Unflavoured Protein Powder

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When it comes to health and fitness, we have essential fundamentals such as a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, but if you are looking for more ways of improving your health, protein supplements are very useful indeed.

Protein powders come in a number of different varieties, and while there are heaps of delicious flavours to choose from, unflavoured protein powder is also very popular.

But what is it about unflavoured protein powders that makes them so beneficial and popular, and what are some of the key differences between each specific type? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

What is unflavoured protein powder?

As the name suggests, unflavoured protein powder is a natural protein supplement in powdered form that has no added flavours such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc. or sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit, sugar, or even worse, aspartame or sucralose.

Typically, protein powder supplements are flavoured with popular choices such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

These flavours are mostly considered delicious, depending on your preferences of course, but many people just want a simple plain protein powder to add to their already delicious smoothies, smoothie bowls, baked goods, etc.

Any type of protein powder can be offered unflavoured and unsweetened, though popular examples include: pea, whey, hemp, brown rice, etc.

What is protein powder used for and why is it beneficial?

Unflavoured protein powder can be used in a whole variety of different ways. Here’s a look at some of the most common uses for flavourless protein powder.

Building muscle

Protein is used by the body to synthesize new muscle tissues to replace ones which have been damaged during a workout. Without protein, protein synthesis wouldn’t be able to take place, which means that the body would struggle to build and repair muscle tissue after a strenuous workout.

Recovering from exercise

After exercise, our muscles become sore and painful because we have literally damaged them through training. Protein supplements give your body important proteins and amino acids needed to repair damaged muscle tissue and help the body to recover quicker.

Gaining weight

It isn’t just muscle that protein powder can be used to gain, it can also be used to gain weight too. Malnourished individuals often use protein shakes on a daily basis to promote weight gain and healthy development.

As a meal substitute

While you should never use protein supplements instead of whole food sources if given the choice, in the event of you not physically being able to eat a meal at a certain point, a protein shake will make a great substitute and will give your body the nutrients it needs.

Other benefits include:

• Muscle growth
• Increased strength
• Stronger immunity
• Healthier body
• Healthy hair and nail growth
• Stronger bones
• Convenient meal alternative
• Rich in nutrients
• Much more…

Can you taste unflavoured protein powder?

Despite unflavoured protein powder being marketed as being unflavoured, the truth of the matter is that it does have a slight natural taste, especially when you consider the different varieties to choose from.

Unflavoured whey protein for example, has a milky, malty, creamy taste and texture, whereas plant-based proteins like pea protein, has a very mild and subtle earthy taste, compared with brown rice, which has a slight hint of a nutty taste to it.

The reason why these protein powders are marketed in this way is due to the fact that no additional flavourings, flavour enhancers or sweeteners are added to it. They do still have natural tastes, it’s just that they’re very soft and subtle.

What protein powder has the least taste?

While there is no such thing as flavourless protein powder, there are different types of protein powder out there with very mild tastes and flavours.

Unflavoured whey protein is probably the protein powder with the least taste, as it has a mild taste and a creamy texture with just a hint of malt.

For vegans, or those on a plant-based diet, unflavoured pea protein probably has the least amount of taste, compared with hemp and brown rice, which taste nutty and earthy.

How can you make unflavoured protein powder taste good?

If you’ve purchased unflavoured protein powder and wish to make it taste good, there are a number of things you can do to enhance the flavour.

Here are some tips for improving the flavour of your unflavoured protein.

Add juices to your protein

One of the simplest ways of improving the flavour of a flavourless protein is to simply mix it up like normal and then add some fruit juice concentrate or cordial to it in the flavour of your choosing.

Add it to a smoothie

Another simple way of enhancing the flavour of your protein is to make a breakfast smoothie like you would normally with various fruits and other ingredients, and then add a scoop of protein.

Add it to coffee

Some people add flavourless protein to coffee, or iced coffee, and providing the powder is fully dissolved, this is actually a very pleasant beverage, assuming you like coffee of course.

Can you bake with flavourless protein powder?

People often wonder whether flavourless protein powder is suitable for baking, and the answer to that is most certainly yes.

Because the powder has little taste, it can be used for baking a whole variety of different baked goods from breads and flapjacks, to pancakes and muffins.

In terms of which protein powder is best for baking, pea protein powder yields very impressive results and is therefore ideal for baking plant-based vegan-friendly goods. In fact, many would argue that plant-based protein powders are better for baking with, than whey, due to their taste and nutritional profiles.

Does protein powder go bad in heat during cooking or baking?

People often worry that heating a protein powder will cause the powder to spoil and will result in a loss of proteins and amino acids. The truth of the matter is that heat has very little effect on protein powders, so cooking and baking with them, or pouring hot water over them will result in very little loss of proteins and nutrients.

Can you add protein powder to anything?

Yes, you can add protein powder to anything you like, though that doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy the end result in terms of taste or texture.

You can use protein powders in soups, stews, curries, casseroles, dressings, breads, muffins, pancakes, desserts, smoothies, and much, much more besides.