Protein powders in Singapore
Even if you’re just starting out on your fitness journey, chances are, you’ve toyed with the idea of taking protein powders to maximise your gains. They might seem like the holy grail supplement meant exclusively for gym bros, but adding these to your diet can be a game-changer for even the most casual of lifters.
With vegan options and a whole spectrum of flavours to choose from, here are 11 protein powders to consider – including recommendations from trainers and athletes – for both your muscle building or weight loss needs.
Gym rats will want to check out these other articles:
Which type of protein powder is the best?
Drinking protein shakes is arguably the easiest way to get a substantial amount of protein into your body
Before we dive straight into the diverse selection of protein powders, let’s clear up some common misconceptions people have about the supplement.
Numero uno: protein powders should never be used as a replacement for meals. Yes, they contain a hefty amount of protein, but these powders don’t have an adequate amount of other essential nutrients, like carbohydrates and fats, that your regular lunch meal does.
Another myth that needs busting is that taking protein powders will magically transform your body into that of Captain America’s. The supplement’s primary functions are to boost muscle performance and recovery, so you’ll need to use it in tandem with a dedicated workout regime in order to see prominent results.
Image credit: @myproteinsg
At first glance, protein powder labels ridden with random words like ‘isolate’ and ‘BCAAs’ might seem confusing. Here’s a little breakdown of common protein jargon so you know exactly what you’re reading on the nutrition tags:
- BCAAs – standing for branched-chain amino acids, these essential compounds cannot be produced naturally by our bodies as we lack the necessary enzymes. Notable benefits of consuming BCAAs include decreased muscle soreness and lessened muscle fatigue.
- Creatine – said to enhance performance in the gym by providing short bursts of energy, creatine is a popular substance that’s usually taken prior to a workout. Roughly two grams of creatine can be found in a whopping 450 grams of beef, so consuming them directly via protein powders is your best bet to up your body’s creatine stores.
- Whey isolate – a form of dairy protein that’s undergone more rounds of processing to extract a higher amount of protein and less carbohydrates than its concentrated counterparts.
To maximise muscle gains and recovery, the swole gym bros’ rule of thumb is to down your shake within two hours of your sweat sesh. If not, you can have a shake to accompany your lunch or dinner if you’d like to pile on more protein to your nosh.
Now equipped with newfound knowledge of protein powders, you’re all set to browse through these 10 protein powders and select a formula that best suits your needs.
1. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey – Readily available bestseller
Image credit: Optimum Nutrition
Pop by your local GNC and you’re bound to see bottles of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey stacked atop their shelves. Communally known as the gateway protein brand for first-timers, a single scoop of this powder contains 24G of protein and just 1G of sugar to help with your muscle building needs.
Singaporean personal trainer Marie Wellesley also attests to this brand’s formula, saying: “It’s great tasting and super popular among gym-goers as it’s easily accessible and has good nutritional content.” It also contains a minimal amount of lactose, so those with mild lactose intolerance are still able to stomach this protein.
Fun fact: Most, if not all, protein powders have a dedicated scoop sunken within its bag or container. Serving sizes differ from brand to brand as different-sized scoops are used, so make sure to check each brand’s nutritional information for exact portion details.
Protein content per serving: 24g
Price: From $29
Get Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey.
2. Sustyfoods Nutritional Yeast Protein Shake – Dairy-free alternative
The Dark Chocolate flavour is rich, smooth to drink, and made from real Swiss cacao.
Taking protein powder if you’re lactose intolerant can be challenging, especially if you don’t fancy the gritty, chalky taste associated with vegan products made from pea or soy. If you’re looking for a dairy-free protein powder that is high in quality and tastes great, Sustyfoods Nutritional Yeast Protein Shake checks all the boxes.
Because the powder doesn’t go through any chemical processing and is extracted using only water, it’s friendly to the stomach and your skin.
With a perfect protein quality score of PDCAAS 1.0/1.0, this formulation contains 20% more essential amino acids than the average plant-based protein powder on the market. To put it simply, it’s designed to help enhance your post workout recovery so you can lift heavy and lift often.
