Although deemed as ‘safe’ there is some evidence that sweeteners e.g. sucralose, stevia may have a negative impact on health. There is also solid evidence of the negative effect that ultra processed foods have on our health. Many people simply wish to pursue a diet that is as low in manufactured ingredients as possible.

It is possible to get plenty of protein from real food. However, protein powders can be a very helpful way to increase protein in your diet. This is particularly relevant for athletes, those wishing to increase muscle mass or reduce fat mass, and older people due to the increased need for protein.

It can be very hard to find a protein powder that is minimally processed and doesn’t have sweeteners. Out of a field of 1000s of protein supplements, here are 5 that I have managed to locate:

Naked Nutrition Naked Whey – Ingredients: whey protein concentrate

Wyldsson Naked Vegan Protein Powder Super Blend plain and unsweetened – Ingredients: organic pea protein, pumpkin protein & sunflower protein, flaxseed, chia seed, organic baobab, turmeric, cacao & ceylon cinnamon.

Sunwarrior Warrior Protein Classic – Ingredients: fermented brown rice protein

MyProtein Whey Protein Isolate unflavoured – Ingredients: whey protein isolate, emulsifiers (soy and sunflower lecithins)

My Protein Impact Whey Protein unflavoured – Ingredients: whey protein concentrate, emulsifier (soy lecithin)

To add some flavour to protein shakes, blend the powder with water/milk and add some fruit e.g. berries or banana, cinnamon, oats, honey. You can also make your own high protein milk or mix in to natural yogurt to significantly increase the protein content.

Other natural sources of protein include: eggs, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, fish, yogurt, milk, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds.