If you want a protein powder to strengthen your muscles and support weight loss, it’s better to opt for unflavored supplements. What are the advantages of taking unflavored protein powders?

While it’s a reality that protein supplements can rev up your energy levels and help you build up those toned muscles you’ve always dreamed of, most of them contain artificial flavoring. Let’s be honest here; most of us would find it difficult to consume a protein shake that’s in its natural state as it tends to have a typically chalky flavor.

The problem arises because most manufacturers like to use chemical or artificial flavoring to add to the taste factor. Your basic idea behind opting for protein shakes is to boost your fitness levels; why choose to meddle with allergy-producing additives?

Protein powders typically come with three choices regarding flavoring: Unflavored (the best option), naturally flavored (also good as the ingredients are all organic) or artificial flavoring. One thing you need to keep in mind that flavoring has no impact on nutrition, it’s only added to enhance taste.

If you’re allergic to certain additives, then you need to watch out for flavoring ingredients. They are indicated on product labels. If you’re wondering why manufacturers are fond of using artificial flavoring, there are several reasons for them to do so.

Firstly, it costs much less to use artificial flavoring, they usually buy these flavorings directly from other companies. Secondly, you can get exactly the taste you want. Thirdly, you need to use very little to get a strong flavor. While they are looking at their convenience, you have to look after yours.

If you do not suffer from any allergies and are okay with flavoring, there’s no problem at all. You can go right ahead and choose whatever flavor you’re partial to. But if you have an allergy problem, then you need to watch out for the flavoring ingredients.

The biggest challenge arises when you have to understand which ingredients have been used in the flavoring. Manufacturers claim that their recipes will be copied by others and hide under what they call a ‘patented formula’. Patented formula means that the label will say ‘Flavoring added’ but will make no mention of the ingredients involved. Avoid such protein supplement products.

In that case, it makes sense to opt for a naturally flavored protein powder supplement or better still for an unflavored product. Choose to spend your hard-earned money on a product that is clear and transparent about what’s in it. As a rule of thumb, naturally flavored protein powders tend to be more expensive as they use organic ingredients in their formulation.

Review of the Best Unflavored Whey Protein Powder Supplement

Lindberg Natural Whey protein

This product brings you the goodness of whey without any artificial flavoring. The whey proteins have been filtered to eliminate excess fats, carbohydrates and lactose so it’s great for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.

Lindberg Natural Whey protein is only mildly sweetened (with Stevia, a natural sweetening agent) and can double up as a pre or post workout supplement. Moreover, it’s a good choice for weight loss as it’s a low carbohydrate product.

The natural sweetener Stevia is less intense compared to artificial flavoring so you can easily mix this with strawberries or juice to make a delicious drink.