Without getting too scientific, protein is vital for all of us. It’s a nutrient that our bodies need in order to grow and repair cells and basically work properly. We should all be consuming it instinctively in our daily diet, as it comes from plant and animal sources such as meat and fish, eggs, dairy products, seeds and nuts, as well as legumes.
As a starting point, you want to be aiming for roughly 0.75g of protein for kilo that you weigh. The average male adult should be looking to consume 55g per day, and the average woman should be looking to consume 45g.
Why am I writing this though? What is my credibility in protein powder and products I hear you ask..
The Marathon and Protein Enthusiast
I have ran countless marathons across the UK, I have not only tested my physical limits but have also gained a profound understanding of the nutritional needs that such rigorous activities demand.
A Deep Dive into Protein Products
Over the years, my fitness journey has been complemented by my meticulous exploration of various protein products. I have not only used these products as part of my own fitness regime but also delved deep into the science behind them. By studying the multifaceted factors that determine their effectiveness, I feel that I have curated a wealth of knowledge that not many other sports writers possess.
Collaboration with Protein Product and Fitness Industry Experts
My commitment to understanding the best nutrition for runners doesn’t stop at personal experimentation. Recognising the importance of diverse perspectives, I have actively sought out the expertise of numerous Personal Trainers and Nutritionists. These collaborations have enriched my insights, ensuring that these recommendations on protein products for joggers are both comprehensive and well-informed.
I would like to think I am known for featuring insights from professional athletes on nutrition and fitness on Jogger.co.uk. As such our site stands as a beacon of reliable information in the fitness community.
Enough about me though, and lets get back to protein products for runners.
If you’re looking to increase your daily intake, protein powders are a great way to go about it. And I happen to have tried quite a few of them. So here are some of my recommendations…
Let’s start with my top three favourite proteins.
JOGGER RECOMMENDED: Optimum Nutrition – Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein – from £14.99 at Amazon
The stats per 30g scoop (Vanilla Ice Cream):
- 113kcal
- 24g protein
- 5.5g BCAAs
- 1.4g fat
- 1.3g carbs
- 0.7g sugar
Price: £14.99 (300g) – £124.99 (4.54kg).
Flavours: Banana Cream, Caramel Toffee Fudge, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream, Delicious Strawberry, Double Rich Chocolate, Extreme Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, Unflavoured, Vanilla Ice Cream, White Chocolate Raspberry.
Before I moved over to Nutrition X, the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein used to be my go-to. Compared to Nutrition X, it’s slightly more cost-effective and the numbers are more favourable; more protein, less calories, fats, sugars and carbs. The numbers are marginal, but the cost definitely helps – for an extra £4 you get an extra 0.47kg.
Nutrition X – Big Whey Protein Powder
The stats per 30g scoop:
- 119kcal
- 24.8g protein
- 6.54g BCAAs
- 1.74g fat
- 2.22g carbs
- 1.44g sugar
Flavours: Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Banana, Chocolate Mint.
Price: £41.99 (900g) – £65.99 (1.8kg).
I love Nutrition X’s Big Whey Protein Powder so much that I order one 1.8kg tub of this every sing
Bio-Synergy Whey Better – £80.99 Amazon
The stats per 30g scoop:
- 108kcal
- 27.3g protein
- 6.7g BCAAs
- A trace of fat
- 0.74g carbs
- 0.74g sugar
Price: £38.99 (750g) – £89.97 (2.25kg).
Flavours: Banana, Banoffee, Chocolate, Chocolate & Mint, Cookies & Cream, Rocky Road, Strawberry, Vanilla
The consistency of the Bio-Synergy Whey Better protein powder isn’t quite like the others in my top three; it’s still a powder, but it’s a bit more of a clumpy powder – if that makes any sense. But it’s so delicious! It is the priciest of the three, but it’s nice to mix things up sometimes and I really do enjoy this one. They also have some more fun flavours that you don’t often see with other brands.
