Monday, June 25, 2012

PROtein POWder

When the opportunity to review several different protein powders from GNC came my way, you bet I was all over it. I have long been a believer in supplemental protein and often use them as a meal replacement (mostly breakfast) and for recovery after a tough or long workout.

Protein powder used to be something reserved for bodybuilders seeking muscle growth however, protein powder supplements are now consumed by a much wider range of the population including the recreational to competitive athlete, health-seekers and those just looking to supplement their everyday diet. Even the elderly are adding protein supplementation to their diet to maintain muscle and bone health. 


There are several types of protein powders and there is a choice for every type of lifestyle out there-from egg protein to the popular vegan brand, Vega. Over the next few weeks, I'll be testing out different protein sources and talking about them here!


First up was the GNC Pro Performance 100% Egg Protein in Chocolate.


 I made my first egg white protein shake for breakfast and decided to make one of my very favorite shakes-one that I call the Green Monkey:


8 oz of your favorite milk (I use almond or coconut)
1 frozen banana
1TB natty PB
1 BIG handfull of baby spinach
1 scoop of Chocolate 100% Egg Protein Powder














Mix everything up in your blender-I love my GNC On-The-GO Blender (read about it here).
Just toss everything into the cup, pop it onto the blender base and viola, DONE!

I made several variations of the typical kicked up smoothie--using frozen strawberries and even having just plain with only almond milk.

What are my thoughts on the GNC 100% Egg Protein Powder?

The Good Stuff:

  • low in sugar (1g/serving) 
  • high in protein for 1 scoop (25g/serving) equal to 4 egg whites
  • low in fat (.5g/serving)
  • egg albumin is easy to digest and absorb and contains 9 essential amino acids 
  • great option for lactose free diets
  • this basic powder allows you to bulk it up if you want (ie add in some fruit carbs) but it's basic makeup makes it great for leaning out too. Versatile


The Could-Be-Better Stuff:

  • chocolate flavor was kind of dull, I was expecting a richer chocolate taste
  • the powder was the "stickiest" of them all, meaning it would stick to the side of the blender almost every time
  • *high in sodium (490mg/serving) and potassium (400mg/serving)
  • it made me gassy 

*while this is not a huge issue for me as an endurance athlete, if I were focusing on getting lean and ripped, this extra sodium could cause bloating and diminish the appearance of lean muscle.


NEXT : Vega Performance Protein Powder


I received these protein products from GNC for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

11 comments:

ConcreteNCoffee said...

I'm cheap- I use Publix "Greenwise" whey protein. The vanilla tastes great- I usually use it with frozen banana, frozen berries, almond milk and yogurt to make an ultra-thick smoothie that will keep me full a little bit longer than a regular lunch (which, is like 20 minutes, haha).

ONEHOURIRONMAN said...

Dont forget to put in a little L-Glutamine to help restore muscles. Works like a wonder.

MizFit said...

I love my GNC egg protein but yes.
youre right about the gassy :-)
I eat it sparingly :)

Unknown said...

That is so funny, I thought the egg protein was the best in the bunch! I loved everything about it and haven't been able to stop eating it haha. Can't wait for your review of the others!

Katie @wishandwhimsy said...

I LOVE the egg protein powder. I make a very similar shake and use that powder. It's my favorite from GNC.

Jody - Fit at 54 said...

Thx for great review & yes, I have gassy issues too - with lots of food including eggs.. ;-)

Rachel @ Runner's Tales said...

I really like the Egg Protein. I think that it was the easiest to mix. I do agree that the flavor was a little bland though.

Jamie said...

I like the egg protein! I have noticed that some of the powders do stick to the side of the blender more than others too. I think when mixed with other ingredients this protein powder tastes really good.

PavementRunner said...

Thanks for the info... I'm always on the fence about powders and supplements. I know they are good for you and it makes sense to have them included in your diet. I guess I'm just weird about it. Great post!

Charissa said...

I love GNC...and the egg protein sounds like something I really need to try!

Running With The Girls said...

Great review!!! I have enough issues being gassy and wouldn't need any additional help!