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Gold Standard Whey

Company: 
Optimum Nutrition

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Review

Gold Standard Whey has been one of the world’s top-selling protein powders for over a decade. The name implies that this is the gold standard in terms of quality, taste, and performance. Gold Standard Whey has developed a cultlike following among athletes all over the world, being voted #1 supplement for more than 10 years running, which is why Optimum Nutrition as a brand and the Gold Standard label are so iconic among hardcore fitness enthusiasts. You always know what you’re getting: uncompromising quality, effortless mixing, and exceptional results. But enough about what everyone else thinks of Gold Standard Whey—we want to tell you what we think!

Gold Standard Whey Under the Microscope

There’s nothing complicated about the ingredient profile in Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey formula; it’s a simple blend of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey protein peptides.

Whey protein isolates (WPI) are the purest form of whey protein, containing 90 to 95 percent protein. WPI is the primary ingredient in Gold Standard Whey because of its quality. It’s great for people who are lactose intolerant, because it contains little or no lactose. Because of its bioavailability, the body very rapidly and easily absorbs it. This is also a low-fat and low-carb protein source, which is why Gold Standard has only 3 or 4 grams of carbs (depending on the flavour) per serving, and 1 gram of fat per serving.

Next, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey doesn’t just use any whey protein concentrate; it uses ultra-filtered whey protein concentrate (WPC), which contains 80 percent protein. Concentrate also has a little bit of lactose in it, and a slightly higher amount of fat, carbs, and bioavailable compounds, so it’s more filling and digests a little bit slower, to keep you fuller longer. Lastly, whey protein peptides are a by-product of the breakdown of hydrolyzed whey. This type of protein is pre-digested, meaning it’s already broken down into amino acids and is the easiest to absorb. The peptides are chains of 50 amino acids or less; that is to say, they break down even further than the whey protein hydrolyze, so your body can metabolism them even faster.

Whey Gold Standard also contains over 4 grams of glutamine and glutamic acid in each scoop, and more than 5 grams of naturally occurring BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, and valine).

 

 

How to Take Gold Standard Whey

Gold Standard Whey is an incredibly versatile protein! It can be stirred into oatmeal, yogurt, or cottage cheese, but it’s also super-easy and delicious to bake with. Because of its texture and consistency (not to mention the myriad flavours it comes in), Gold Standard Whey is an ideal protein to throw into your next batch of muffins, cookies, brownies, etc. to boost their protein content and make them more macro-friendly.

If you’re taking the more “traditional” route, then it’s amazing just blended with water. Gold Standard Whey is instantized, meaning the powder is made in such a way that it dissolves quickly and readily in water. If you forgot your shaker cup, or don’t have one, you can even add a scoop of Gold Standard Whey to a glass and stir it with a spoon! For a stronger flavour, Optimum Nutrition suggests using 4 to 6 ounces of water or milk, and for a milder flavour, try 8 to 10 ounces of liquid.

Gold Standard Almond Butter pancakes

Ingredients:
- 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
- 3 egg whites
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 packet splenda
- 2 tbsp sugar-free maple syrup

Directions:
1. Mix ingredients in a bowl. Add more water if needed
2. Cook over medium heat.
3. When done, spread 1 tbsp almond butter on top of the pancakes.
4. Sprinkle with 1 packet Splenda sugar-free maple syrup

Final Thoughts on Gold Standard Whey

We let the numbers speak for themselves. Millions of bodybuilders and people into fitness can’t be wrong; Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is a front-runner in the whey protein game for a reason. With over 13 flavours in circulation, and 8 different sizes, there’s no excuse not to try this reputable, popular, trustworthy product. We give the taste, quality, mixability, versatility, and even the label 5 “gold” stars.

Headquartered in Ireland, a massive dairy company called Glanbia Performance Nutrition(GPN) is the parent company of Optimum Nutrition as well as BSN®, Isopure®, Nutramino®, American Body Building®(ABB), and the thinkThin® bar. Yup, five supplement companies under one roof! If you’ve got more supps in your cupboard than a local health food store, then you’ve no doubt heard of most of these brands (maybe not Nutramino as it’s sold mostly in Scandinavia). But these are very popular supplement brands you keep hearing more about because they’re top of the line. Needless to say, Glanbia is kind of a big deal, and its sports supplements are available in over 130 countries. Optimum Nutrition used to focus primarily on its protein powder sales, as it’s won more awards than we can count for its Gold Standard Whey. However, just as the demand from consumers for unique products has grown, so too has Optimum. It now manufactures items in product categories from protein to pre-workouts, multivitamins to mass gainers, and CLAs to casein, to meet the needs of its customers. In terms of total global sales, no other supplement company conglomerate sells more sports supplements than Glanbia Performance Nutrition. It isn’t one of the biggest, it’s the biggest, and we’re proud to be able to say that Glanbia has been advertising with MUSCLE INSIDER since 2012.

If you want to check out the last review on Optimum’s Gold Standard Pre-Workout (good shit) hit it here!

To make sure you don’t miss any of the latest news from Optimum Nutrition, be sure to visit the Optimum Nutrition website and check out their social media channels.

To have a new supplement previewed, email info@muscleinsider.com

Empire Health
By: 
Jaime Filer