Customer Reviews

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard, Coffee, 5 Pound

5 star:		(954)
4 star:		(274)
3 star:		(80)
2 star:		(43)
1 star:		(50)

 

 

As a fitness enthusiast and a Science guy, I am always curious to find the real value of a supplement. What works and what does not work. More importantly, I believe the analysis of a product should be based on strong scientific knowledge base, combined with good old fashion practical use of the product, and only then one should come down to the final conclusion.

This product review and analysis was conducted based on 3 parameters

A. Constituents: What comes in the box, the real value of the product
B. Assimilation: How does this product goes down in your system, how much of it will your body absorb
C. Usability : Long term usability and and effects.

I believe this is one of the best supplements available in the market today. The Question is Why?

1. The Quality of protein. Since its manufactured by Glanbia (who owns Optimum nutrition), this product is coming straight from the manufacturer. This is a BIG factor, 90% of the protein supplement companies source their raw materials from third parties, often importing them from third world countries.

100 grams of Whey protein isolate from one source is NOT equal to the 100 gram Whey protein isolate from another. Inferior resources usually have high level of Heavy metals and cattle Hormones. This has been elucidated from recent tests and published widely in the consumer reports. ON aced this report with minimum levels of such harmful residues. Reason is simple, they make their own whey in a plant which has to abide all regulations under US law.

Just for the point of reference. I am from India, and therefore know first hand how many poorly regulated cheese plants export their whey to Europe and US. So make sure your Whey protein is coming from Whey extracted in the US!!

The Additives

2. Ideally, I will prefer the protein powder with no artificial sweetener. But lets face it, such a product will be hard to sell. However, Golds whey keep artificial sweeter to minimum. If you check Bodybuilding.com forums, lots of consumer complain that its not sweet enough. I request all such folks to realise that is actually good for them, if you feel this product is not sufficiently sweet for you. Its better you use lesser amount of hydrant (Milk, water, juice etc), or add a tiny bit of Honey.

The Profile- The Myth about Isolate vs a Blend

3. This might be hard for some people to digest. However, the truth is 96% people who use Whey supplements, will have no additional benefits of taking an Isolate vs a Blend. Please note, when I use the word blend, I mean a product lile Golds whey which is well balanced with Whey isolate and Whey Concentrate. (not any junk product form the market). If you take the blend, you might get 1 gram of extra fat or 2 grams of extra carbs which is absolutely nothing. You can burn this by adding 1.5 minute to your jog routine or walking for 2-3 minutes. You will get the same result and effect as the Isolate, so its not worth spending extra refined Isolate. The Isolate rumor is just a Hype created by the supplement industry. I will repeat this again, if your blend is as good as Golds whey i.e you are getting 24 grams per 30 gram scoop, you don't need an Isolate.

Who all comprise the 4% population who can benefit from an Isolate. First people who are extremely lactose Intolerant. I have used the word extremely since all good products add enzymes to digest the little amount of lactose residue in the supplement. Lactose is not a a bad thing, its simply the milk sugar. So if you are highly allergic to Lactose, Isolate will help (they have negligible levels of lactose)

Second tier of people who can benefit from Isolates are professional athletes who are pepping up for an upcoming competition. This competitive set is consuming 5-8+ scoops of Whey protein daily and therefore will benefit from reduction in additional fat or carbs.

4. Why go for Whey protein blend when you have specialized protein powders with Whey,egg and Casein.

Its simple science, Whey is just better with the best Biological value*. This means that your body will better absorb and use the protein source from Whey more than any other source, therefore no wastage. Egg is also a great resource, which is just behind Whey. However in real world it lags behind Whey substantially, even the delayed absorption rate cannot compensate much. Scientifically it has been proven that Whey is just better, since it doesn't tax your digestive processes as much as an egg protein.

