
Clean Protein Powders, The Ultimate Comparison
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Finding a truly clean protein powder can feel overwhelming. With countless brands marketing their products as “natural,” “organic,” or “clean,” it’s difficult to know which ones actually live up to the hype.
Many protein powders contain hidden additives, questionable sourcing practices, or undisclosed heavy metal contamination, making it essential to look beyond the marketing and dig into the details.
This guide will break down how to evaluate a clean protein powder—covering protein types, ingredient quality, third-party testing, and more—before diving into a detailed brand comparison to help you make the best choice.
This article may contain affiliate links.
What To Look For In A Clean Protein Powder
Protein Source & Type
Before anything else, it’s important to understand where the protein is coming from and whether it aligns with your dietary needs and lifestyle. There are generally two types of protein categories: animal-based and plant-based.
Animal-Based Proteins:
- Whey Protein – Sourced from dairy, whey is a complete protein with a strong amino acid profile for muscle repair. Look for grass-fed, non-GMO, and cold-processed options to avoid hormones, antibiotics, and denatured proteins.
- Beef Protein – Usually made from hydrolyzed beef collagen or beef isolate. A good option for someone who needs dairy-free.
- Collagen & Bone Broth Protein – Sourced from animal bones, collagen is not a complete protein but is beneficial for skin, joints, and gut health.
Ideally, animal-based proteins should be grass-fed and pasture-raised with non-GMO certification. Cold-Processing (usually noted as "undenatured") preserves amino acid integrity and avoids high-heat denaturation. Denaturation happens when proteins are exposed to high heat, acids, or harsh processing. This doesn’t make them useless, but it can reduce their bioavailability and may damage some of the beneficial compounds. Undenatured protein is typically cold-processed or minimally processed to help preserve the full amino acid profile and nutrients.
Plant-Based Proteins:
- Pea Protein – One of the most popular vegan options, but sourcing is crucial as pea proteins often test high for heavy metals like lead and cadmium.
- Rice Protein – Can complement pea protein for a complete amino acid profile, but rice is a crop that absorbs arsenic from the soil.
- Hemp & Pumpkin Protein – More natural, minimally processed options, but often lower in total protein content per serving.
Ideally, plant-based proteins should be organic to minimize pesticide exposure, including glyphosate. However, it's important to note that organic certification does not guarantee a product is free from heavy metals. Many naturally occurring elements, including lead, can be present in the soil and absorbed by plants. To ensure safety, look for brands that conduct third-party testing and disclose their heavy metal contamination levels.
Hexane is often used in pea protein processing—opt for brands that confirm they don’t use solvents. If the brand is organic, then they cannot use hexane to extract the pea protein.
Other Ingredients
A clean protein powder should have a recognizable ingredient list made up of mostly whole food ingredients. Many brands sneak in artificial flavors, emulsifiers, gums, or sweeteners that can undermine the health benefits and destroy your gut.
Good Ingredients:
- Organic or high-quality sources.
- Natural, minimal sweeteners (monk fruit, coconut sugar, stevia leaf, honey, maple syrup).
- Whole-food flavor additions (cacao, vanilla bean, dried strawberry).
Ingredients to Avoid:
- Artificial Sweeteners and Certain Sugars – Sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids. Better choice sweeteners would include: monk fruit, coconut sugar, stevia leaf, honey or maple syrup.
- Artificial Flavors - A vague term that often hides dozens of undisclosed additives. Made in a lab. Protected by "trade secret" and not required to be disclosed by companies.
- Emulsifiers & Fillers – Carrageenan, xanthan gum, lecithins. Gums are omnipresent in our food system. It is best to avoid them because they can disrupt your gut. Your gut health plays a critical role in overall well-being, influencing everything from digestion and nutrient absorption to immune function and mental health (source) . Emerging research suggests that certain emulsifiers may alter gut bacteria and contribute to inflammation, which is why many prefer to limit or avoid them when possible (source).
- Natural Flavors – A vague term that often hides dozens of undisclosed additives. Natural flavors are not that much different from artificial flavors. They are highly processed mixtures that can contain dozens of undisclosed components derived from both natural and synthetic sources. The FDA allows companies to keep these ingredients proprietary, meaning consumers don’t truly know what’s inside. Some natural flavors may contain solvent residues, preservatives, and hidden allergens. The only requirement is that the ingredient start from a natural source, but that doesn't mean it remains natural. Most natural flavors are not much different from artificial flavors.
