If you’re thinking about reducing weight, you might be wondering if protein shakes are effective. Protein shakes can be used as a quick snack or in place of meals by some people as part of their weight loss plan. Like foods high in protein, protein shakes can aid in both maintaining lean muscle mass and helping you feel full.
“Protein shakes offer convenience in meeting protein goals when trying to lose weight. However, they should enhance, not replace, a balanced diet. Prioritizing wholesome foods for nourishment is key, with shakes serving as a support rather than a primary nutritional source.” Karina Tolentino, RD
Here’s the list of the best protein shakes for weight loss.
Owyn Plant-Based Protein Drink:
It has 20g of plant protein, low sugar, superfood greens, a blend of plant proteins from several sources, and vegan omega-3s. It is also free of allergens. Moreover, its flavor is rich and indulgent, making it perfect for on-the-go.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Pea protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic flax oil |
| Sweeteners | Organic cane sugar, monk fruit extract |
| Superfoods Blend | Broccoli, kale, spinach |
| Other Additives | Natural flavors, sea salt, organic acacia gum, gellan gum |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Protein | 20 grams (includes all 9 essential amino acids) |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 535 mg (vegan) |
| Net Carbs | 5 grams |
| Sugar | 4 grams (organic cane sugar) |
| Allergens | Free from dairy, soy, gluten, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| OWYN Official Website | $36.99 for a 12-pack (Owyn) |
| Target | $9.99 for a 4-pack (44.6 fl oz) (Target: Expect More. Pay Less.) |
| Walmart | Approximately $8.99 for a 4-pack (32 fl oz) (Walmart.com) |
| Wegmans | Around $2.50 to $3.00 per bottle (Wegmans) |
Pros:
- Allergen-Free
- High-Protein
- Clean ingredients
Cons:
- Costly
- Bad taste for some people
- Thicker or grittier Texture
My Protein Meal Replacement Blend:
It’s not necessary to sacrifice flavor or nutrition to be conscious of how many calories you consume. Your body will receive the nutrition it needs from this tasty Protein Meal Replacement Blend, which will also help you achieve your weight loss objectives. In addition, it has a lot of protein to help you meet your daily requirements and a lot of fiber, both of which are critical components of a well-balanced diet.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Skimmed milk powder, whey protein concentrate, soy protein isolate |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose |
| Additives | Dietary fat concentrate (refined coconut oil, refined soybean oil), natural flavors, emulsifiers (lecithins), stabilizers (triphosphates), antioxidants (fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol), anti-caking agents (calcium phosphates), thickeners (xanthan gum) |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Calories | 201 calories |
| Protein | 20 grams |
| Total Fat | 3 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 1 gram |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 grams |
| Sugars | 3 grams |
| Vitamins & Minerals | Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Potassium, Chloride, Selenium, Chromium, Molybdenum, Iodine |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| MyProtein Official Website | $33.99 for a 1.5 kg bag (approximately 24 servings) |
| Amazon | $34.99 for a 1.5 kg bag |
| Walmart | $32.99 for a 1.5 kg bag |
Pros:
- Nutrient-Rich
- Convenient
- Versatile
Cons:
- Artificial flavors
- High Caloric
- Dependency
Orgain Clean Protein:
These are a great option if you are looking for protein shakes for weight loss because they are low in fat and calories. With just 3 grams of added sugar, Orgain Clean protein shakes provide 20 grams of satisfying protein derived from grass-fed whey. It has natural sweeteners like stevia that don’t include calories.
