Every runner knows how important protein is for their daily intense training. However, they hardly have time to prepare high-protein meals. Thankfully, there is a bunch of best protein powder for runners, formulated to provide high protein on the quest.
Here we give a complete review of Top 6 runners’ protein powder on the market.
Is protein powder good for runners?
Recharge your body after running
100% sure!
Protein is proved to stimulate muscle growth and recovery by rebuilding fibers of muscles tighten after a long run. Thus, athletes consuming sufficient protein are less suffering from risks of injury such as shin splints, tendonitis, knee pains, etc.
Even more excitingly, a journal released in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise revealed that runners in the 5K distance showed a better performance when intaking a high content of protein than those not.
In addition, protein helps improve the immune system, especially after you have been running for a while. To be exact, protein accelerates white-blood cells to protect your body against upper-respiratory issues.
Best protein powder for runners
Vegan Sport Protein Powder Chocolate – The Richest Plant-based Protein Powder
Vega Sport Premium Protein Powder features a big club of runners and athletes who are on the quest for quick and high-protein diets.
It makes sense!
This protein powder is loaded with 30g of gluten-free protein per serving, which are multi-sourced from high-quality veggies, plants, and nuts, such as pea, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and alfalfa protein.
Thus, the Vega Sport Premium is an excellent alternative to traditional whey protein in terms of nutrition.
Nutrition facts out of 43-gram servings:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 30g | 150 | 5g | 3g | 3g | 1g |
More excitingly, there are 6g of Branch-Chained Amino Acids (BCAAs) and 1 billion bacillus probiotics. While BCAAs are proved to reduce the muscle tightness and boost their growth, the probiotics are helpful to counteract stomach issues of high-protein diets.
Just for your note, this protein powder is not formulated to be a meal replacement since it is low-carb and dietary fiber. Thus, you should not take the powder only and skip your daily meal.
Pros:
- High protein and calories
- Packed with 6g of BCAAs
- Rich in bacillus probiotics
- Decent flavor
Cons:
- Lack of some essentials
- Low carbohydrate profile
It is no secret that plant-based proteins are beneficial in the long term and environmentally-friendly. Thus, we recommend taking this Vega Sport Premium rather than other whey protein powder.
TGS All Natural 100% Protein Powder – Best Protein Powder for Runners
It is safe to say that the TGS All Natural 100% Whey Protein is the number one protein powder currently available.
First off, it provides a high amount of protein and calories out of small servings. Secondly, the price is pocket-friendly in terms of pound for pound.
Nutrition facts out of 30-gram servings:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 25g | 130 | 2g | 0g | 2g | 2g |
The quality of protein is a no-brainer. All sources of protein is collected from USA farms before going through an advanced filtration to get all native whey protein. Consequently, valuable amino acids are almost all maintained.
Moreover, there are neither artificial flavors nor sweeteners added to ensure the original taste. Therefore, feel free to control your desirable flavors by adding milk, fruits, or any extracts.
Also, that TGS All Natural 100% Protein Powder uses plastic bags rather than bottle form saves you some dollars and makes it easy to carrying around.
Nevertheless, some consumers reported that the Ziploc works improperly sometimes, which exposes the powder from airs and leaks.
Pros:
- USA-made ingredients
- High and calories per serving
- Portable package
- Unflavored and unsweetened
Cons:
- Leak-able Ziploc
- Low carb
- Low fiber
All in all, TGS All Natural 100% Whey Protein brings peace of mind for protein quest, especially for runners and athletes who need a quick and convenient boost of protein.
Pure Protein Powder Replacement Chocolate – Best Budget Protein Powder
Busy runners will love this Pure Protein Powder Replacement because of the price and nutrition content.
Nutrition facts per 39-gram serving:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 25g | 160 | 8g | 0g | 2.5g | 2g |
As the name might already claim, the Pure Protein Powder is packaged with 100% natural whey protein, devised from milk products. Hence, you can rest assured that the powder provides almost all essential amino acids requested by your body. Specifically, there are 5 grams of BCAAs out of one protein serving.
To our surprise, such a premium protein-source comes at an unexpected price.
Besides the nutrition values, the taste is a plus. Honestly, chocolate and vanilla are the two most common flavors when it comes to protein powder. It can hardly go wrong. However, Pure Protein Powder Replacement is extremely naturally delicious and easy to digest.
Only a small complain about the thickness. Without any fiber, the powder does not thicken up when added to smoothies or other ingredients.
Pros:
- Low-price
- 100% high whey protein from milk
- Delicious taste
Cons:
- No fiber profile
- Lack of nutrition as a meal replacement
- Small size available
Regardless of the thickness, the Pure Protein 100% Whey is high-protein and economically in the long term.
MET-Rx Natural Whey Protein Powder – 4.1/44
MET-Rx is well-known for its sport protein products, which are often rich in protein and calories for athletes. This Natural Whey Protein Powder is no exception.
Nutrition facts per 33-gram serving:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 23g | 130 | 5g | <1g | 2g | 3g |
What we like the best about the MET-Rx is their high-tech productivity.
To be exact, this manufacturer utilizes ultrafiltration to minimize unwanted lactose, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and saturated fat so that the powder is left with almost all-natural whey protein concentrate and isolate.