Of the protein powders we looked at, time and time again the most concerning ingredient for most of these were the natural flavors. If the brand can fully disclose their natural flavor, you may decide to make an exception. However, I would urge you to press brands on why they cannot call their natural flavor an "organic natural flavor" which certifies that the flavor is extracted using more natural methods.
Ingredient Sourcing
Many companies use buzzwords like "clean" or "natural" without backing it up with transparent sourcing information. Don't be afraid to "fact check" brands by pressing them for more information about their ingredient sourcing:
✅ Green flags we like to see:
- Organic certification (if plant-based)
- Grass-fed or pasture-raised (if whey or collagen-based)
- Undenatured
- Non-GMO verification
- Origin transparency
- Explanation of how ingredients are made
One of the biggest gray areas in ingredient transparency is natural flavors. Brands often make various claims about their natural flavors, such as being "distilled vapors" or "free from chemical processing." While the composition of natural flavors can vary widely, we prefer to see brands that can at least confirm their natural flavors are organic. This provides a higher level of assurance regarding ingredient sourcing and processing. Read our article on organic natural flavors to learn why this distinction offers more transparency and certainty.
Heavy Metals and Third Party Testing
Many protein powders—especially plant-based ones—have been found to contain lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury due to soil contamination. Unfortunately, the only way to know the heavy metal status of your protein powder is to look for third party certifications.
- Third-Party Testing: Check for brands that provide lab results for heavy metals.
- Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Choice, Clean Label Project, GMP are good signs of quality control.
- Consumer Reports & Lab Tests: Some independent tests (like those from the Clean Label Project) have exposed high contamination in certain brands.
It's important to note here that even if the brand provides third-party testing for heavy metals, it does not mean it is heavy-metal-free. Heavy metals will still be present. The peace of mind that this provides is that the levels are being monitored and controlled as to not exceed a certain threshold. In addition, brands set their own standards for "acceptable levels" so it's best to ask for their COA so you can decide if the levels meet your standards.
Should you be afraid of heavy metals?
This is a topic that understandably makes a lot of people uneasy. The truth is, elements like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury naturally exist in our environment, and no matter how cleanly we live, we can’t avoid them entirely. Whole food-based products like greens, root vegetables, and even protein powders may contain trace amounts, simply because they’re grown in soil. That doesn’t make them unsafe—it just means we need to stay aware and informed.
The most concerning sources of heavy metal exposure tend to come from older homes with lead paint or pipes, industrial pollution, contaminated water, and imported cosmetics or cookware with lax safety standards.
If you’re truly concerned, the most grounded thing you can do is get a simple blood test to check your lead levels and talk with your provider. My goal isn’t to instill fear—it’s to empower. Avoiding Earth-grown foods because they contain trace minerals is like refusing to breathe air because it might not be 100% pure. Awareness is key, but fear doesn’t have to be your guide.
For the brands that provided their heavy metal test results, I converted them to ppb to make it easy to compare among the choices on this list. Some definitely tested better than others, but it's never zero!
Do I Need A Complete Protein?
It depends. I have to thank my fitness friends for putting me on to this detail. Some of you might be hearing this term for the first time. A complete protein contains all nine essential amino acids in sufficient amounts to support bodily functions. These essential amino acids are called "essential" because our bodies cannot produce them—we must obtain them from food.
The Nine Essential Amino Acids & Their Roles:
- Histidine – Supports growth, tissue repair, and the production of histamine.
- Isoleucine – Helps with muscle metabolism, immune function, and energy regulation.
- Leucine – Essential for muscle repair and growth (one of the most critical for athletes).
- Lysine – Important for calcium absorption, immune function, and collagen formation.
- Methionine – A precursor for antioxidants like glutathione; supports hair, skin, and nails.
- Phenylalanine – Needed for dopamine and neurotransmitter production.
- Threonine – Plays a role in gut health and immune system function.
- Tryptophan – Required for serotonin production (mood regulation) and sleep cycles.
- Valine – Supports muscle growth and tissue repair.
