[riteshritesh]

My vote goes to Naturaltein ( 22% off code maxvivek) and Thewholetruth ( search for discount codes online). I consume Unflavoured Isolate and these were the only two that I found genuine. Whey when shaken vigorously, should froth and I found Musclenectar to be dubious on that front.

As of March 2024, I have a 20 kg bulk bag purchased from an importer,since my daily consumption is high( 4 scoops between 2 people). The Isolate is of a Polish company called Spomlek.

[rajesh1868]

Trustified channel has lab tested reports of major supplements including proteins.
Here is the one on Whole Truth.

https://youtu.be/wBLy-P7f9oQ?si=mARWpwEkGmXbciWH

He puts click baits but the content might be entirely opposite

Note: I hope the lab tests the he does are true.


One from Ryan Fernando a nutritionist:

https://youtu.be/geiGq3ko-zw?si=Y31WhUz8d64-o9Jh

I found this interesting though I do believe I still need supplement how much ever I try to adjust my diet. But I found the second half of the video interesting where he talks about his experience in trying to market his own protein supplement

[somspaple]

Some pointers to research on Proteins:

- Whey Protein Isolates vs Whey Protein Concentrates.
- Filtration method - natural vs chemical.
- Contents and percentage of protein.
- Finally, taste.

Personally, I've tried Ultimate Nutrition Iso, ON Gold, As-It-Is, Muscleblaze, MyProtein. From past few months using Muscleblaze Unflavored 90%.

I make it a simple affair - just add water and filter coffee decoction to the shaker - it almost makes it a clear whey. Easy to mix and drink.

Also, keep yourself well hydrated through out the day.

[CosmicWizard]

I used to have Optimum Nutrition (ON) also but have switched to Dymatize recently due to risk of getting fakes from Amazon. Their India website links to sellers on Amazon/HealthKart so chances of being fake is less. Had checked youtube reviews of ON vs Dymatize and they see comparable products.

https://dymatize.co.in/

[TheGearBox]

I used to take Muscle Blaze whey protein for nearly a year while working out (5-6 days a week) while I was studying away from home and I had made pretty good gains.

After that, I moved back home and joined a local gym here. Now, my Mom would just not have me taking whey supplements. So I shifted to a plant-based protein and continued taking that for almost 3 years. My weight was a steady 82 kg with a (not overly) bulky physique.

When the COVID lockdown hit, all gyms shut down. But I continued doing bodyweight exercises at home, albeit without any protein supplements. During this period I gained some weight around my midsection, to the extent that even my best-fitting jeans no longer fit me. I made some adjustments to my diet and managed to shed the excess weight. I was so happy to fit into my jeans again

In July last year, I joined a gym and started lifting weights again. This time however, Mom was totally against any kind of protein supplements . So I was just relying on my diet (non-veg) to fulfill my macros. The result was that I lost quite a bit of muscle mass. My weight dropped to 74 kg in a span of a few months.

I also had a bout of dengue and another viral infection in the last 2 years, so that might have also contributed to my weight loss.

Now I would like to regain those lost pounds. So I ask the experts here: Will I have to take protein supplements? Or is it possible to bulk up by just depending on your diet?

Also, I have heard some concerns regarding hair loss from consumption of protein supplements. Is there any truth to these claims?

[clevermax]

I will write my experience with Whey protein.

Bought "ISOPURE Low Carb Whey Protein Isolate Powder 1.10 lbs, 500g (Dutch Chocolate), 25g Protein per serve, Gluten-Free, Aspartame-Free, Vegetarian protein for Men & Women." from Amazon and used it for 2 days.

I developed these issues:

1) Shortness of breath and overall fatigue. Felt like I wasn't getting enough air.
2) Formation of hives (reddish or skin coloured itchy bumps) over the skin and of course, itchiness all over.

Stopped consuming that after day#2 and the symptoms slowly subsided, I had to take Allegra tablets for a week or so.

Be careful when you start using Whey protein. It may not work the same for everyone. For me, it is money lost.

[Doge]

Just get Amul whey, the unflavoured one. It's the most pure and cleanest one available for a good price and is lactose free too. Amul also has a few protein lassis which I also use to supplement protein in my diet as I'm a pure vegetarian. There's really not much to whey protien, you can also get the raw one from muscle blaze but in my experience Amul is the most untouched, ie pure one. The issue with whey protein that people have is often related to either lactose intolerance or the artificial flavouring. Amul avoids all these. I also suggest everyone who's looking to buy any supplement, be it whey or fish oil or multi vitamins, to always check the lab reports on YouTube for whatever product you're interested in.
I've tried a variety of whey brands over the years, and the only one i had issues with were Whole truth and Muscletech.

[amitoj]

I used to take whey protein regularly back when I was an omnivore and I always noticed that at my training peaks (which normally coincided with some weight loss), I would pass bright red blood in my stool. Got checked by my Primary Care Physician and he said it is nothing to worry about and is probably caused by anal fissures. This was last year. It has been 8 months now since I have consumed any meat and dairy. I still workout regularly, have lost a lot of fat, and substituted whey protein with plant based protein from Orgain.
Organic Plant Based Protein Powder

It seems to be available through Flipkart (if that is still a thing!!)
And no more bright red poop!

One reason could be that plant based protein does not have as much protein in one scoop as does whey protein and that is actually a good thing because your total protein intake should be spread across your meals throughout the day, rather than dumping 40 grams of it into your body in one shot.

[ex-innova-guy]

Originally Posted by GTO

1. Please share the best brands, products & recommendations.

Have used ON Performance Whey and One Science Nutrition’s Nitra Whey; I found both good, and generally alternate between them.

