With a wide range of sizes and flavors, you’re bound to find an Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein shake to suit you – like I did.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard shake is widely available in a huge range of sizes and colours. Protein amount is good though taste might be a little sweet and texture a bit thin for some.- Good range of flavours
- Low in calories and sugar
- Value for money and widely available
- A little too sweet
- Thin when mixed with water
- Contains artificial sweeteners
Despite its name, Optimum Nutrition’s shake is 93% protein and a blend of concentrate and isolate. Each 31g serving contains 24g of protein to support muscle growth muscle protein synthesis after training, as well as 5.5g of naturally occurring branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine. It’s up there with the best protein powders. I put it to use during a month of strength and cardio training.
Why you can trust Men’s Fitness
Men’s Fitness has had its finger on the pulse of the healthy lifestyle scene since 2001. That means we’ve got more than two decades of experience in the industry and have built up connections with top professionals. As such, we only offer insight and advice from those who know best – and who have the credentials to prove it. In this case, we’ve teamed up with pro nutritionist Rob Hobson, who conducted the testing, and performance coach Matt Lovell, for some insight into key ingredients. Find out more about how we test.
Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein in use
This powder is low in fat and sugar and uses sucralose and acesulfame K to sweeten. It’s another powder that I found a little too sweet, but each variety does have a pleasantly rich flavor.
Ingredients are minimal but it does contains soy and artificial flavors, which may not appeal to people looking for something less synthetic.
A serving of the shake contains 116 calories when mixed with water, and just 0.7g sugars, 1.4g fat and 1.3g carbs. The powder combines well but I found it slightly thin for my taste when mixed with water.
Wide range of sizes
The tubs are available in plenty of different sizes, ranging from 300g to 4.54kg. They’re good value for money for anyone who takes shakes regularly, working out about £1 per serving for the 896g tub and even cheaper for the 2.27kg and 4.54kg options. You can pick up Optimum Nutrition shakes online and in health food stores. Packaging for both tub and pouch versions is 100% recyclable.
If, like me, you find one version a little too sweet, you’ll probably find another one that isn’t. As well as an unflavored version, there are 12 different flavors in all – ranging from banana cream and caramel toffee fudge to chocolate peanut butter and white chocolate raspberry.
| Protein per serving | 24g |
| Cost per serving | £1.18 |
| Sizes | 300g / 310g / 450g / 465g / 896g / 908g / 2.27kg / 4.54kg |
| Flavors | 12 flavors plus unflavored versions available |
How we test the best protein powders
Registered nutritionist (AFN) and sports nutritionist (SENr) Rob Hobson only tested chocolate-flavored powders to provide consistency in his reviews. He judged them on their taste, texture, solubility and nutritional effectiveness, as well as cost per serving and availability. He also took into account the variety of flavors and any recyclable packaging.
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