One of the best proteins found in milk is whey protein, which has been demonstrated to help reduce hunger, promote muscular growth, and facilitate the healing process after exercise.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Grass-fed milk protein concentrate, organic whey protein concentrate |
| Sweeteners | Organic agave, organic cane sugar, monk fruit extract |
| Other Additives | Filtered water, organic high oleic sunflower oil, vegetable glycerin, natural flavors, organic sunflower lecithin, cellulose, sodium polyphosphate, magnesium phosphate, potassium citrate, tricalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, sea salt, gellan gum, organic locust bean gum |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Protein | 20 grams |
| Calories | 130 |
| Total Fat | 2.5 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 10 mg |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 grams |
| Sugars | 5 grams |
| Calcium | 450 mg |
| Iron | 0.3 mg |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| Orgain Official Website | $35.99 for a 12-pack (Orgain) |
| Target | $11.42 for a 4-pack (H-E-B | Here Everything’s Better) (Target: Expect More. Pay Less.) |
| Rite Aid | $11.42 for a 4-pack (Online Pharmacy and Store | Rite Aid) |
Pros:
- Organic Ingredients
- High Protein Content
- Low in Added Sugars
Cons:
- Relatively Expensive
- Bad Taste (subjective)
Fairlife Protein Shake:
Fairlife Protein shakes are another excellent readymade shake option that lacks the normal aftertaste seen in many protein shakes. They include 30 grams of protein and taste like chocolate milk. They are low in sugar and calories. Because they don’t need to be refrigerated, they are convenient and make a wonderful post-workout smoothie. Their high protein content enables you to maintain a calorie deficit and meet your daily protein requirements for weight loss.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Ultra-filtered nonfat milk, whey protein isolate, natural flavors |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, acesulfame potassium |
| Other Additives | Vitamin and mineral blend (vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3, vitamin K1, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium carbonate, potassium iodide, zinc oxide), Lactase enzyme, Salt, Cellulose gel, Cellulose gum, Carrageenan, Gellan gum, Stevia leaf extract, Sunflower lecithin |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Protein | 30 grams |
| Calories | 150 |
| Total Fat | 2.5 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 15 mg |
| Sodium | 220 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 6 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 grams |
| Sugars | 4 grams |
| Calcium | 370 mg |
| Iron | 0 mg |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| Fairlife Website | $26.99 for a 12-pack |
| Target | $8.99 for a 4-pack |
| Walmart | $10.98 for a 4-pack |
Pros:
- High Protein Content
- Low in Calories
- Rich in Calcium
Cons:
- Contains Artificial Sweeteners
- Relatively Expensive
- Some May Find the Texture Unpleasant
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake:
The Ripple Vegan Protein Shake is a true treat. Finding high-quality protein sources can occasionally be difficult for someone who eats a plant-based diet, but Ripple has nailed it with their protein drink. Ripple’s unique use of pea protein, which offers a full amino acid profile and guarantees that one is getting all the vital nutrients he needs to power his day, is what makes it stand out.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Pea protein isolate, organic sunflower oil, organic cane sugar, organic green banana flour, organic inulin, natural flavors, sunflower lecithin, monk fruit extract, organic guar gum, organic acacia gum, gellan gum |
| Sweeteners | Organic cane sugar, monk fruit extract |
| Other Additives | Cellulose, magnesium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, natural flavors, sea salt, organic sunflower lecithin |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Protein | 20 grams |
| Calories | 190 |
| Total Fat | 7 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 19 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 grams |
| Sugars | 8 grams |
| Calcium | 310 mg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| Ripple Foods Website | $29.99 for a 12-pack |
| Target | $12.99 for a 4-pack |
| Walmart | $12.94 for a 4-pack |
Pros:
- Plant-Based
- High Protein
- Dairy-free
Cons:
- Contains Artificial Sweeteners
- Some May Find the Texture Unpleasant
Lean Body Protein Shake:
The ready-to-drink protein shakes from Lean Body have 40 grams of protein and no added sugar, making them very high in protein. Although they are near the bottom of the ingredient list, it does contain acesulfame potassium, the active component in Equal, and sucralose, an artificial sweetener found in Splenda. This indicates that even if they are there, they are probably there in trace amounts that won’t endanger your health.
| Category | Details |
| Ingredients | |
| Protein Blend | Lean Pro® (milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, sodium caseinate, lactoferrin), water, sunflower oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, natural and artificial flavors, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, sodium hexametaphosphate, mono- and diglycerides, potassium sorbate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, carrageenan, soy lecithin, vitamin and mineral blend (vitamin A palmitate, cholecalciferol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate, biotin, folic acid, niacinamide, calcium d-pantothenate, thiamin mononitrate, cyanocobalamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid, tricalcium phosphate, chromium chloride, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, ferric pyrophosphate, magnesium phosphate, manganese sulfate, sodium molybdate, sodium selenite, zinc oxide) |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, acesulfame potassium |
| Nutritional Facts (per serving) | |
| Protein | 40 grams |
| Calories | 280 |
| Total Fat | 9 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 grams |
| Cholesterol | 25 mg |
| Sodium | 420 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 9 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 grams |
| Sugars | 1 gram |
| Calcium | 700 mg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
| Pricing (USD) | |
| Labrada Website | $42.95 for a 12-pack |
| Amazon | $29.99 for a 12-pack |
| Walmart | $33.56 for a 12-pack |
Pros:
- High Protein Content
- Convenient
- Vitamin and Mineral-Fortified
Cons:
- Artificial Ingredients
- High in Calories
- May Contain Allergens
Conclusion:
There are several methods in which protein shakes might support weight loss. It can help you avoid overeating by keeping you full in between meals and by partially substituting high-calorie meals. They can also aid in burning fat and gaining muscle throughout your workouts.Additionally, protein shakes decrease ghrelin levels, which signals to the brain that you are less hungry. Recently written products are the best protein shakes for weight loss.
