Dymatize ISO100 Protein Powder, 100% Whey Isolate, Gourmet Chocolate

Why it's worth it

ISO100 is hydrolyzed whey isolate: 25 grams of protein with about a gram each of fat and sugar, and the excess lactose filtered out. Reach for it if dairy usually leaves you bloated, or if you're tracking macros down to the gram during a cut.

Hydrolyzed whey really is pre-digested. Enzymes chop the protein chains into short peptides before the powder ever reaches your glass, so your gut has less work to do. Blood amino acid levels rise sooner than they do with a standard isolate. In practice that's a modest edge, and it matters most in the hour after a hard session, when your muscles are primed to use whatever shows up.

The macros are about as lean as whey gets. You get 25 grams of protein with roughly a gram of fat, a gram of sugar and under 120 calories per serving. That works out to about 86% protein by weight. If you're eating in a deficit, your shake shouldn't be competing with dinner for calories, and this one doesn't ask you to make that trade.

From our review of 5 protein powders, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Hydrolyzed whey really is pre-digested
• +The macros are about as lean as whey gets
• +It's the friendliest pick here for a touchy stomach
• +The label holds up under outside scrutiny

What to know

• –You pay a lot more per gram of protein
• –Hydrolysis leaves a faint bitter edge
• –It's lean to a fault if you're trying to gain