You may be wondering if you need your protein powder to contain complete proteins? This all depends on your individual dietary needs and goals. You may need a complete protein if:
- You’re an athlete or highly active: Muscle recovery and repair depend on all essential amino acids. BCAA supplements can also assist with this.
- You’re using protein powder as a meal replacement: If your shake is acting as a primary source of protein for the day, a complete protein ensures your body isn’t missing out on key amino acids.
- You’re recovering from an injury or surgery: Tissue repair is highly dependent on amino acids, so having a complete protein source can speed up recovery.
- You struggle with nutrient deficiencies: If you have dietary restrictions, food allergies, or difficulty digesting certain proteins, a complete protein ensures you’re not unintentionally missing out on essential amino acids.
Comparing 24+ Marketed "Clean" Protein Powders
It can feel quite impossible to find the "perfect" protein. This is part of why we still have not yet stocked a protein powder in our shop. Here, we have taken some of the most popular marketed clean protein powders and compared them side-by-side to help you find what works best for you.
We say "marketed clean" because not all of these protein powders are without controversy. I wanted to include all of the popular brands out there to save you from the "What about ____?" question. We highlighted if it contains any ingredients of concern so you can decide if it's clean enough for you!
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists do change so please double-check labels before purchasing. These lists were collected in Spring 2025.
We have a reference chart at the end of this section, but you will learn more reading about each protein powder here:
Ancient Nutrition
This brand carries multiple protein options including collagen protein, bone broth protein, plant protein, and your typical whey protein. We will look at their whey and plant protein below.
Ingredients (Whey): Grass fed whey protein concentrate, peanut flour, organic regenerative A2/A2 nonfat milk protein concentrate, eggshell membrane collagen Chocolate Peanut Butter also contains: dutch cocoa powder, natural flavors, sea salt, luo han guo extract, stevia leaf extract, sunflower lecithin Vanilla also contains: natural vanilla flavor with other natural flavor, luo han guo extract, sunflower lecithin |
Specs: $44 for 20 servings, 23 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ingredients (Plant-based): Organic Protein Blend: Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein, Organic Flaxseed Meal, Organic Hemp (seed) Protein, Organic Chia (seed) Protein, Organic Sunflower (seed) Protein, Organic Watermelon (seed) Protein, Organic Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha Inchi) (seed) Protein, Organic Flavor Blend: Organic Chocolate Flavor With Other Natural Flavor, Organic Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavor, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Luo Han Guo Fruit Extract, Organic Adaptogenic Herbal and Mushroom Blend: Organic Coconut MCT, Organic Ashwagandha (root) Extract, Organic Avocado, Organic Reishi Mycelium, Organic Fermented Holy Basil (leaf) Extract, Organic Cordyceps Mycelium, Organic Fermented Eleuthero Siberian Ginseng (root), Organic Fermented Rhodiola (root), Organic Fermented Schisandra Berry, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. |
Specs: $36-38, 12 servings, 15 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Be Well By Kelly
Ingredients: Beef protein isolate, organic cacao, organic monk fruit extract (they also have Vanilla and Chai flavored versions with no concerning ingredients) |
Specs: $54-$60, 30 servings, 24 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Equip Prime Protein
Ingredients: Grass fed beef protein, cocoa powder, stevia extract (we only recommend the Chocolate or Unflavored) |
Specs: $54 - $68, 30 servings, 21 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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FlavCity