Question of Casein:
Its true that Casein has an edge when it comes to delayed absorption. Its anti-catabolic properties and slow absorption makes it an ideal night time protein. This said, its best when you take Casein in concentrated from, i.e. if you need Casein, take only Caesin, do not mix it with Whey... Why do I say this, Its a big topic based on metabolism response(will add a different thread later). One last thing 24 grams of Whey protein is NOT equal to 24 grams of Casein as the Biological value of Casein is lower than Whey.However Caesin does have its own benifit of delayed response, provided you actually need it.

*Biological Value: Biological value (BV) is a measure of the proportion of absorbed protein from a food which becomes incorporated into the proteins of the organism's body.

Whey protein concentrate: 104
Whole egg: 100
Cow milk: 91
Beef: 80
Casein: 77
Soy: 74

Last Thoughts:
Always keep a note of how much protein you are consuming from Supplements Vs straight from the food. Ideally one should keep protein sources from supplements under 25%, but if your life style is demanding and you are unable to get hold of good meals rich in protein, you should always keep your protein dependency under 50%. In layman terms, for most of us who are looking for fitness, keep it not more than 2 scoops/day. For those who really pump some heavy Iron keep it upto than 3 scoops/day. (let me know if you wish to know the science behind this)

In the end Supplements are only Supplements. The word Supplement has a lot of Drama attached to it, as if, if you don't take a protein shake within 30 minutes of your work out.. you will never make good gain. Total Crap. This is not a make or break factor(its just beneficial). Baring few exceptions. Supplements adds up only 20 percent of your fitness equation.

In the real world, for over 90% of us. The fitness equation is something like this.

A Intensity and Regularity of Workout: 30- 35%
B Lifestyle and Nutritional Choices: 40- 50%
C Supplements : 0 - 20%

So the most important thing is to focus on A%B. Once you have maximized A and B, think about C

Hands down, this is the best Protein powder a person can invest in.
The Good:
-Minimal calories(120 calories per scoop)
-Very low carbs and sugars
-High quality protein.
-High amount of protein person serving(24 grams) Compare to others that only give you 20-22 grams per serving.
-Best tasting protein powder i've used. Tastes just like chocolate milk when using skim milk. Not grainy, chunky, and no bad aftertaste.
-Mixes easily and well.
-Great price for the quantity you get.

The Bad
-NOTHING!

This protein is recommended for people who do moderate workouts. For intense bodybuilding or mass gains, go with a different powder since this is low in calories.

I like this product. Let me first start by saying that I do not think this is "the BEST" protein product ever. However, I've tried many protein products and this comes rather close.

In my honest opinion, "the BEST" protein product out there would have to be "Profect" by Protica Research. It's actually the stuff used by gastric bypass patients. It's 25 grams of high-absorb protein in only 2.7 fluid oz that literally tastes like fruit candy. But, it's way too expensive and a two-months supply can set you back a couple of hundred bucks easily. Because of this, it's better suited strictly toward its medical purposes.

This product is also not the "most cost-effective". There are plenty of other whey products out there that are much much cheaper and have just as much protein content, but they all pretty much taste like doo doo. What's the point in torturing yourself to save a few bucks? Cost is definitely an important factor, but not the most important.

Apart from all of the hype and apart from all of the hate, I would say that I really do like this product. It tasted a bit gross with just plain water, but when I added it to a cup of enriched soymilk, I couldn't tell the difference between it and a regular kid's chocolate milk shake. That is amazing. And this product did mix pretty well. I usually have problems with that when it comes to powdered shakes and it's always great when you can get a shake that doesn't just sit on the bottom of the cup and cement while everything else just floats to the top. I even added a serving of Benefiber fiber supplement, and it still didn't clump up.

One problem that I have with this product is that it does use artificial sweeteners, but I'll let that slide for now, since I don't intake too many products with them anyway. Still, it is a cause for concern for those you who want to avoid such things in your diet entirely.

Overall, 4 of of 5 stars. I'm pleased but not impressed. This product is definitely one of the superior brands out there but most definitely not a "gold standard". A lot could be done to improve it.