As a result, one serving of MET-Rx Natural Protein Replacement provides a high protein profile, along with 5g of BCAAs. Both are useful to recover muscles and synthesize protein for thousands of processes in your body.
Without sweeteners or artificial flavors, the powder is surprisingly tasty with just water. It might a little sweeter than other powders, but nothing is overwhelming. The taste is even better if you combine the protein with coconut milk, smoothies, or almond nuts.
However, the thickness is, again, a drawback due to the very-low fiber amount.
Pros:
- High protein and BCAAs
- Premium blending of whey isolate and concentrate
- Low carbs, cholesterol, sugar, and saturated fat
- Thumb-up flavor
Cons:
- Expensive price
- Lack of fiber content
- Bad thickens
The premium source of whey protein will help to build your muscles and charge up your energy quickly. However, the price might make you think twice.
OPTIMUM NUTRITION Platinum Hydrowhey – Quick Absorption Protein Powder
The package of the OPTIMUM NUTRITION Platinum Hydrowhey looks premium. So do the nutrition facts!
Instead of blending the whey isolates with whey concentrate, Optimum nutrition focuses on the platinum hydro whey by breaking down the large whey isolates into smaller ones. Thus, this powder is quickly absorbed into your body.
In addition, there are several helpful amino acids added such as leucine, valine, and isoleucine. Those substances make the powder even easily digestible.
OPTIMUM NUTRITION Platinum Hydrowhey, as a result, will fasten the muscle growth and recovery after intense training.
Nutrition facts per 39-gram serving:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 30g | 140 | 2g | 0g | 1g | <1g |
The protein content is excellent. However, the powder lacks in taste regardless of natural flavor added.
You should mix the powder with fruit smoothies to get a better taste and to add some essential fiber and minerals. Just note that the texture is a little thin since this powder contains very small protein forms.
Pros:
- Fast-acting powder
- High protein and calories
- Easily digestible
- Cheap, pound for pound
Cons:
- Plain taste
- Thin texture
No doubt, Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrowhey is among the top-notch protein powder for runners and gym lovers all over the world.
Musclegen Research GenePro Protein Powder – High-Calorie Powder
Stomach issues are common for those intaking high-protein products frequently.
Thankfully, this Musclegen Research GenePro Protein Powder features a low-gastric impact on digestive disorders. Meanwhile, you can still get high protein per serving.
The protein content is almost pure with less sugar, empty calories, and no added flavor.
Plus, there is a high-protein profile within a very small serving. Hence, you had better use the measurement tool coming with the package rather than a normal spoon.
Nutrition facts per 7.2-gram serving:
| Protein | Calories | Carbohydrates | Dietary Fiber | Fat | Sugar |
| 30g | 58.7 | 0.6g | 0g | 3g | 0.6g |
The downside is the powder is completely tasteless. Hence, you had better mix it with some flavor beverages to leverage the taste.
Whether hot or cold is fine, but the lukewarm temperature is the best.
Pros:
- Friendly for digestive disorders
- High protein per small servings
- Low sugar
Cons:
- Expensive
- Low calories
- Tasteless
We recommend this pure and safe protein for anyone experiencing gastric distress. Just enjoy the high protein content ever!
What to look for when buying a protein powder for runners?
Always investigate carefully before you intend to start intaking high-protein diets. You had better consult your doctor, coaches, or personal trainers if there is anybody.
If not, please take some following rules in mind.
Types of protein
Although plant-based protein is beneficial in the long term, it often provides less protein per serving. Not to mention, it lacks some essential amino acids requested by our body.
Thus, we still recommend whey protein for runners who need a rich source of protein and BCAAs.
If you are a vegan athlete, you can still pick a plant-based protein. However, choose ones that feature pea, rice, hemp, or all of those in their ingredients.
The amount of protein consumed daily
Protein powder for runners is hot, but over is not!
Moreover, protein powder is far from meal replacement. Runners should still intake protein and other nutrition from meals and supplements throughout the day.
Do some calculations about how much protein you need, based on your body weight, the available protein in other foods and drinks, and your daily training program.
According to USDA’s Recommended Dietary Allowance, athletes like professional runners should consume 1.0-1.6 g of protein per kilos, equivalent to 0.45-0.72 per pound. A bit overdosing is still acceptable.
High-carb protein powder
For runners, carbohydrates are as important as protein content because long-distance running eats up the carbs quickly.
When it comes to protein powder, you should choose those rich in protein and carbs so you can get both within one drink. Otherwise, intake additional carbs from meals and supplements.
Stomach issues
High whey protein profile causes side effects, most commonly related to digestive problems such as pains, cramps, bloating, or even diarrhea.
If you have a sensitive digestion system, choose wisely. There are still some protein powders that are high-protein and digestively-friendly. Take the Musclegen Research GenePro Protein Powder, for example.
Should you drink protein shakes after running?
Taking some protein shakes during a run is not technically recommended. Before or after a workout is both helpful, but after running is more beneficial.
Within 30 minutes after running, our body uses more energy and protein to fix tears in muscle and rebuild the fibers. During this magic-window time frame, nutrients are taken up more quickly to kick-start the posture for muscle repair and recovery.
Best choice
Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrowhey is the best out of all the best protein powder for runners. Not only does the powder feature a high and premium protein content, but it is also fast-absorbed into your body and show a boost of energy quickly. The price is also affordable thinking of the measurements and nutrition facts.
Get it now!