Ingredients: Whey Protein Concentrate (grass-fed, undenatured), Organic Banana Powder, Organic Cocoa, Collagen (grass-fed), Organic Coconut Milk Powder, Organic Pea Protein, Unrefined Sea Salt, Organic Cordyceps Powder, Organic Reishi Powder, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract (this is for the Chocolate Flavor - brand has many other flavors, we didn't see any concerning flavoring ingredients) |
Specs: $54-60, 20 servings, 25 g protein, 10 g collagen |
Pros:
Cons:
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Four Sigmatic
Ingredients: Organic Plant-Based Protein Blend, Organic Lion’s Mane Fruiting Body Extract, Organic Reishi Fruiting Body Extract, Organic Cordyceps Fruiting Body Extract, Organic Chaga Extract, Organic Turkey Tail Fruiting Body Extract, Organic Ashwagandha Extract, Organic Eleuthero Extract, Real Organic Vanilla. (this is the list for the Vanilla flavor; they have other flavors and we did not see any concerning ingredients in the other flavors) |
Specs: $35, 15 servings, 18-20 g protein |
Pros:
Cons:
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Garden of Life
Ingredients (Plant-based): Organic Pea Protein, Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Organic Amaranth Sprout, Organic Buckwheat Sprout, Organic Millet Sprout, Organic Cracked Wall Chlorella, Organic Quinoa Sprout, Organic Chia Seed Sprout, Organic Garbanzo Bean Sprout, Organic Lentil Sprout, Organic Aduki Bean Sprout, Organic Flax Seed Sprout, Organic Sunflower Seed Sprout, Organic Pumpkin Seed Sprout, Organic Sesame Seed Sprout. Organic Flavor Blend: Organic Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavors, Organic Erythritol, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Sea Salt. Raw Probiotic & Enzyme Blend: Lipase, Protease, Aspergillopepsin, Beta-Glucanase, Cellulase, Bromelain, Phytase, Lactase, Papain, Peptidase, Pectinase, Hemicellulase, Xylanase, Bacillus subtilis DE111 |
Specs: $23.99, 18 servings, 22 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ingredients (Whey): Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Organic Tapioca Fiber (IMO), Organic Vanilla Flavor, Organic Gum Acacia, Organic Erythritol, Sea Salt, Organic Stevia Extract (leaf), Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04 (2 Billion CFU at time of expiration). |
Specs: $41.95, 12 servings, 21 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Hearthy Foods
Ingredients (Grass-fed Collagen): Hydrolyzed collagen peptides. (from Beef) |
Specs: $24.29-$27, 28 servings, 18 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Just Ingredients
Ingredients (Vanilla Flavor): 100% Grass-Fed Non-Denatured Whey Protein, Coconut Milk, Pea Protein, Grass-Fed Collagen, Chia Seed Protein*, Vanilla Extract*, Cinnamon*, Sea Salt, Stevia Leaf*, Vanilla Bean, Monk Fruit* |
Specs: $38.90, 15 servings, 22 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Lineage Provisions
Ingredients: (Chocolate) Grass-fed beef protein, Grass-fed beef organs (heart, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas), Grass-fed colostrum, Organic fruit and berry blend, Organic maple syrup and date, Coconut water & coconut sugar, Organic alkalized cocoa, Sea salt |
Specs: $74-79, 30 servings, 22 g per serving Note: It is, on average, $6-8 more expensive on Amazon. Best price is to purchase direct. |
Pros
Cons
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KOS
Ingredients (Plant-based Chocolate Peanut Butter): Pea Protein*, Flax Seed*, Quinoa*, Pumpkin Seed Protein*, Chia Seed*, Peanut Flour*, Organic Superfoods Blend Coconut Milk*, Inulin*, Acacia Gum*, Apple*, Carrot*, Cranberry*, Orange Juice*, Broccoli*, Shiitake Mushroom Extract*, Tomato*, Alkalized Cocoa*, Coconut Sugar*, Sea Salt, Stevia Leaf Extract*, Natural Flavor, Monk Fruit Extract*, Vitamins and Minerals Blend DL-Alpha Tocopherol, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Niacinamide, Copper Oxide, Riboflavin, Cyanocobalamin, Chromium Picolinate, Folic Acid, Digestive Enzyme Blend (Proteases, Amylase, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase). Contains Peanuts and Tree Nuts (Coconut). |
Specs: $35.99, 15 servings, 20 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Naked
Ingredients (Whey): Whey Protein Concentrate |
