When it comes to seeking out the best protein powder, there can be plenty to sort through. Sometimes, it helps to go with a protein shake that’s long been a staple in plenty of athletes’ regimens, such as Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein.
These iconic tubs and containers have graced plenty of countertops and cabinets (including this author’s) thanks to its clean, well-rounded formulation and library of available flavors. The market's most popular whey lives up to its reputation as a solid all-rounder with a huge variety of flavors to choose from.
Optimum Nutrition has been a trusted sports nutrition brand for decades, delivering some of the best creatine supplements, BCAAs, pre-workouts, and more. A name in sports nutrition for over 35 years, Optimum Nutrition provides a wide range of protein, weight gainer, energy and lifestyle nutrition products in over 100 countries.
Optimum Nutrition is a ubiquitous supplement brand of which you can find products on the shelves of many major retailers, virtually and IRL. Walk into any GNC or The Vitamin Shoppe and you’re sure to find multiple flavors of Optimum Nutrition protein powder.
Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey protein powder supplement is formulated to support muscle and post-workout recovery, according to the company. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is a solid protein supplement with a strong macro profile. It’s low-carb, with just 3 to 4 grams per serving depending on the flavor you choose. Optimum Nutrition whey protein comes in many flavors, so it’s unlikely that there’s not at least one you’ll like.
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In total, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein can be an excellent protein powder for both budget-minded athletes thanks to the low costs per serving, as well as beginners getting used to protein supplementation via the rather minimal ingredients and Informed Choice-certified composition.
I recommend Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey protein powder for adults looking for a high-quality protein powder for post-workout recovery or a midday high-protein snack. It’s available in a wide variety of flavors that blend well with water or plant-based mylks (no smoothies or complex recipes required), it’s budget-friendly and easily digested when consumed in moderation.
Key Features and Benefits
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein delivers 24 grams per serving. This ranks highly amongst some of the best whey protein powders as this hearty dosage can make it easier to hit your protein totals each day, all through a mixable, drinkable shake.
According to studies, your protein intake should sit roughly at 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
While carbohydrate and fat counts can differ from flavor to flavor there are two other consistent metrics with this high-quality protein powder outside of protein per serving - calories and BCAAs. Regardless of your chosen taste profile, you can expect 120 calories per serving along with 5.5 grams of branched-chain amino acids.
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BCAAs can be an especially helpful ingredient to look for in protein powders, as studies report that BCAAs can help activate key enzymes responsible for building muscle. It contains 24 grams of protein (primarily whey protein isolate, a whey supplement with most of its non-protein components removed, resulting in at least 90% pure protein) and 5.5 grams of naturally occurring branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) per single-scoop serving, which support muscle metabolism.
Nebie highlights several winning ingredients on the protein powder’s label as well. “I like that there’s functional protein, such as branched-chain amino acids, which is great for post-workout recovery. It contains lecithin for tissue repair and lowering inflammation. It also serves as a source of potassium for those who may need to monitor their intake of the mineral.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein is also gluten-free and free of any artificial growth hormones.
In addition to its third-party certification, our independent labs graded the Vanilla Ice Cream flavor option at an overall A. This protein powder scored in the top 10% of over 150 protein products tested for the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates, and bisphenols.
Plus, Bourgeois states, “It’s interesting that Optimum Nutrition uses a blend of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and hydrolyzed whey protein for its Gold Standard formula. It would be nice to know how much of each type of protein is included in the blend.
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Optimum Nutrition whey protein is a protein blend that consists of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and hydrolyzed whey peptides. People who are lactose intolerant will be happy to know that the whey isolate in this protein powder is heavily filtered, meaning excess lactose has been removed.
The main difference between these two types of proteins is that whey isolate undergoes a more extensive filtration process than concentrate. Thus, it tends to cost more, but it contains fewer fats and carbohydrates. For those sensitive to lactose or those wanting a more protein-heavy formulation, whey isolate may be a better option.
Nutritional Information
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24g |
| Calories | 120 |
| BCAAs | 5.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 3-4g (varies by flavor) |
| Fat | 0.5-1g (varies by flavor) |
Taste and Mixability
Speaking of the flavors, Bourgeois notes, “You’d be hard-pressed to get bored of this protein powder thanks to the 22 available offerings.” One of the main perks of this Optimum Nutrition protein powder is its abundance of flavors. We scored the taste at 4.5 out of 5, too, given the sheer quantity of palate-pleasing tastes to choose from.
Available Flavors: Finding a protein that matches your palate preferences is a must - you’ll be drinking these shakes on a regular basis, after all.
One of the major deterrents from regular protein supplementation is flavor fatigue, or, getting tired of the same tastes day in and day out.
Our team has tried multiple Optimum Nutrition flavors, and every one is ranked a 4 or 5 out of 5. Our product testing team has tried several flavors of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Powder, with five ultimately earning a spot on our guide to the best Optimum Nutrition flavors. There are many, many flavors! My personal favorite is the Double Rich Chocolate flavor, and it’s been a staple in my home for many years. Other members of our team love other various flavors; it’s worth exploring before committing.
