We all know that protein is the most crucial macro-nutrient to build muscle, maintain and repair. We all need protein for a healthy lifestyle and to stay fit. Protein doesn’t come at a low price, but we have to make sure we consume enough to get an ideal physique. You can get protein from real food sources like eggs, meats, Greek yogurt, whey, etc. If you’re reading this article, you must be into fitness and consuming whey protein supplement or planning to buy a one. People think its necessary to consume whey protein to get your protein intake, but in fact, it’s not.
We all like whey protein powders, they are quick in consuming, convenient and tastes amazing due to the flavour.
There are different types of whey protein available in the market.
1. Whey Protein Concentrate
2. Blended Whey Protein
3. Whey Protein Isolate
4. Whey Protein Hydrolysate
You can choose any whey protein depending on your goal but make sure to check my points to check if your whey protein is real or fake.
1. Laboratory tested
Look for logos of a third-party certification on the whey supplement box. Make sure its lab tested, this will help you to get the finest quality which is mentioned in the label of a product. If buying international company Whey supplement then look for logos like USP (US Pharmacopeial Convention), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), NSF (National Sanitation Foundation). Indian Brand supplements should contain logos like HAACP (Hazard analysis and critical control point) and FSSAI (Food safety and standards authority of India).
2. Amount of protein
If you looking for a protein in the market then make sure you get 20-25 or more grams of protein per serving. Serving size should be from 25-35g, anything more than that will providing you less protein per serving. Fats should be 1-3g and carbs not more than 5g per serving. This will make sure that you’re getting more protein in per serving.
3. Ingredients and amino acid label
When buy a whey protein do look for the ingredients and amino acids list. Make sure your leucine is above 2.5g or more per serving and should be highest among all the other amino acids.
4. Seal Protection and hologram
Every whey supplement should a seal protection cover under the lid with a hologram for authentication. This builds trust and satisfaction.
5. Solubility
Whey supplement should dissolve in water quickly. If your product is authentic then it can be dissolved with a spoon rather than shaking it. Fake whey protein would require a long time to get dissolved in water.
6. Texture
Authentic Protein supplement should be smooth and firm in between your fingers. Smugglers often mix wheat flour, banned substances, etc which isn’t smooth once you touch it.
7. Smell and taste
The smell of an authentic protein supplement should be rich and soothing. Taste should be delicious and as per the product of label states. A fake product will have a bad smell and will leave your mouth with a bad taste.
8. Manufactured and expiry date
Don’t forget to check these on the box of a whey protein supplement. If a box doesn’t have any one of them then don’t buy that product.
9. Brand Packaging
Do lots of research before buying an authentic supplement. Smugglers can copy ditto and sell it in the market. Before buying, go through the supplement label properly word for word. Small changes will help you to identify if its fake or not.
10. Authorized Dealer logo
There are a ton of companies who sell products without its authorized certification. For example, if you buy Myprotein whey supplement then look for its authorized dealership in India. You can get its full information on Myprotein’s official site.
Unauthorized dealers can play with your health at any cost. So make sure that you check the whey protein on these parameters to make sure it is authentic.
Final Thoughts:
1) Look for the lab-tested logo on a whey supplement product.
2) Avoid buying supplements from an individual like trainers, coaches, athletes, etc they can risk your life for their own good.
3) Always ask for a bill so that if you face something wrong after tasting the product then you can exchange or return it.
4) Always buy from an authorized shop or dealer for authentic products. Please don’t compromise with health for saving some buck.
Yashovardhan Singh is a fitness coach with GetSetGo Fitness and a former national football player. He likes to keep a no-nonsense approach to fitness by applying scientific literature to provide results to his clients. Reach him at yashovardhan@getsetgo.fitness for coaching.