Specs: $94.99, 76 servings, 25 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ingredients (Pea): Yellow Pea Protein Isolate. Chocolate flavor also contains Organic Coconut Sugar and Organic Cacao Powder. |
Specs: $55-$58, 76 servings, 27 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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NorCal Organic
Ingredients (Whey): Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Less than 1% Organic Sunflower Lecithin. Chocolate flavor also contains: Raw Organic Cacao, Organic Whole Leaf Stevia. Vanilla flavor also contains: Organic Single Origin Indonesian Vanilla Extract |
Specs: $54 - $64, 36 servings, 21 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ingredients (Pea): Organic Yellow Pea Protein Isolate. |
Specs: $33-$39, 35 servings, 22 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ora Organic
Ingredients (Plant-based): Organic Pea Protein, Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Rice Protein, Organic Cranberry, Organic Sacha Inchi, Organic Amaranth, Organic Sprouted Quinoa, Organic Acai, Organic Acerola Extract, Organic Apple, Organic Blackberry, Organic Blueberry, Organic Broccoli, Organic Jerusalem Artichoke Inulin, Organic Kale, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Strawberry, Organic Turmeric. Ora Enzyme Blend (100 mg): Amylase, Neutral Protease, Lactase, Lipase, Cellulase. Note: Flavored options are using Natural Flavors. |
Specs: $36-$40, 20 servings, 23 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Paleo Valley Bone Broth
Ingredients: Organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao bean, organic chocolate flavor, organic luo han guo (monk fruit) fruit extract, himalayan pink salt CONTAINS: Tree Nut (Coconut) |
Specs: $60-67, 28 servings, 13 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Perfect Supplements
Ingredients: Brazilian Pasture Raised Bovine Hydrolyzed Collagen (from cow hydes) |
Specs: $42-$45, 60 servings, 10 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Primal Kitchen
Ingredients:
Whey Protein Isolate, Coconut Milk Powder, Inulin, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Konjac Root Gum, Nonfat Dry Milk, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Steviol Glycosides, Buttermilk Solids, Milk Solids, Monk Fruit Extract Contains: Milk, Tree Nuts (Coconut) |
Specs: $27-$28, 42 servings, 10 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Pow
Ingredients: Pea Protein Powder, Sprouted Brown Rice Protein Powder, MCT Coconut Oil Powder (MCT Oil, Acacia Fiber)*, Tremella Mushroom Extract (>25% Beta Glucans)*, Tocos (Stabilized Rice Bran Solubles)*, Lucuma (Pouteria lucuma)*, Bamboo Extract (Bambuso Vulgaris)*, Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)*, Amla (Phyllanthus emblica)*, Hyaluronic Acid, Chicory Root Inulin*, Lactobacillus acidophilus & plantarum, Bifidobacterium salivarius & breve & lactis (1 billion CFU / serving), Organic Raw Cacao*, Organic 100% Pure Monk Fruit Powder |
Specs: $39-$49, 20 servings, 17 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Promix
Ingredients: Grass-fed whey protein isolate, organic coconut sugar, sunflower lecithin. Vanilla contains organic vanilla extractives. | Chocolate contains organic cocoa. | Unflavored contains only grass-fed whey protein isolate and sunflower lecithin. |
Specs: $57 - 64, 30 servings, 30 g per serving. |
Pros:
Cons:
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Puori
Ingredients: Pasture-raised whey protein concentrate, organic cocoa powder, organic coconut sugar, natural flavors. |
Specs: $62 - 69, 30 servings, 21 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Rise
Ingredients: Whey Protein Concentrate, Organic Cacao, Organic Coconut Milk Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Almond Butter, Organic Monk Fruit |
Specs: $30, 30 servings, 25 g per serving. |
Pros:
Cons:
Company's statement on "natural flavors"
When I asked why they couldn't just call it "organic natural flavor" if it truly is not made with any problematic solvents, they responded with the following:
Company's statement on third party testing:
|
Sprout Living
