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Is This The Best Protein Powder On The Market?

21st February 2023

21st February 2023

By Robyn Schaffer

 


Protein.

It’s the ultimate fitness buzzword from the past five years. Wherever you look in the world of health and fitness you’ll find it. In powders, bars, balls, and just about anything else you can think of. We’re told it’ll make us stronger, healthier, fitter.

But how do we know what’s the best protein powder on the market when there’s so many options to choose from, and an overload of information being thrown at us about them? 

We think it’s important to break down the facts and go back to basics, so you can truly understand why protein is such an important part of your nutrition, how it benefits you, and how you can get the best quality protein out there.

Why do we need protein powder?

So why do we need protein? Well firstly, it’s a key component of every cell in the body, and we use it to build and repair tissues. But we also need protein to make enzymes, hormones and other crucial chemicals in the body, while it’s an important building block of your bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood.

How much protein do we need?

In terms of how much protein we need, the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) is set at 0.75g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day for adults, and the amount we need changes during our lifetime and whether we're exercising or not.

Different foods contain different amounts and combinations of amino acids (the main building blocks of proteins). Foods from animal sources (like meat and dairy) contain the highest concentrations of protein when compared with non-animal sources, but vegetarians and vegans are able to get the full amount of protein they need by eating other sources of protein, like cereals, grains, pulses and meat substitutes. 

The benefits of taking protein powders 

However, if you don’t want to rely so heavily on foods like meat to get your protein, or you just want an easy option that provides you with a high concentration of protein, then protein powders are a convenient and popular alternative. Not only are they loved for providing people with an easy way of getting their daily recommended intake of protein, but they also have several other health benefits.

One of these is muscle growth. A 2018 analysis of 49 studies supports the use of protein supplementation for growing muscle. The research suggests that protein supplements significantly improve muscle size and strength in healthy adults who do resistance exercise training, such as lifting weights.

Another way in which taking protein powder supplements can benefit the body is by contributing to recovery after exercise. Protein helps repair damaged muscles and tissues, and therefore many people use protein powders to speed up this recovery process and diminish feelings of muscle soreness and aches.

While most people can actually get enough protein from their regular diet alone, it’s widely known that protein keeps us fuller for longer, hence why many of us have gone in search of higher-protein foods and supplements in recent years. What’s more, protein powders are now so popular that you can find them tailored towards almost any diet, whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, or eat just about anything. 

How can you get started with protein powder?

So now you’re clued up on all things protein, you’re probably wondering where you can start when it comes to upping your daily intake. Let us introduce you to The Fit Protein.

 


Formulated in partnership with leading nutritionists, this protein blend was developed for people who regularly push themselves further than most but don't want to let that compromise any other aspect of their lives. 

Featuring 31g of protein per serving, we’ve used a blend of vegan pea and brown rice protein, that contains all the essential amino acids your body needs for repair, recovery and muscle development. But what sets The Fit Protein apart from others on the market is the plethora of added ingredients that contribute to a range of positive health benefits.

Here’s what else you can expect to find:

  • Cocomineral: Powdered coconut water packed with potassium to rehydrate and ensure optimal function of body and mind.
  • MacaPeruvian herb which helps reduce stress while boosting energy, performance and libido.
  • Magnesium: A mineral that plays a vital role in energy, recovery, cardiac function, and bone and muscle health.
  • Rhodiola root: Flowering plant that can help reduce fatigue, increase serotonin levels and improve mental function.
  • Pink Himalayan sea salt: Rock salt from the Punjab region of India, containing 84 trace minerals and elements that help rehydrate the body.

Here's how to take protein powder 

There’s plenty of ways to take The Fit Protein. Firstly, there’s three delicious flavours to choose from; smooth chocolate, creamy vanilla, and summer strawberry. We love it as a must-have post-workout refuel, ideally to be taken within 45 minutes of exercise or as a nutritious drink at any stage during the day. 

The most simple way to take The Fit Protein is in shake form. Add up to 40g (4 scoops) to 250-350ml of water, milk or plant milk (we recommend oat or almond) and shake until the powder has fully mixed with the liquid. You can put the mixture in a blender if you prefer. Adjust the amount of liquid for your desired level of sweetness and thickness. Drink up.

