7 Best Natural Rich Protein Powders for Faster Muscle Gain, Fat Loss or Healthy Post-Workout Lift

As the traditional and most popular animal protein powder, whey protein comes from milk. It is packed full of protein, but it's also a source of lactose, which many people are unable to properly digest. It's common to experience bloating and gas after consuming whey protein for this reason.

You can usually get around 12 to 25 grams of protein per serving with whey, depending on the product and the scoop size. Whey contains amino acids known as BCAAs, including leucine, which has been found in studies to promote muscle recovery and growth. Amino acids play a role in protein synthesis, promoting the growth of new muscle.

In studies, whey has proven effective in building and maintaining athletes' muscles and supporting recovery after heavy exercise. This whey protein isolate has also been found to decrease body fat mass and increase muscle mass. Whey may even reduce appetite, so you're less likely to snack on the bad stuff between meals.

Organic whey protein isolate might not only be good for building muscle. Emerging research even suggests that it may reduce inflammation, helping to boost heart health in people who are overweight and obese.

If you're on a plant-based diet, whey protein powders aren't an option for you, but there are plenty of alternatives mentioned in this guide.

Pea protein powder is an increasingly popular plant-based protein option that's ideal for vegans, vegetarians, or people who can't tolerate animal-based protein powder. Pea vegan protein powders are typically made from split peas or yellow pea - legumes that are high in fiber and are a fantastic source of all but one of the 9 amino acids.

Typically, you can get around 25 grams of protein per serving in a high-quality organic protein made from split peas. Like whey protein, pea protein is a rich source of BCAAs. One study found that this plant-based protein's ability to trigger fullness hormones was just as effective as dairy proteins like whey and casein, thanks to its high grams of fiber.

It's a myth that plant-based protein powders won't help you build muscle! Pea protein has been found to increase muscle thickness at the same rate that whey protein can, and pea protein supplements can even decrease elevated blood pressure levels, though we're not exactly sure why this is.

Another "traditional" animal protein, casein protein is found in milk. It's a little different from whey, though, as it is digested and absorbed at a slower rate. You can usually get around 20 grams of protein per single serving in whey powder.

Casein protein produces a gel-like substance when it comes into contact with stomach acid. This delays emptying of the stomach and results in slower absorption of amino acids in the bloodstream. As a result, your muscles are exposed to amino acids at a slower, steadier rate, which prevents high levels of muscle breakdown after exercise.

It's thought that casein is more effective for strength-building when compared to wheat and soy protein, two vegan protein powders, but it's not quite as effective as whey protein. Still, one study found that on a calorie-restricted diet, casein may actually be best at improving body composition in certain types of resistance training.

Hemp protein powder, like pea protein, is also gaining popularity as a plant-based protein option. Many people confuse hemp with marijuana, but hemp isn't psychoactive, because it contains no THC - so it's completely safe and legal to take.

Packed full of omega-3 fatty acids and a number of essential amino acids, organic hemp protein is a great option for people looking to add an extra protein boost to their diets. Keep in mind, though, that this plant protein isn't considered a complete protein because it contains only a very small amount of two amino acids, lysine and leucine.

So far, there isn't much research on the benefits of hemp protein, but what we know to this date is all very promising. It's an easily digestible plant-based protein that may prove helpful in supporting muscle growth.

You've probably heard of bodybuilding enthusiasts adding raw eggs to their protein shakes - but that's not quite what we're talking about when we refer to "egg protein". Egg protein powder isn't actually made from the whole egg; instead, it's usually made from egg whites. With the high-fat egg yolks removed, you'll still benefit from an incredibly high protein content, but you're likely to experience less fullness.

Eggs have an incredibly high protein digestibility score, meaning they have good quality protein that's easy to digest. They're a complete protein source, too, meaning that they offer all nine essential amino acids that your body is unable to produce itself. A single serving contains around 15 to 35 grams of protein.

After whey protein powder, egg protein is the second-highest source of the BCAA known as leucine, which is essential for strong, healthy muscles. It has been found to reduce appetite more effectively than pea protein and casein when consumed before meals. If you have a dairy allergy, you'll be find to consume eff protein in place of whey and casein.

The final natural plant-based protein powder that's worth a mention is brown rice protein. This plant protein powder is made from brown rice, and, though it contains all 9 essential amino acids, it isn't considered as effective for muscle-building as whey or casein as its lysine levels are relatively low.

We don't know too much about the science behind rice protein powder thus far, but evidence so far shows that this type of vegan protein powder can help to boost muscle strength and recovery in a similar way to whey.

When looking at plant-based protein powder sources, it's common to find a combination of several protein powders, including a blend of pea, brown rice, and hemp. These powders may also contain traces of other health foods, including flax and chia seeds and quinoa.

The reasoning behind blending vegan protein powder is that they can group together to provide your body with all the essential amino acids it needs. These types of proteins tend to be higher in fiber, which makes them slower to digest. This may affect the time it takes for amino acids to be absorbed in the blood, which is why it's recommended to take mixed plant proteins with plenty of time to spare before exercise.