Ingredients (Vanilla Lucuma Epic Protein): Yellow Pea, Pumpkin Seed, Sunflower Seed, Sacha Inchi, Cranberry Seed), Vanilla Lucuma Blend: Lucuma Fruit, Ceylon Cinnamon, Baobab Fruit, Acerola, Vanilla Bean), Coconut Crystals, Heirloom Red Banana, Jerusalem Artichoke, Himalayan Pink Salt, Stevia Leaf Please note: they have many different times of protein products. For the purposes of this list, I only looked at their "Epic Organic Plant Protein". |
Specs: $30-33, 12 servings, 20 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Transparent Labs
Ingredients: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate (33.1g), Cocoa Powder (960mg), Natural Flavors (480mg), Salt (240mg), Stevia Extract (165mg), Sunflower Lecithin (99mg). |
Specs: $54, 30 servings, 28 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Truvani
Ingredients: Organic Pea Protein, Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Organic Vanilla Powder, Organic Pumpkin Seed, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Organic Chia Seed Protein. (Chocolate flavor) Organic Pea Protein, Organic Strawberry Extract, Organic Vanilla Powder, Organic Strawberry Juice Powder, Organic MCT Oil Powder, Organic Pumpkin Seed, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Organic Chia Seed Protein (Strawberry flavor) |
Specs: $45-$50, 20 servings, 20 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Vital Proteins
Ingredients: Milk protein isolate, collagen peptides (from bovine), tapioca dextrose (D-Glucose), cocoa powder, natural flavors, sea salt, MCT oil (MCT oil, acacia fiber), sunflower lecithin, stevia leaf Reb M, monk fruit extract. |
Specs: $30, 21 servings, 25 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Wild Foods
Ingredients (Whey): 100% unflavored Whey Protein made in the U.S. from raw grass-fed cow's milk. |
Specs: $63-$70, 56 servings, 16 grams per serving. |
Pros:
Cons:
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Ingredients (Beef): Grass-Fed Beef Protein Isolate. Desiccated Beef Organs (Liver, Kidney, Heart), Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors |
Specs: $43-47, 20 servings, 12 grams per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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With Love (Kid's Protein and Gut Health Powder)
Ingredients: Whey Protein Isolate (grass-fed milk powder), Organic Pumpkin Seeds Powder, Organic Chia Seeds Powder, MCT Oil Powder (from Coconuts), Beef Organ Powder Complex (Desiccated), Vanilla Extract, Monk Fruit Extract |
Specs: $80, 24 servings, 14 g per serving |
Pros:
Cons:
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Our Top Picks For Protein Powders
After exchanging emails with dozens of brands, reviewing ingredient lists, specs, and test results, here are my top picks.
These protein powders had no concerning ingredients and had among the best heavy metal test results (though not zero - it's never zero).
-
FlavCity *Also sufficient as a collagen supplement
Arsenic < 1 ppb, Cadmium 173 ppb, Lead 22 ppb, Mercury 2 ppb
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Just Ingredients (Vanilla only) *I am only recommending the Vanilla flavor at this time, due to Prop65 notices on other flavors. The Vanilla is the flavor I received a COA for, and it has also been third party tested by lead activists showing similar results (not as low as the COA they provided, but still among the lowest on this list).
Arsenic 8 ppb, Cadmium 10 ppb, Lead 10 ppb, Mercury 3 ppb
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Naked (Whey only) *Best Value
Arsenic 20 ppb, Cadmium 3 ppb, Lead 10 ppb, Mercury <10 ppb
-
Paleo Valley Bone Broth (not a complete protein)
Arsenic 3.6 ppb, Cadmium 2.94 ppb, Lead 0.3 ppb, Mercury 0.15 ppb
Disclaimer: These heavy metal test results are only from ONE sample batch from the certificate provided directly from the brand. Heavy metal levels change with every single batch. You can always reach out to the brand for their latest test results. Please also see the section on Heavy Metals earlier in this article.
Chart: Protein Powders At-A-Glance
*Legend: Y-: Heavy metal testing, but not fully transparent OR low testing standards OR missing information. Y+: Heavy metal testing and they provide results. N: No heavy metal testing.
