Gold Standard Plant Protein

I'm a veggie looking to cut down my dairy intake due to concerns around the dairy industry. I weight lift regularly and have protein shakes daily, is there a brand anyone would recommend for vegan protein powder? I last had one about 5 years ago from optimum nutrition that was pea protein and remember it being awful although they may have improved it since. I'd be mixing it with soy milk and prefer chocolate flavour. Thanks!

I don't think it's yes or no. It depends on the supplement. Simple, single-molecule things like l-tyrosine, I buy from a trustworthy, mid-range mass-market company like Nutricost.  Ashwagandha, on the other hand, I buy from Nootropics Depot. Getting the wrong part of the plant or using the wrong extraction can be hazardous to your health or make the supplement pointless. If I was forced to use only one brand for everything I'd pick NOW Foods. They're consistently very good. Best way to choose brands is a cheap subscription to Consumer Lab. It's saved me a lot of money.

(From someone in a calorie deficit + lifting heavy + yoga routine) Since I’ve recently gotten into fitness combining heavy weight training, yoga with a calorie-deficit diet: post-workout protein is important for me. After intense lifting sessions, my body needs fast-absorbing protein for recovery without bloating or gut issues. Here’s my honest experience with three whey isolates: 🥇Isopure Dutch Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate It’s the best for me so far. Texture: Very foamy and thick; feels satisfying and filling. Recovery: Excellent muscle recovery after heavy lifts. Digestion: No bloating, no gut discomfort. Cutting-friendly: Very low carbs and sugar, ideal during a calorie deficit. This one stood out immediately. It feels clean, light on the stomach and highly effective post-workout. 🥈 Wellbeing Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate Dark Chocolate This one is good but not perfect for my digestion. Texture: Slightly foamy; somewhat similar to Isopure. Recovery: Supports muscle recovery well. Digestion: Caused some gut issues for me personally. Price: More affordable than Isopure. This feels like a middle ground between Isopure and ON in terms of texture and overall experience. While it’s effective and budget-friendly, it didn’t sit as comfortably with my stomach. 🥉 Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Isolate Double Rich Chocolate It has great taste, solid performance. Texture: Very foamy and thick Taste: The yummiest of the three. Recovery: Delivers good muscle recovery results. Digestion: Generally fine, but slightly heavier than Isopure. Sugar content: Slightly higher than Isopure and Wellbeing Nutrition- something to consider if cutting strictly. This is a great all-rounder. If taste matters a lot to you and you’re not extremely strict with sugar/carbs, it’s a strong option.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, even at full price, from Costco, is about a 1.15 Canadian a serving, for 24g of protein in 120 calories. I've recently switched to Canadian Protein, which is a brand of protein that's available in bulk, and it works out to around 1.05 CAD/serving, for 27g of protein in 125 calories. Even if you don't buy it from costco, most whey isolate typically will cost less than 1.50 a serving. You just have to mix it yourself.

I haven't checked in the last few months, but I have over a decade of Amazon purchases of Optimum Nutrition whey protein and the prices actually consistently increase by 2%/yr (matching inflation, which is expected).