at getting them through their workouts.

FitnessDealNews.com also mirrors what Supplement Reviews said and went into further detail on how the pure Citrulline works by saying “First, this is not Citrulline Malate, This is pure Citrulline. And at 4g, it is a really high number compared to other pre-workouts – And that is a good thing. L-Citrulline is known to be effective in increasing muscle pump and reducing muscular soreness.”

BastardsOfIron.com loves Applied Nutrition ABE, it was said in the article “I would recommend ABE if you have experienced stim based pre-workouts before but if you haven’t I would suggest on trying something a little less potent and building up to ABE”. Which is fair, but you also have to test every other pre-workouts potency and assess your tolerance to it.

Applied Nutrition Vegan-Pro vs Reflex Vegan Protein

Challenge two in our product comparison series, is between two plant-based protein heavyweights. These contenders are Applied Nutrition’s Vegan-Pro and Reflex’ Vegan Protein.

These two sources of protein are great for those on a vegan diet or vegetarian diet, wishing to find meat substitutes. Whilst meat may be a great source of protein, vegan protein is still protein rich. Although they help vegans and vegetarians, anyone can enjoy these plant proteins in their diet.

This article shows the benefits of consuming vegan protein. It also gives a comparison of two of the finest vegan proteins that help you reach your goals.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CONSUMING VEGAN PROTEIN POWDER?

There’s a reason why considerable amounts of athletes across many different sports are consuming more plant-based foods. Here are three primary reasons why supplementing with vegan protein powders are highly beneficial for you.

Reduce Inflammation

Certain types of animal protein products have been shown to cause swelling and inflammation in muscles and joints. This is the case in individuals who consume high volumes of dairy proteins. These may increase recovery time, causing your workouts to suffer as a result. Vegan protein sources have been shown to reduce this inflammation.

Many vegan protein powders offer anti inflammation properties. These may help improve joint mobility and has been shown to minimize joint problems. Many vegan proteins contain added properties that fight this. For instance, you can find plant-based protein powders with turmeric, cinnamon, green blends and other recovery properties.

Increase Recovery

Most plant proteins provide a higher rate of nutrient absorption compared to animal proteins. These more natural and digestible forms of plant-protein can increase the rate of recovery after exercise.

Plant-based proteins also tend to be lower in saturated fats and cholesterol, compared to proteins from milk, such as whey. This can therefore improve your heart health. A healthier heart also leads to faster recovery times.

Improve Digestion

Many plant protein foods can improve digestion within our bodies. This is because of the amount of fibre they contain to their animal product counterparts which contain minimal amounts. It is even more evident in certain legumes and seed- based proteins such as lentils, hemp seeds, chia seeds and peas. These contain a lot of fibre, all of which help digestion in your bodies.

Some animal proteins like whey can cause bloating and digestive issues in some individuals. Vegan proteins tend to digest easier and promote good processes within the body. This good digestion is ideal for all athletes as it helps you train better, so plant proteins are ideal. It is hard to train well when experiencing bad digestion.

By using the right combination of plant proteins, you can have all the same benefits as animal proteins, and more.

LET’S LOOK AT OUR CONTENDERS:

Applied Nutrition Vegan-Pro

The challenge commences with Applied Nutrition’s plant based protein. It is a high-quality protein powder containing a blend of Soya, Pea, Brown Rice & Hemp.

These help to increase your overall daily protein intake. It is a complete protein, containing the full range of your essential amino acids you need. These are the building blocks for muscle growth and repair. It has a high protein content, packing a hefty 24g of protein per serving.

It is a big contender in the vegan protein world and is a force to be reckoned with.

Reflex Vegan Protein

It’s close competitor follows with Reflex’s plant based protein. This plant food is made from pea protein and contains 18g protein per serving. It also contains LactoSpore, a friendly bacteria and digestive enzymes that aids nutrient absorption in your body.

It’s free from artificial sweeteners and sugars, is gluten free and free from soya, chemicals and GMO’s. It gives Applied nutrition’s Vegan-Pro a serious run for it’s money.

THEY BOTH LOOK GOOD, BUT HOW DO THEY COMPARE INDIVIDUALLY?

Calories

Calories are an important aspect of any person’s diet. Consume more than your body uses, you’ll gain weight, eat less calories than your body needs, then you’ll lose weight. Therefore, it’s important to know how much you are consuming to achieve your goals, whether that be weight gain or weight loss.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro protein powder contains 108 calories per 30 gram serving.

Reflex’s Vegan protein contains slightly less calories at 92 per serving. However, the serving size is 5 grams less than that of Applied Nutrition and works out at 110 calories when the same serving size of 30 grams.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro powder therefore has less calories than Reflex’s Vegan Protein. However, this is only by 2 calories, therefore the difference between the two is minimal.

