Explore the Best Protein Waters and Ingredients to Avoid
Protein water can be a refreshing alternative to traditional smoothies and shakes made with protein powder. But what exactly is protein water? And is it good for you?
Protein water is essentially water infused with protein, most commonly from whey protein or collagen sources. This innovative drink caters to those looking for a quick and easy protein boost without the heaviness of shakes or bars.
Unlike its thicker counterparts, protein water is light and hydrating. People love it because they can quench their thirst while getting their essential amino acids, which are protein’s building blocks that our bodies use to repair tissue and build muscle.
But what sets protein water apart? Its clear consistency and ease of digestion make it an attractive option. Many protein water products contain zero sugar and low calories while packing a good amount of protein per serving—usually around 10-20 grams.
But not all protein water is all that healthy. Many products contain ingredients you should be conscious of, especially if you’re drinking them daily.
Common Protein Water Ingredients
Aside from water, the ingredients used in protein water vary widely by product. Here are some of the most common ingredients to be mindful of:
Whey Protein Isolate
A vast majority of protein water products use whey protein isolate. Unlike whey protein concentrate, isolates are highly processed so they’re void of lactose, which is often preferred by most consumers.
However, these whey protein isolates are subject to high heat, pasteurization methods, mechanical agitation, chemicals, or ultraviolet rays, which often weaken protein bonds or ‘denature’ the protein.
In turn, this processing can severely diminish the quality of the protein, often reducing its absorption and bioavailability, and making it more inflammatory to the body.
Pea Protein
While vegan protein water is less common than whey, there are a handful of products out there that use plant-based protein sources. The most common is pea protein, which comes in the form of hydrolyzed pea protein and pea protein isolate.
Hydrolyzed pea protein is produced through a process called hydrolysis, which breaks down the protein into smaller peptides, which can enhance absorption and digestion due to the smaller peptide size.
Pea protein isolate uses various extraction techniques, like dry fractionation, wet fractionation, salt extraction, and mild fractionation. Pea protein isolate has excellent functional properties, such as water solubility, and often provides more protein than hydrolyzed.
Both types of pea protein–hydrolyzed and isolates–are generally healthy options and digest well for most people. They may lack the level of amino acids compared to whey but still offer a complete protein source with all essential amino acids.
Natural Flavor
“Natural flavor” is a term used in food and beverage labeling that refers to flavoring derived from natural sources, like fruit, vegetable, or animal. However, there are several problems related to the ambiguity and purity of “natural flavors.”
The term “natural flavor” can be used to describe a wide range of ingredients, making it difficult for consumers to know exactly what they are consuming. For example, the “natural beef flavor” in McDonald’s french fries comes from wheat and milk derivatives, not beef.
The FDA’s definition of “natural flavor” does not acknowledge food production or manufacturing methods or the use of synthetic ingredients. Unfortunately, this is one ingredient that’s hard to get around, as it’s found in countless protein water and protein powder supplements.
Stevia
Perhaps the popular sweetener found in both protein water and protein powder, stevia is used liberally in the food and beverage industry because it’s zero calories, zero sugar, and highly sweet.
For most people, stevia is the preferred alternative to sugar. However, some people can stand the taste of it, claiming it has a strong chemical flavor to it.
More importantly, stevia is not always used by itself as a sweetening agent in protein water products. It’s often accompanied by erythritol, which I highlight in great detail below.
Other Sweeteners
As with most protein powders, protein waters contain added sweeteners to make them taste good. Unfortunately, many zero-calorie sweeteners are by no means ‘healthy.’ Here are some of the most common to watch out for:
- Erythritol: Popular protein water products like Protein2O preach the non-blood sugar-spiking properties of this sugar alcohol on their labels. However, in early 2023, new studies revealed problems with erythritol contributing to cardiovascular events, particularly increased blood clot formation, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Sucralose: This artificial sweetener otherwise known as Splenda has been shown to alter blood glucose and insulin levels, not to mention a host of other problems. In short, I would recommend avoiding anything that contains sucralose, especially if you’re trying to avoid sugar. MyVegan’s Vegan Protein Powder contains sucralose in two of its flavors.
- Monk fruit extract: This is one of the healthiest natural sweeteners that’s often preferred for its delicious taste and no health concerns. Not only does it keep blood sugar and insulin levels stable after consumption, but there are no reported side effects, making monk fruit sweetener a winning ingredient. Ready Protein Water is one of the few options that use monk fruit over stevia or sucralose.
Also be conscious of sweeteners like Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K), Aspartame, and Saccharin. These are artificial sweeteners that are far from healthy and should be avoided like the plague. Instead, opt for natural sweeteners that do not contain erythritol.
Is Protein Water Good For You?
Based on what we’ve discovered about whey protein processing and the various sketchy sweeteners being used, many protein waters are not particularly good for you.
While they may provide hydration along with necessary protein and amino acids for recovery, the quality of the ingredients is often questionable.
Personally, I would opt for a BCAA powder over a protein water any day. But if you’re keen on finding some type of protein water to help reach your daily protein goals, there are a few products I would recommend over others.
What are the Best Protein Water Products?
Looking for the best and cleanest protein water products? Here are three choices worth checking out.
Pounamu Protein Water
If you’re looking for whey protein water, Pounamu is one of the better options made from free-range, grass-fed dairy from New Zealand.
Available in 12-ounce cans, each can packs 16g of protein. It’s available in Fresh Peach and Berry Coconut flavors. The Peach flavor contains 6g of carbs and 3g of sugar, while the Berry Coconut has only 3g of carbs and 1g of sugar.
I like that contains just five ingredients: water, whey protein isolate, natural flavor, monk fruit extract, and peach juice. Pounamu is a legitimate brand known for high-quality protein, so this is one brand I trust.
Visit PounamuProtein.com
Macro Mike Plant Protein Water
The only vegan protein water I recommend comes from an Australian brand known as Macro Mike. Unlike the other products, it comes as a drink mix bag with 20 servings.
One serving provides 12 grams of hydrolyzed pea protein peptides, as well as an added essential amino acid blend. It’s also infused with a vitamin B blend, vitamin C, and probiotics. Sweetened with stevia, it also only about 1 gram of carbs.
Macro Mike Plant Protein Water comes in a variety of flavors, including Red Raspberry, Apple Blackcurrant, Pink Lemonade, and Apple & Mango. Though availability may be limited depending on where you’re located, this one brand is worth looking into.
Visit MacroMike.com.au
Ready Protein Water
Another option that uses whey is Ready Protein Water. It comes in a wide variety of flavors, ranging from black cheery and blueberry to cotton candy grape and lemon ice.
Sweetened with monk fruit extract and stevia leaf (no erythritol), it contains zero sugar and will not elevate your blood sugar levels (making it keto-friendly and diabetic-friendly).
In addition to 20 grams of protein in a 16.9-ounce bottle, Ready Protein Water also has naturally occurring electrolytes. It’s one of the better protein waters on the market.
Visit TeamReady.com
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About the Author
This article was written by Tyler Tafelsky, the lead editor here at VeganProteinPowder.reviews. Tyler is an experienced writer in the health and athletic space who has tried hundreds of different plant-based nutritional products and writes about his favorites here on this blog. See Tyler’s full author bio and find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Or visit TylerTafelsky.com to learn more about what he’s up to.