Brand | Type | Protein | Certifications and Testing* | Ingredients of Concern |
Ancient Nutrition | Whey | 23 | Grass fed, Y- | Natural flavors, sunflower lecithin |
Ancient Nutrition | Plant | 15 | USDA Organic, Y- | Natural flavors, sunflower lecithin |
Be Well By Kelly | Beef Isolate | 24 | Grass fed, Y- | None, but tested high for heavy metals compared to other brands. |
Equip Prime Protein | Beef Protein | 21 | Grass fed, Y- |
Chocolate and Unflavored are their best choices. Other flavored choices used natural flavors. |
FlavCity | Whey | 25 | Grass fed, Y+ | None! |
Four Sigmatic | Plant | 18-20 | USDA Organic, Y- | None, but not impressed with heavy metals results. |
Garden of Life | Plant | 22 | USDA Organic | Gums, Erythritol (FYI: Owned by Nestle) |
Garden of Life | Whey | 21 | Non-GMO | Gums, Erythritol (FYI: Owned by Nestle) |
Hearthy Foods | Beef Collagen | 18 | Grass-fed, Y- | None. But not a complete protein. |
Just Ingredients | Whey and Plant | 22 | Grass-fed, Y+ | None! |
Lineage Provisions | Beef | 22 | Grass-fed | None! |
KOS | Plant | 20 | USDA Organic | Natural Flavors |
Naked | Whey | 25 | Grass-fed, Y+ | None! |
Naked | Plant | 27 | None, Y+ | None, but wish their pea protein was USDA Organic. Vanilla does not have Natural Flavors, but the rest do not. |
NorCal Organic | Whey | 21 | USDA Organic, Y- | Sunflower lecithin. Not fully clear on testing. Check their website in May! |
NorCal Organic | Plant | 22 | USDA Organic, Y- | None, but not fully clear on testing. Check their website in May! |
Ora Organic | Plant | 23 | USDA Organic, Y- | Natural Flavors in their flavored options. Buy unflavored to avoid. They didn't provide exact heavy metal results. |
Paleo Valley Bone Broth | Bone Broth | 13 | Grass-fed, Y+ | None, but please note this is not a complete protein. |
Perfect Supplements | Cow Collagen | 10 | Grass-fed, Y+ | None, but please note this is not a complete protein. |
Primal Kitchen | Whey | 10 | None | Natural Flavors, Gums. Now owned by Kraft Heinz. Also no organic or grass fed notation. |
Pow | Plant | 17 | None | None, but wish they were certified organic. |
Promix | Whey | 30 | Grass-fed, Y+ | Sunflower Lecithin |
Puori | Whey | 21 | Grass-fed, Y+ | Natural flavors (but you may want to read their statement on it above) |
Rise | Whey | 25 | Grass-fed, N | Natural Flavors. No third party testing. |
Sprout Living | Plant | 20 | USDA Organic, Y- | None, but they will not share their heavy metal results. |
Transparent Labs | Whey | 28 | Grass-fed, Y+ | Natural Flavors, Sunflower Lecithin |
Truvani | Plant | 20 | USDA Organic, Y- | None, but they will not share their heavy metal results. |
Vital Proteins | Milk Isolate | 25 | NSF-certified | Natural Flavors. Not organic nor grass fed. |
Wild Foods | Whey | 16 | Grass-fed, Y- | None, but wish their heavy metal results were more exact. |
Wild Foods | Beef Isolate | 12 | Grass-fed, Y- | Natural Flavors |
With Love (Kids) | Whey | 14 | Grass-fed, Y+ | None |
Comparing These To Mainstream Brands
You may be wondering how these protein powders compare to your run-of-the-mill standard protein powders that you may find at your typical gym or GNC. Our opinion? Even if the previously mentioned protein powders are not considered "perfect." They are still eons ahead of many of the popular options.
So many ingredients in typical protein powders disrupt your gut: sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, gums, emulsifiers, and artificial dyes and flavors.
The health of your gut profoundly influences your overall well-being, impacting digestion, immunity, mental health, and more. A balanced gut microbiome aids in nutrient absorption, supports immune function, and produces neurotransmitters essential for mood regulation. Conversely, an imbalanced gut can lead to inflammation, chronic diseases, and various symptoms like digestive issues, mood changes, and fatigue.
Here's a quick summary of the "popular brands" so you can see why they were not even considered for the previous chart. Not a single one had mention of organic or grass-fed.
Brand | Type | Protein | Ingredients of Concern |
Body Fortress Whey | Whey | 30g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose, Acesulfame-Potassium, Maltodextrin |
Dymatize ISO100 | Whey | 25g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Gums, Sucralose |
Ghost Whey | Whey | 25g |
Collaborations with Chips Ahoy and Oreo (need I say more?) Gums, Soybean Oil, Cottonseed Oil, HFCS, Artificial Colors, Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose |
Ghost Vegan | Plant (Pea) | 20g |
Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Acesulfame-Potassium, Sucralose, Sunflower Oil (not Organic), Multiple Gums |
GNC AMP | Whey | 25g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Gums, Sucralose |
Muscletech Whey | Whey | 30g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose, Acesulfame-Potassium |
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard | Whey | 24g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose, Acesulfame-Potassium |
Premier Protein | Whey | 30g | Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose, Acesulfame-Potassium |
Raw Nutrition Vegan | Plant (Pea) | 30g | Natural Flavors, Multiple Gums, Sucralose |