Protein

Protein is the building block of everything in the body and especially important to building new muscle in the gym. If you fail to get enough protein it will be more difficult for your body to build more muscle in your body as there will be less protein synthesis. This is where vegan protein powders are a good source of protein as they can provide a large proportion of your daily requirements in one sitting.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro gives a whopping 24g of protein per 30g serving, this comes from a combination of Soya, Pea, Brown Rice & Hemp Protein to deliver a premium powder. This is also a complete protein source as the combination of different plant proteins fives the required amino acid profile your body needs.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein on the other hand gives 18g of protein per 25g serving, which works out at 22.8g of protein per 30g serving. This protein comes from peas only, so does not have the same amino acid profile Applied Nutrition’s protein powder has. However, pea protein is a powerful protein source and when included in your diet with other plant foods can still build muscle.

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Protein therefore has a slighter larger quantity of protein per serving but once again has a very similar amount to Reflex’s protein powder so does not vary greatly.

Nutritional Content

The nutritional content of the protein powders is important as they may help to achieve your goals better and achieve a balanced diet. Some proteins may contain different ingredients and will therefore change the nutritional content of one protein powder to another.

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro contains very little amounts of Fat, Saturated Fat, Carbohydrates and Sugars. This therefore makes it a very useful product to include into your diet as it massively boosts your protein intake without impacting on your other macros.

As stated previously, it also contains all 9 essential amino acids needed for muscle growth and due to the variety of ingredients also contains more vitamins and minerals from the different protein sources. Furthermore, due to the hemp protein included, the protein will also include some omega-3 fatty acids that is also needed by your body for good health.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein has a very slight increase in fat and saturated fat but this is still very low and also has a low carbohydrate and sugar nutritional value like Applied Nutrition’s. However, it does not contain the same levels of vitamins and minerals Applied Nutrition’s vegan protein will contain. However, where this product gains an advantage is through the added digestive enzymes that make helps the body digest the protein which Applied Nutrition’s vegan protein does not have.

Price

Price is an important aspect of any purchasing decision so it is important to compare. Both products are 2.1kg in size and it is therefore easy to compare the price.

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro is currently retailing for £24.99 as of 29/01/2020, creating a serving cost of 35p.

Reflex’s Vegan Protein is currently retailing for £26.95 as of 29/01/2020 and has a serving cost of 32p

Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Protein therefore has a cheaper overall cost but Reflex’s Vegan Protein has a cheaper cost per serving but this is because the serving sizes are 5g smaller.

SO WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?

The Applied Nutrition’s Vegan Pro is clearly dominant in most areas and could be argued to be a better overall product to reach your fitness goals. However, Reflex’s Vegan Protein is a close competitor with elements Applied Nutrition does not have. Both are extremely good proteins and will help achieve your goals.

Want to purchase them now?

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Gold Standard Whey vs. BSN Syntha-6 Edge

First up in our series where we review two different products from the same category, we have Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey and BSN Syntha-6 Edge.

These two products are two of the most premium protein powders we have on offer. Their macronutrient profile makes them one of the best choices you can make whilst on your fitness journey.

Sources of protein foods are Chicken, Beef & Almonds but also you can source it from drinks such as mixed protein powder and RTG protein drinks. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to be focusing on the shakes.

[woodmart_title align=”left” style=”bordered” title=”Calories” woodmart_css_id=”5db2fdb17e0f0″ woodmart_empty_space=”” title_width=”100″]

In any fitness journey, you need to track your calorie intake, there’s no point doing all of the work to burn calories or build muscle if you’re eating too much. The number of calories you consume per day ultimately determines whether you’ll have enough energy to work out, or even put on more fat.

Gold Standard Whey contains 111kcal per serving whereas BSN Syntha-6 has 153kcal per serving. However, for the average man needs 56 grams of protein per day, therefore if we’re going to average it for the amount of you need per day then it would be 241kcal for Gold Standard Whey and 332kcal for Syntha-6. For women, it is recommended that they consume 46g of protein per day, that would mean Gold Standard Whey would be 213kcal and Syntha-6 would be 294kcal.

That means overall, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is less in calories.

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We need protein to repair the muscles in our body when we’re working out, to ensure that we don’t damage our body by repetitive strain on our muscle groups.

Per serving, both Gold Standard Whey & Syntha-6 both have 24g of protein. However, Gold Standard Whey has a 30.7g scoop while Syntha-6 has a 37g scoop. This means that Gold Standard Whey is 78.17% protein whereas Syntha-6 is 64.86%.

That means, overall, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is higher in protein.

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For the price, we’re going to be using the 2.2 kg version of Gold Standard Whey, which currently retails on our website for £51.35 (as of 22/10/19) and the 1.8 kg tub of Syntha-6 Edge, which currently retails on our website for 35.95 (as of 22/10/19).

If you’re looking for a price per serving, Gold Standard Whey is 70p per serving whereas Syntha-6 Edge is 75p. However, I know that a lot of people want to know the price against the amount of protein they are getting, so let me run that down for you.

For every 100 grams of protein, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey costs £2.90 whilst BSN’s Syntha-6 Edge costs £3.12 per 100 grams of protein.

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Based on this article, it looks clear as day that you should buy Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey, that’s not entirely true.

