Yo,
There are numerous protein powders, more than you can imagine most likely. Before we go through the subject of today’s question, I’d like to ask you to simply type in your search engine the term:
Protein powder
You are most likely going to be shown some form of whey protein powder as a result of the algorithm and paid ads. Many individuals, like myself previously, when considering buying protein powder only look at whey protein powder because those are the only options that appear. The question of “What are the different types of protein powders?” Doesn’t normally come to mind because of this.
The truth is that there are more than 10 types of protein powders on the market and there will be even more to arise in the future. We will not be going into extreme depth for a few reasons.
1. We would be here all day because of all the information that is available.
2. If you’re like me, you just want a good enough explanation to understand what each option is, rather than a full dietary explanation outlining each minor and specific detail.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that the question of “Which is the best protein powder?” Will depend on you and the manufacturer. Everyone has different needs and each manufacturer has different quality standards and utilises some different ingredients.
Alright, let’s get into it!
Whey Variants
Although it’s the most common, I feel like it’s still necessary to explain the whey protein variants. If you want an explanation about how each of these is made, you can check it out here.
Standard Whey Protein Concentrate: So this is the most popular I’d say. It’s the protein from whey, contained in milk. So this isn’t dairy free. The powder is about 70-80% protein and the remainder is fat and carbohydrates. It undergoes less processing than the next protein powder variant. This option is also quite cheaper than the other whey protein powders.
Whey Isolate: This is what I use on the regular and have been using for a while. Similar to concentrate, whey isolate is also made from milk, however, it undergoes more processing than concentrate. This is to maximise the percentage of protein in the final product and the end product is about 90-95% protein. Consequently, there are fewer carbohydrates and fats within the final product. People who want a supplement that maximises protein normally use this option.
Whey hydrolysate: In my opinion, this is the least known variant of whey protein powder options. It is still made from milk, but the whey protein goes through hydrolysis. Hydrolysis involves the process of breaking down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids through the addition of water and enzymes. This is why whey hydrolysate protein powder is known to be easier to be for digestion in the body since the proteins are basically “pre-digested”. Many athletes also use it for this reason, but it is more expensive.
So whey protein isolate is the most processed but contains the most protein.
Whey hydrolysate undergoes hydrolysis and is the easiest to absorb for the body.
Whey protein concentrate is the cheapest of all and undergoes less processing than the others.
Casein Protein Powder
Casein protein powder is a protein powder that is derived from casein. Casein is found in milk, just like whey is.
If you didn’t know, milk contains two types of proteins and they’re whey and casein.
Casein is 80% of the milk protein, whilst whey is the remaining 20%. Moreover, casein protein is digested quite quickly and provides all the essential amino acids to build muscle.
Vegan Options
The variety for vegan protein powder options seems endless. Quite frankly, I didn’t even know half of these options existed until around halfway through my fitness journey. However, I want you to know early, so check these out. 
Pea protein powder: So this is a protein powder that comes from the protein within peas. It is a good source of iron and is known to have a smooth texture.
Hemp protein powder: Hemp protein powder is a protein powder that is derived from hemp seeds. Including the 9 essential amino acids, this protein powder actually has 20 amino acids. Furthermore, hemp protein powder has more healthy omega fats and fibres than other protein powders.
Brown Rice protein powder: As the name suggests, this a protein powder made from brown rice. Although it is most likely the least known and common, it is still a good source of protein powder as it is low in both carbohydrates and fats (so most people would find this ideal for a fat-loss phase). This protein powder also contains a significant amount of antioxidants.
Mixed Plants protein powder: This is essentially a mix and match of the previous vegan options we have gone through, plus many more. This mix can include peas, soy, hemp, brown rice, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and more. As a result of combining these different options, it creates a balanced amino profile, since different options have different amino profiles. However, just because it’s a mixed plant protein powder, does not mean that it’s better than brown rice or a pea protein powder for example. You always have to check the ingredients, protein and overall quality of the potential option.
Egg Protein Powder
Let’s move on from the vegan options and go through the protein powder that is derived from Eggs
This protein powder comes from egg whites in whole eggs. Egg protein powder contains all the essential amino acids and is typically low in carbohydrates and fats.
Collagen Protein Powder
Last but not least, let’s go through Collagen protein powders.
Collagen protein powder is typically made from animals and their respective connective tissue, such as cows and fish. Essentially, collagen is a protein found in the connective tissue, skin, tendon, bone and cartilage.
Collagen is good for skin health, joint function and overall health. It’s also believed to be good for bone health. So not only are you gaining a protein supplement, but you receive all these other benefits.
Unfortunately, though, it does not contain all the essential amino acids.
Conclusion
So there we have it, a straight-to-the-point explanation about the various protein powders on the market. The market is diverse, like an ocean, so you must know how to navigate this ocean with a boat. This article is your boat.
As always, it’s very much possible to achieve all your fitness goals without protein powder, but if you wish to use it, I hope this article is of use to you. Don’t hesitate to leave any comments or questions as well
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time.