2. Also reliable sources to buy from? Have been told there are a lot of fakes in the market.

HealthKart seems to be a good place.

Also, am sure you must have reputed nutrition stores near you so you can give them a try. Most containers have a code by which you can verify the authenticity of the product.

Additionally, this being a growing market, I see lots of brands now selling through their official website. They sure are listed as a few hundred costly, but in car lingo, nothing better than ASC! :-)

3. Any other tips & advice.

Take it slow at the beginning. Start with half a scoop for 10–15 days and see how your body responds to it. With time, you can increase to 1 scoop daily and then later to 2 if the need arises. In car lingo, start with a sub-100 hp car and then graduate to the remapped 530d.

[KryptonMonkey]

Originally Posted by GTO

My gym trainer has recommended Whey Protein to me. Ran it by my doctor and he too has suggested the same. I gym 6 days a week and am a pure vegetarian.

1. Please share the best brands, products & recommendations.

2. Also reliable sources to buy from? Have been told there are a lot of fakes in the market.

3. Any other tips & advice.

I have been using Dymatize Iso-100 Protein (1 scoop mixed with plain water) after each workout for the past few years and have not observed any adverse effects.
The quality has been consistently good and I can vouch for its mixability. You can stir the protein powder in a glass of water with a spoon and it will dissolve evenly.

I have always ordered from HealthKart and have had no bad experiences.

My preferred flavors are Cookies & Cream and Gourmet Chocolate.

I have tried the ON (Optimum Nutrition) Whey protein once, but did not enjoy their chocolate flavor and was also not happy about the mixability (although it wasn't bad, but it just didn't meet Dymatize levels).

I do not pinch pennies when ordering protein powders and don't mind paying the Dymatize premium as some call it.

[Rookie_Jeeper]

Originally Posted by GTO

1. Please share the best brands, products & recommendations.

2. Also reliable sources to buy from? Have been told there are a lot of fakes in the market.

3. Any other tips & advice.

Muchas gracias (thank you very much ).

Lot of great advice already shared and I might be repeating things but here goes:

1. We now have good Indian brands so I don't see a point of importing whey anymore. The Whole Truth and Naturaltein are the two that I regularly use and recommend.

2. Always buy directly from the company's website. Personally I avoid buying supplements from Amazon, Flipkart etc as there are multiple sellers and some of them definitely will be selling fake products

3. a. Like others have recommended I am also a great fan of 'Trustified' YouTube channel. I think they're doing a great job and we should all support them monetarily or otherwise.

b. Not really an advice but I feel a lot of us go overboard on protein powder. I think for most people 1g per kg of bodyweight is plenty to stay fight and muscular. I don't take more than 1 scope per day and try to get the rest from whole foods but I must add that I am a non vegetarian.

[rajwheelz]

I am a Whey regular & I am in my early fifties. Apart from initial digestion issues, nothing to complain about. Just like any other food intake, you need to start slow and gradually move to 1 scoop per serving.

About the brand I use. I did use many (GNC, Himalayan Quista Pro, MB, TWT etc.), but I am hooked on to ON. Primarily due to the below reasons.
1. Easily soluble and blendable
2. Far less bloat issues ( I ensure to never whack a whey on an empty stomach. There is usually a fruit or some nuts in the tummy on which the whey lands )
3. You can verify the authenticity on their website by providing the batch code on the jar which is concealed by a sticker. We can easily find out if it's tampered.

I buy from either Tata 1mg or Amazon (Rk World Infocomm is the seller) and always a 1kg container.

[PrasannaDhana]

Optimum Nutrition if budget isn't a problem

Muscleblaze if one wants to be a bit economical


My personal favorites are BSN Syntha6 (a blend), and Muscletech Nitrotech

I have used various brands like Carnivor, Ultimate Nutrition, Dymatize etc


Healthkart is a reliable source.

If I had to use only brand and trust it, it will be Optimum Nutrition (ON) whey.


That being said, they are just Supplements . They are supposed to supplement an already decent diet with balanced nutrition. People try to make up most of their protein quota from whey. That's not optimal. Your daily diet should provide you a lot of protein through whole foods. If you are a vegetarian, that can be a challenge.

[2legit2quit]

Originally Posted by RM Motorsports

McLAREN Racing announces Optimum Nutrition as Official Sports Nutrition Partner of the McLAREN Formula 1 Team. So surely it has to be a TOP BRAND.

Not saying Optimum Nutrition is not a reputed brand but equate the sponsorship as a yardstick for quality. Rich energy also sponsored Haas F1 and we all know how that turned out

[Maverick Avi]

During my recovery period from Delta wave of COVID I had a severe hairfall issue almost leading to baldness. On consulting a specialist came to know that this is common with patients who had a severe bout of the infection as the body diverts the protein reserves to fight off the infection leading to severe protein deficiency and eventually hairfall, skin peeling etc. She advised protein supplements where I can get 30gm of protein daily.

Post researching extensively I opted for Muscleblaze raw whey isolate which had 90% protein content and no other additives. Ordered it through Healthkart.com which is the official site of Bright lifesciences the parent company of Muscleblaze brand. Have had a good experience with it and no stomach issues what so ever. I used to take it with a spoonful of Bournvita and a cup of milk. Thankfully my hairfall reduced and I got back my full hair coverage as before within 1.5 months. Post recovery I continued taking the supplement albeit in lower quantities not exceeding 15gms a day. In between tried a few other options but nothing was as good as raw whey isolate.