Whilst Gold Standard Whey has better macros and better value-for-money, Syntha-6 has more carbs and fats. More carbs and fats in a protein shake can improve your efforts in muscle gain, and it will fill you up more if you’re looking to use protein powder as a makeshift meal replacement.

They’re both incredible protein powders, so why not check them out on our website.

Rich Piana 5150 Pre-Workout vs. Applied Nutrition ABE

Choosing a pre-workout that will fuel your workout can be a difficult decision, especially with the number of products that are on the market. Sometimes, you may find yourself choosing the most popular ones. That’s why we’re here today, to break down two of the most popular products, Rich Piana’s 5150 pre-workout and Applied Nutrition’s All Balck Everything (ABE).

 

What is Pre-Workout?

 

Pre-workout is a supplement that is sold by lots of companies, often promising you enhanced formulas that will benefit you during your workout (such as focus throughout your training). A lot of the time, their formula contains researched, active ingredients that give you continual focus.

Each pre-workout is different, each has its own formula that can help you in certain ways. Such as caffeine content, whether nitric oxide is present or whether it has natural flavouring. 

They’re often very high in caffeine formulas which gives you an extreme amount of energy and can increase physical performance.

 

Brief Overview of the Products

 

5150

Rich Piana’s 5150 is a high-caffeine pre-workout. Designed to give you the biggest pump possible.  Its high caffeine content is enough for two days, nevermind one. 5150 contains 6 different types of Caffeine and 4g of L-Citrulline to increase your energy and focus output.

With 3 delicious flavours to choose from, the mixture will leave a fruity taste in your mouth and prepare you properly for the workout ahead. The Guarana Extract (22%) Seed performs a vital role in the formula.

 

ALL BLACK EVERYTHING

Applied Nutrition ABE (All Black Everything) is a powerful pre-workout, it energises you, reduces tiredness and combats fatigue. It gives you laser focus throughout your gym sessions to boost your workout potential. ABE comes in multiple flavours such as Bubblegum, Candy Ice Blast, Cherry Cola & many more.

ABE also delivers a unique blend of the most vital and researched active ingredients to help you combat fatigue and provide continual support to your body throughout your workout.

 

Calories & Ingredients

No matter whether you’re trying to gain or lose weight, or even maintain your weight – counting your calories is essential during your journey. Thankfully, pre-workout tastes horrible with milk (one of the only drawbacks of protein powder is how great it tastes with milk).

Applied Nutrition’s ABE only contains one calorie per its 10.5g serving and contains 200mg of caffeine per serving. This is alongside 3.25g of Creatine, 2g of Beta-Alanine, 4g of Citrulline Malate and a significant amount of Vitamin B3 & B12.

Rich Piana’s 5150, on the other hand, is harder. We cannot find an accurate calorie count for the pre-workout, but the good news is since it’s a pre-workout we can’t imagine it being that much in the slightest – so nothing to worry about there. Their ‘Stim-Crazy Caffeine Complex’ includes Caffeine Anhydrous, Dicaffeine Malate, Green Tea Leaf, Yerba Mate Extract Leaf, Guarana Extract Seed & Green Coffee Bean Extract Seed.

Alongside that, it also offers you 4g of L-Citrulline per serving, 2,000mg of L-Taurine and 1,000mg of Vitamin B12. 5150 also contains Choline Bitartrate, a highly effective molecule which acts as a neurotransmitter for brain function.

 

Price Breakdown

As of the 4th of February 2020, we currently sell Rich Piana 5150 pre-workout for £22.49 & Applied Nutrition ABE for £17.95. This means that 5150 is only 75p per serving and ABE is only 60p, although if you wanted to have the same amount of caffeine as 5150 in your ABE mixture, that would go to £1.20 per serving as you’d effectively be putting two scoops in instead of one.

 

Reviews & Recommendations

An SS Healthfoods recommendation is that ABE is a better pre-workout across the board because it contains high amounts of creatine and beta-alanine, with a still high amount of caffeine. If you’re a seasoned gym veteran with a high tolerance to caffeine then 5150 is for you. Today.com states that caffeine can help you stop and focus, and if that’s what a cup of coffee can do, imagine what almost 10 shots of espresso can do.

Don’t just take our word for it, here are some reviews we found online.

Rich Piana’s 5150 is rated 4.5/5 stars on SupplementReviews.com with multiple users commenting on how long and effective the pump is at getting them through their workouts.

FitnessDealNews.com also mirrors what Supplement Reviews said and went into further detail on how the pure Citrulline works by saying “First, this is not Citrulline Malate, This is pure Citrulline. And at 4g, it is a really high number compared to other pre-workouts – And that is a good thing. L-Citrulline is known to be effective in increasing muscle pump and reducing muscular soreness.”

BastardsOfIron.com loves Applied Nutrition ABE, it was said in the article “I would recommend ABE if you have experienced stim based pre-workouts before but if you haven’t I would suggest on trying something a little less potent and building up to ABE”. Which is fair, but you also have to test every other pre-workouts potency and assess your tolerance to it.

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