dissolves well, tastes great, good macronutrient balance
I am usually happy with a protein powder if it tastes good and mixes well, and this is great on both counts. I use protein powders because I am eating at a calorie deficit to lose weight, plus I am a vegetarian and don't really care for most protein-heavy foods (too many eggs just don't agree with my stomach, nuts and butters are super high in calories although I do eat some of those, etc.). That puts me at huge risk to lose muscle mass, which I don't want to do. One way to overcome this problem, or at least basically keep up (maybe not gaining, but certainly not losing muscle), is to consume additional protein. I have found one good way to get protein is to make a smoothie in the morning. I take 8 oz of unsweetened almond milk, plus ground flax seed (or sometimes hemp seeds or chia seeds, depending on what is in the pantry), some type of greens powder or moringa, matcha, PB2, cacao, and protein powder and blend it all together. Then I add a half cup of frozen mixed berries. That way I am getting a lot of protein and antioxidants all at once, without too much sugar, but the chocolate/peanut butter/berry taste seems quite decadent. This is the protein powder I have been using lately and it is one of the best I've tried. It has a great chocolate taste (this is a review for the double rich chocolate flavor, by the way), and it is such a fine powder, it is easy to measure out and it mixes perfectly without clumps. (I do use an immersion blender to mix. I find mechanical means better for such things and it is easier to clean than a standard blender.) I love that this is supplemented with BCAAs. I have recently become a big fan of BCAAs. They work so well for me in reducing delayed onset muscle soreness, and I have been lifting heavy (for me) weights lately in an attempt to preserve muscle. So I have experienced a lot of delayed onset muscle soreness, but I feel that the BCAAs are doing a good job of helping repair my muscles and ease the soreness. That is a nice plus from this product. Plus, vegetarian diets may be low in BCAAs (although some are found in dairy and eggs). I also like the macronutrient balance here. This is pretty low in fat and carbohydrates. Although I am not strictly tracking macros, it is nice to find a protein source that is pretty much just protein and not much else -- I get plenty of fiber in my diet already from fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains, plus that way I can get my fat somewhere else (since fat does taste quite good!), like in using actual butter or olive oil to roast vegetables (instead of cooking spray) or maybe having a little real peanut butter instead of just PB2, having an avocado on taco night, etc. I do like that this is made in the US. I feel there are better quality controls in the manufacturing process. Plus, you know, I only feed my pets food and treats made in the US, and I should have standards at least as good for myself! In the end, I highly recommend the double rich chocolate flavor, in particular, as a palatable, easily mixable, nutrient-balanced vegetarian protein formulation. Once I make it through all the protein powder samples I have accumulated, this is a top contender for a repurchase
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