Coming out of my top three, here are some others that I enjoy and would recommend.
SCI-MX – Ultra Whey Protein – £17.98 Amazon
The stats per 45g scoop:
- 179kcal
- 36g protein
- 10g BCAAs
- 3.2g fat
- 5.0g carbs
- 4.0g sugar
Price: £39.99 (800g).
Flavours: Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla.
You may have noticed that the numbers are higher across the board for the SCI-MX Ultra Whey Protein than they are for other proteins, which would instantly make you think it’s not as good. BUT, it’s worth noting the scoop size. SCI-MX recommend a 45g scoop as opposed to a 30g scoop. SCI-MX’s Ultra Whey Protein used to be in my top three, until it got bumped by Bio-Synergy (sorry). It really is delicious, with water or milk (which I know some people prefer).
Protein Works – Whey Protein 360 Extreme – £44.99 Amazon
The stats per 35g scoop:
- 132kcal
- 26g protein
- Rich in BCAAs
- 2.1g fat
- 4.9g carbs
- 3g sugar
Price: £18 (600g) – £105.50 (4.8kg).
Flavours: Banana Milkshake, Banoffee Deluxe, Blueberry Cheesecake Riot*, Choc Hazelnut Heaven, Choc Mint Brownie, Choc Orange Swirl, Choc Peanut Cookie Dough, Chocolate Coconut Party*, Chocolate Digestive, Chocolate Silk, Cookies ‘n’ Cream, Dark Choc Raspberry, French Vanilla, Millionaire’s Shortbread, Raspberry Mochi, Salted Caramel Bandit, Speculoos Biscuit Heaven*, Strawberries ‘n’ Cream, White Choc Raspberry Swirl*
* Premium Flavours cost ever so slightly more – but it’s not a lot at all; the price range goes from £18.37 (37p more for 600g) to £107.90 (£2.40 more for 4.8kg).
I can hands down say that Protein Works’ Whey Protein 360 Extreme taste as good as it sounds. Also, have you ever seen another protein brand offer a Biscoff flavour? Because I haven’t.
Pulsin Whey Protein Isolate – £24.99 Amazon
The stats per 30g scoop (recommended 10g, but I prefer 30g):
- 114kcal
- 27.9 protein
- 0.0g fat
- 0.9g carbs
- 0.9g sugar
Price: £24.99 (250g) – £273.87 (6x 1kg).
Flavours: Unflavoured.
The Pulsin team recommend a 10g scoop of the Pulsin Whey Protein Isolate is perfect for stirring into porridge, cereals and desserts, but I prefer mine in drink form, so just triple the portion size and away we go with a shake.
Locako – Keto Collagen – £22.49 Amazon
The stats per 30g scoop (recommended 20g, but I prefer 30g):
- 133.5kcal
- 13.95g protein
- 6.45g fat
- 1.95g carbs
- 0.75g sugar
Price: £23.99
Flavours: Chocolate, Vanilla, Salted Caramel
As with Pulsin, Locako recommend a smaller scoop size (20g) for the Locako Keto Collagen and that’s totally fine, but I do prefer a larger scoop – especially with how much I work out.
Rejuvenated Protein Smoothie – £19.95 Face The Future
The stats per 30g scoop:
- 108kcal
- 21g pea protein
- 1.9g fat
- 3g carbs
- 1.5g sugar
Price: £21.50 (1 pouch – 14 servings) – £1,720 (100 pouches – 1,400 servings).
Flavours: Chocolate, Banana, Strawberry.
It is worth noting that the Rejuvenated Protein Smoothie is more of a meal replacement drink though, so it’s not for everyone, but I do enjoy the odd one. It also helps with promoting healthy blood sugar levels, strengthening the digestive system, aiding muscle recovery and boosting energy levels.
While these are some of my personal favourites, we do have a whole Nutrition section on Jogger.co.uk where you can see all of reviews and thoughts on Diet and Supplements.