However, there’s plenty of other ways you can take The Fit Protein if you’re looking to switch things up a little. Why not mix into your porridge in the morning for a protein-packed breakfast that’s perfect for before or after the gym, or even just on a regular day for something that’s a little more filling than a slice of toast. Give this recipe a go if you’re in need of some inspiration. 

But if porridge doesn’t tickle your fancy, try some of these instead:

Is this the best protein powder on the market?

We like to think so. But it’s not just us who think we’ve nailed the protein game and really got it down to a T when it comes to the best protein powder. In 2020, we were thrilled to be awarded The Best Protein at the Men’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards for The Fit Protein. So if it’s good enough for a panel of leading nutritionists and fitness editors, we’re pretty sure you’ll love it too.

And if you’re wondering how good the rest of our products are, then check out some of these other awards and accolades we've received:

  • The Energy Booster - Best Pre-Workout at the Men’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards 2020
  • The Health Protein - “Innermost’s The Health Protein blend is more than just a post-workout supplement. At the core of the formula, pea and brown rice proteins work together for lean muscle repair, recovery and development.” Best vegan protein powders to fuel your home workouts in GQ
  • The Relax Capsules - “The closest you’ll get to an actual chill pill.” Best sleep supplements for a restful night’s sleep in GQ
  • Innermost - The Gamechanger Award at the Men’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards 2018
  • Innermost - “This tastes a bit like a liquid Kinder Bueno, but it's packed with lots of goodness like pink Himalayan sea salt for rehydration and magnesium, which helps you wind down after a massive cortisol high. It uses whey instead of pea protein, containing a higher number of muscle-building amino acids.” The best protein shakes for a post-workout pick-me-up in Tatler

 


To check out our full range of products, just click and explore our protein collections. 
And if you have any questions about any of our products or ingredients, just drop us an email or start a live chat and one of our team will get right back to you.