I must say: I’m hurt that one reviewer wrote “Double Chocolate is horrible” since that’s my favorite flavor, but to each his own, I suppose. People who complain about the flavor are being way too picky. The double chocolate is totally fine. Not as good as a real chocolate shake obviously but also not unpleasant in the least. It’s protein powder…what do you expect?
In addition to a great taste, ON protein also has great mixability. This is probably partially due to the inclusion of soy lecithin, a common (and, yes, safe) food additive used as an emulsifier. But the protein powder is also instantized, which means the powder mixes quickly and easily with a basic shaker bottle, or even in a cup with a spoon.
In our trials, we mixed Gold Standard Whey Protein in everything from a common glass to your standard shaker cup, countertop blender, and more. For this review, I first tested Optimum Nutrition’s protein powder by mixing it with cold water in a BlenderBottle shaker as a post-workout snack in the late afternoon. The company says the powder mixes easily in a glass with a spoon, but I’m accustomed to using a BlenderBottle instead. Next I tested it when I needed a high-protein afternoon snack by blending it with homemade almond mylk (I use an Almond Cow milk maker to combine almonds, water and a dash of sea salt). I easily preferred that texture over the water-based shake.
Price and Value
Another quality that’s made Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein a go-to for many athletes is the affordable price point. Costs per serving begin at $1.06 with the brand’s largest container size and slowly increase as your tubs become smaller.
Plus, it’s not like you’re paying $1.06 per serving or $2 per serving. We scored the price per serving at 4.5 out of 5 as there are multiple in-between container sizes that can help you find the right price for your means.
For example, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein is available on Amazon in containers of 27, 28, 29, 30, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 141, 146, and 149 servings.
Lastly, we also appreciate that Optimum Nutrition offers Gold Standard Whey Protein in various container sizes, giving you the chance to buy in bulk for a lower price per serving. At the time of this writing, the largest container holds up to 149 servings, while the smallest tub holds about 27.
My husband buys the 5-pound container on Amazon (currently $85.99) since he makes a protein shake with two scoops of the powder after every workout (about five times per week). The price per serving decreases as the size of the container increases. For the largest containers, the price hovers around $1.10 per serving, although it can change even more depending on where you buy it.
I think Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is one of the best protein powder options currently on the market. Of course, it’s no grass-fed, organic, sustainably sourced protein blend like you get with products from Transparent Labs and XWERKS. But you’re paying far less than $2 per serving.
You don’t need to go into debt to support your supplement regimen. Gold Standard Whey Protein is available in multiple container sizes, so a better indication of this protein powder’s cost is the price per serving.
Potential Side Effects and Considerations
In general, whey protein powder is considered safe for consumption. Some people may experience bloating or cramping after consuming protein powder if they are new to it. As your body adjusts and gets used to consuming a large amount of protein at one time, those side effects should go away.
If consumed in excess, Gold Standard Whey protein can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea due to its use of artificial sweetener sucralose as a sugar alternative, according to Nebie. Healthy people without kidney issues may safely consume whey protein. However, Nebie notes this protein powder would not be a good option for people with chronic kidney disease (as they naturally need to limit their protein consumption) and those with poor fluid intake.
Some reviews indicate problems with quality assurance. One buyer wrote that they’d been buying this protein powder in 2-pound tubs for a while and decided to buy a 5-pound tub for a lower cost per serving.
Medical disclaimer: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Review
Third-Party Testing and Quality
According to Catherine Kruppa, a registered dietitian and wellness coach, “Protein powders are not reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. However, we did rate the third-party testing at a conservative 3 out of 5 as we’ve found some protein powders carrying certifications from multiple organizations at once.
Additionally, GGR collaborated with third-party accredited lab Ellipse Analytics to analyze more than 150 protein powder samples for pesticides, heavy metals, and label accuracy and purity. We tested multiple Optimum Nutrition flavors, and all of them ranked highly when compared to their peers. Our Independent Supplement Testing Glossary breaks down our testing processes.
Note: Our site worked with an independent accredited lab, Ellipse Analytics, to test and rate more than 150 protein powders for purity (heavy metals, bisphenols, phthalates, and pesticides) and label accuracy (protein content).
Alternatives to Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Vs. Naturally, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein has some competition within its respective category. While we feel it is a great product for budget-minded, taste-driven athletes, it’s not the lone pick of the bunch.
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is one of our favorite protein powders overall thanks to its protein-heavy makeup, approval from multiple third-party testing organizations, and range of available flavors. However, while the protein count may be higher than Gold Standard Whey Protein, so, too, is the cost.
Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate, on the other hand, is cheaper than Optimum Nutrition, with prices per serving beginning at $0.87.
Available in 11 different flavors, Dymatize ISO100 is stacked with 25 grams of protein, including 5.5 grams of BCAAs and 4.4 grams of glutamine designed to enhance muscular growth and recovery. Dymatize ISO 100 is often compared to Optimum Nutrition 100% Gold Standard Whey since they have a similar price point and macro profile. Here’s a quick comparison of the two.
Classifying a protein powder as “good” can be subjective from one athlete to the next. You can’t reap the protein powder benefits you desire if your supplement doesn’t align with your needs and wants. Depending on your goals, it can also be wise to look at the calorie counts as well as the presence of third-party approval. When looking for a high-quality protein powder, it helps to look at the protein per serving, price per serving, and available flavors.