Protein content per serving: 20g
Price: From $43
Get Sustyfoods Nutritional Yeast Protein Shake.
3. Isopure Zero Carb – Ideal protein for weight loss
Image credit: Isopure
Those looking to shed some weight know that it’s imperative for them to avoid consuming excessive amounts of carbohydrates in order to reach their fitspo goals. To stay in a caloric deficit while getting your protein fix, look no further than the Isopure Zero Carb.
As its name suggests, the Isopure Zero Carb contains zilch carbohydrates – you won’t be flouting your keto diet rules when you take this supplement. The 25G of protein found per scoop is also completely made out of whey isolate, so you’ll continue to reap the muscle recovery benefits even while you’re on a strict cut.
And if you don’t have a knack for desserts, Isopure’s got refreshing fruity flavours like Mango Peach and Pineapple Orange Banana for you to consider instead of richer flavours like Dutch Chocolate and Creamy Vanilla.
Protein content per serving: 25g
Price: From $29
Get Isopure Zero Carb.
4. MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Performance Series – Most protein per serving
Image credit: MuscleTech
Another protein powder Marie heaped praise on was the MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Performance Series, citing its “fantastic nutritional content” as the product’s main draw. For starters, one serving of the powder contains a whopping 30G of protein – the most out of the 10 listed brands.
The slew of added substances don’t stop there – 3G of creatine, 6.8G of BCAAs and 5G of another amino acid known as glutamine are all found in a single scoop. Glutamine is known to further boost muscle synthesis and recovery, so combine it with the other nutrients and serious lifters have a loaded formula suited for their demanding regimes.
Protein content per serving: 30g
Price: From $45
Get MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Performance Series.
5. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Organic – Non-grainy vegan protein
Image credit: David M.
If you’re religiously following a plant-based diet, the Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Organic is a vegan powder that’ll help add a welcome influx of protein to your diet. Containing 24G of protein and 6G of BCAAs, this Keto and Paleo-friendly supplement slots in nicely into pretty much anybody’s meal plans.
One gripe people have with vegan protein powders is their unpleasant grainy taste, so national canoe polo athlete Marissa Yeo was thrilled that this Sunwarrior blend was devoid of that yucky texture.
“I really like it because it dissolves in water super easily and it’s significantly less grainy compared to other vegan proteins, making it so much more palatable texture-wise,” Marissa says.
Protein content per serving: 24g
Price: From $23.99
Get Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Organic.
6. MyProtein Impact Whey – 69 flavours like brown sugar milk tea
Each scoop of MyProtein’s Impact Whey contains roughly 21G of protein and 4.5G of BCAAs.
Image credit: Myprotein
A cult favourite among fitness fanatics and occasional gym-goers, the MyProtein Impact Whey is an affordable option that comes in a whopping 69 different flavours. Apart from the usual suspects like chocolate and vanilla, they’ve also got exotic flavours that include the likes of Crème Brûlée and every Singaporean’s favourite, Brown Sugar Milk Tea.
MyProtein’s Impact Whey also gets the athlete stamp of approval, as Marissa’s teammates use this protein to fuel their intense training seshs. And although MyProtein is based in the UK, a single spend of $100 entitles you to free shipping, so you don’t need to foot exorbitant shipping fees to snag your protein fix.
Pro tip: The MyProtein site perpetually has handy discount codes that slash 30% to 50% off their range of protein powders and other exercise accessories. These promos are in plain sight once you’ve entered the website, so just plop the code in at checkout and you’re golden!
Protein content per serving: 21g
Price: From $24.99
7. LushProtein MatchaWhey – Fat-burning, energy boosting formula
Image credit: LushProtein
Fun fact: Seasoned gym-goers looking to ramp up their focus during training can consume a caffeine-filled shake prior to their session. For a protein powder that’s imbued with energy-boosting abilities, opt for the LushProtein MatchaWhey to get the best of both worlds.
Perfect for early birds, each serving of LushProtein MatchaWhey contains matcha powder which packs a potency equivalent to 10 cups of freshly brewed green tea. The matcha also contains a unique green tea caffeine that is gradually released into your body within a span of six to eight hours, keeping you fuelled with energy during your workout and possibly throughout the day.