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The Complete Guide To Halal Protein Powder
When it comes to improving your fitness levels, lifestyle and nutrition are key. From the number of hours of sleep you get each night to your daily nutrition and everything in between, each is as important as the other. This extends to finding the right protein powder to fuel your workout routine. Yet today more than ever, what goes into that shaker bottle now goes beyond macros and muscle; more and more people are asking themselves – ‘how does this protein powder align with my religious values and beliefs?’ While we’ve spoken before about our clean, research based and ethically sourced ingredients here at Innermost, this time we want to get a little more specific with a focus on halal and halal protein powder. With so many voices and fluff information around, it can be difficult to know exactly what protein is and isn’t halal friendly. That’s why we’ve put together this nifty guide. We’re going to break down all the myths and everything you need to know about halal protein. What you should be looking out for, what makes proteins like whey halal friendly as well as the benefits that halal friendly protein can offer to your body.  Right, let’s get into it. What is halal protein? I’m sure most of you are already aware of halal, but for the 1% of you that might not be, let’s take a step back and ask: what is halal protein? Halal – meaning ‘permissible’ in Arabic – refers to any food product that complies with Islamic dietary laws as stated within the Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence. This makes it a core element of Islamic faith and a key cornerstone of their commitment to leading a pure and disciplined life under the guidance of Allah. Some of the key guidelines for halal foods include: Halal friendly ingredients – certain ingredients are not permissible under a halal diet, including pork (and any byproducts), alcohol and blood. Other animal products can be halal as long as they are killed in accordance with the ethical treatment guidelines below. Ethical treatment of animals – For non-pork meats to be considered halal, animals must be treated humanly and responsibly during their life. This includes: Having access to clean water and nutritious food. Being raised in a free-range and stress-free environment. Not being subjected to cruelty, abuse, or unnecessary suffering. The process of killing any animal must also be quick and humane to be considered halal, with any suffering kept to the complete minimum. Importantly, to be considered halal, the name of Allah must be pronounced during the humane killing to ensure the sanctity of life is recognised throughout the process. No cross contamination - During the preparation process, halal foods must never come into contact with non halal foods. This means no cross contamination between preparation surfaces, equipment used, the handling of foods and storage. As such, ingredients such as milk can be halal however it depends on the production process and if additional non-halal additives (such as gelatin) are added. So, what does this mean for protein?  Essentially any animal protein is halal as long as it adheres to the guidelines we’ve mentioned. The best way to tell is that products – such as Innermost proteins - will be certified halal friendly on the packaging. Is protein powder halal? So, with that said you might be wondering: is my choice of protein powder halal? The truth is that protein powder can absolutely be halal, however it entirely depends on the ingredients used as well as the overall production process. Common protein sources like whey, casein, egg white, and plant-based proteins (such as pea, soy, or rice) can all be halal if they are sourced and manufactured in compliance with halal standards. While many of the larger brands do not meet these standards and cannot claim to offer halal protein, our range of Innermost protein powders and supplements are all certified halal, emphasising our dedication to ethical sourcing our use of clean sourcing without additives. From our pea protein fuelled (and vegan) The Health Protein, The Fit Protein, to our whey protein powered The Strong Protein and The Lean Protein, all our products are sourced in a halal-compliant manner. Benefits of halal protein powder You hear it all the time when it comes to ethical and dietary beliefs – ‘a vegan diet isn’t good for you’ or ‘a vegetarian mix can’t possibly have the nutrients you need. The reality is, that adhering to these sorts of values within your fitness routine and diet can have great benefits for the body. Halal protein powders are no different; they offer a range of benefits for individuals who are conscious of both their health and dietary requirements. Just some of the benefits of halal protein powder are: Clean ingredients: With halal protein powders, you can be confident that there will be no harmful or questionable ingredients/ additives such as silica. What does this mean? Your body has an easier job digesting and absorbing all the good stuff, ensuring you get the most out of your supplements. Quality protein: Halal protein powders use complete protein sources, ensuring your body gets all the amino acids it needs for effective muscle repair and growth.  Ethical production: We’ve mentioned plenty of times already, but that’s just how key ethical and clean production is to making protein halal. By avoiding things such as additional additives and cross contamination, your body is fuelled with a safer and more trustworthy supplement. Supports fitness and wellness goals: Whatever your fitness goals; halal protein has you covered. From building muscle to losing weight, the absence of excess sugars or fillers ensures you are best placed to smash your targets. Common misconceptions about halal protein powders With so much noise and no real answers around halal proteins, we thought it would be helpful to list of some of the key misconceptions regarding the diet and what the actual truths are. All vegan protein powders are halal Given that so much of halal is driven by animals and their ethical treatment, you might just assume every vegan protein powder is halal because it is made of.. well, plants. The reality however is that vegan proteins aren’t necessarily halal – it all comes down to the production process. While Innermost vegan proteins are proudly halal certified, other protein powders can be produced with alcohol-based flavourings, non-halal emulsifiers, or might be processed in facilities that handle haram products – leading to cross contamination – not good! Is whey protein halal? On the other side of the spectrum, whey protein – being a byproduct of milk – is generally considered to be haram. Again, the truth is that whey protein can be halal provided that the milk is taken from cows that were treated ethically and within halal principles. Today, there are many halal-certified whey protein powders that are safe and effective for Muslim consumers. Halal certification doesn’t matter There is often an assumption made that if the ingredients look clean then the protein must be halal – regardless of certification. The truth is that what makes something halal goes beyond ingredients. Production and sourcing our also key factors that many companies do not consider. With halal certification on your favourite protein powders, you can be sure that every step—from sourcing and production to packaging and distribution—has been reviewed and approved according to strict halal standards.  Is Innermost protein powder halal? In short, yes. We at Innermost make it our mission to not only aid in muscle growth and recovery, but also to create protein supplements that are ethically sourced and rigorously tested to ensure individuals of any faith can smash their fitness goals.  Unlike competitors, our proteins are clean and built with the highest quality of ingredients and free from unnecessary additives and artificial ingredients.   We are proud to say that all our products are officially halal certified making them a suitable choice for those following the halal beliefs. This certification ensures that all ingredients and manufacturing processes meet Islamic dietary laws, with no use of haram substances such as pork derivatives or alcohol. With this in mind, why not check out our range of Innermost supplements to find out more about our halal proteins?     Read more