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.