Our Muslim buddies will also be delighted to hear that the LushProtein MatchaWhey is Halal-certified, making it literally a sin-free indulgence.
Protein content per serving: 19g
Price: $49
8. AllMax Isoflex – Great-tasting even with water
Apart from your traditional shakes, you can mix protein powders to make variants of in-trend drinks like Dalgona Coffee.
Image credit: ALLMAX Nutrition
After sifting through seven different brands over the course of his 20-year-long fitness journey, casual bodybuilder Alvin finally settled down with the AllMax Isoflex. The brand’s nutritional values don’t lie, as this 100% whey isolate blend contains 27G of protein per scoop with no sugar whatsoever.
And if taste is of the essence, the saviour for your tastebuds is AllMax’s Chocolate Peanut Butter flavour. Alvin personally swears by this flavour, specifying that “it tastes like a Starbucks Hazelnut Latte” whenever he drinks it in the morning.
Fun fact: When we look at percentages, a single scoop of the AllMax Isoflex is composed of 90% protein. This ratio is significantly higher than that of other natural protein sources like a trimmed steak (23% protein) or even chicken breast (17% protein).
Protein content per serving: 27g
Price: From $57.03
Get AllMax Isoflex.
9. Ghost 100% Whey Protein – Exclusive Chips Ahoy! flavour
Image credit: GHOST
If protein shakes are a drink you’re consuming on the daily, then they sure as heck better taste good. Hailing all the way from Chicago, decorated fitness brand Ghost Lifestyle prides itself on the great-tasting, decadent flavours found in their Ghost 100% Whey Protein line.
Some of their bestselling flavours include Marshmallow Cereal Milk, which contains additional chunks of actual marshmallows mixed in the sea of powder. But the brand’s pièce de résistance is their fabled collab with cookie brand Chips Ahoy! – mini bits of cookies are present in every scoop to add some sweet mouthfeel.
Though this brand’s a rare sight in Singapore, you can get your Ghost fix off Carousell seller @luxxforless – a trusted seller with 104 five-star reviews. Alternatively, you can check out their Lazada page if you prefer making your purchase over on that platform instead.
Protein content per serving: 25g
Price: From $59.99
10. California Gold Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate – Highly rated by users
Image credit: iHerb.com Russian
Garnering over 2,500 positive reviews on reputable online supplement site iHerb, the California Gold Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate is a highly-raved supplement for good reason. The product’s trifecta of nutritional values speak for themselves; its unflavoured variant boasts 27G of protein, 6.2G of BCAAs and 0G of carbohydrates per scoop.
It’s also about as natural a protein powder you can get too – it contains no artificial sweeteners, colours, gluten and GMOs.
Protein content per serving: 27g
Price: From $20.37
Get California Gold Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate.
11. Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein – Sugar free and vegan
Image credit: Garden of Life
Another vegan variant worth looking at is the Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein – a plant-based raw protein made up of 22 different organic grains, seeds and sprouts. Being a sugar-free protein, not even natural sweeteners like Stevia are incorporated into the powder’s formula.
And with 22G of protein and 4G of BCAAs per serving, this dairy-free and soyless protein is an apt buy for those with dietary restrictions.
Fun fact: Raw protein powders don’t undergo as many heating processes as regular ones, meaning that they’ll contain additional nutritional benefits like healthy fibres and vitamins.
Protein content per serving: 22g
Price: From $45.62
Get Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein.
Best protein powders including vegan and high-protein options
If you’re looking to transform into lean, mean, muscle-building machines, getting a regular dose of protein powder into your system is your best bet.
Whether it’s tasty flavours or zero carb options, you’re bound to find a formula tailored to your needs from this eclectic spread of 10 protein powders.
Check out our other health-related articles to up your fitness game
This article contains partial partnership content. However, all opinions are ours.
The products have been ranked in terms of features and price from sources and reviews online.
Original article published by Benjamin Wellesley on 20th February 2021. Last updated by Brendan Yee on 23rd August 2022.
Cover image adapted from: Myprotein, Isopure
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