First off, this is the best protein drink out there. Cookies and Creme, Chocolate and Vanilla are the best for me. I still have Chocolate Mint (new for me) left to try in the pantry. I will say strawberry ended up being given away to a friend. Not that it was aweful, just not my taste nor close enough to strawberry for me. With that out of the way here's MIXING 101.

The simple way to stir this stuff without LUMPS is as follows:
1. Pour the milk (LOL).
2. Get your spoon.
3. Get your scoop of powder in one hand and spoon in the other hand
4. Start stirring the milk vigorously (get that funnel/tornado look going in the milk!) and add powder in a continuous poor. NEVER stop stirring until scoop is empty. This is extremely important for LUMP FREE drinks :)

I realize this is a "pat the top of your head and rub your stomach" at the same time sort of deal but it's quite simple in practice. Also do not PACK the powder in the scoop so it will easily flow from it. I can add 2 scoops to a single 8-10oz glass of milk without ANY lumps! No joke. No blender. Just a quick stirring of milk and a steady pouring of powder. Hope this helps someone. NO MORE LUMPS! Works with other powders.

Aaron

I've used Optimum Nutrition's Whey Protein for many years and always loved it. Occasionally I have tried other brands and always come back. The price is right and the flavors are usually great. Double Rich Chocolate tastes alright. I'm not going to lie, it doesn't have the best taste. It used to taste quite a bit better but over the years the flavor has changed. Not as good as it used to be but the ingredient list has been improved. With 24 grams of protein and 5 BCAA's, yet only 3 carbs, you can't go wrong!

The powder mixes easily in any shaker bottle. I usually mix it with water, but it tastes better if you mix it with milk and/or some fruit. Goes down easy with a few ice cubes.

Again! This is the best protein on the market for the price! Sure Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey is a more refined product that can be digested a little better, but for the price you can't beat this Gold Standard.

I have also tried a couple other flavors. Double Rich Chocolate was what I used all the time. But the flavor isn't as good as it used to be so I've experimented with some others lately. I still drink it but I like to mix it up and swap flavors now. If you don't like Double Rich Chocolate, try another flavor. You'll eventually find one you will like.

Here is a list of the flavors I have tried and how I rank them (strictly on flavor alone --- 10 = Perfect .... 1 = Bad)

Banana Cream - 9
Strawberry Banana - 5
Delicious Strawberry - 6
Double Rich Chocolate - 7
Extreme Milk Chocolate - 5
Tropical Punch - 6

Protein is not meant to taste perfect. It's meant to be a workout supplement and the taste is just a bonus. Take them for the nutritional benefits and the ability to use them as a meal replacement. ON Gold Standard is simply the best. You can't go wrong!

I have tried many protien powders and this is by FAR the best tasting yet. I have the double rich chocolate and the vanilla ice cream flavors. The vanilla isnt that great though. The chocolate on the other hand.....by far the best. I use half a cup of water and half of milk, half cup of ice, and blend it for about 5 minutes to make it really thick. I found the longer you blend it and the thicker it gets the longer you will feel full. Its also really good if you add a banana too. It taste more like a dessert than a protien shake. Its delicious and I highly recommend it!!

I have been a user of Optimum Nutrition's protein powders for many years. They usually have a good flavor, and mix well. I used to really like the dutch chocolate flavor of their "pro complex" formulation, since the early 90's or so.

Well, lately have been trying some new flavors to see how it goes, you get tired of just chocolate and vanilla. Well, just tried this Chocolate Malt, it is good! It tastes like the Whoppers candy does. Good taste, and not aftertaste.

Also very good is the extreme milk chocolate. I like these 2 chocolates better than the "double rich" chocolate, maybe am just getting tired of that one after several years.

Cookies and cream sounds good but is not. Good at first, but odd aftertaste. Same thing with Rocky Road, I just didn't like the taste.

Vanilla ice cream is very good. I like to add protein to some milk and take it with me in my lunch. Also good is the "Cake Batter" - funny name, but tastes good.

My wife says the Caramel Toffee is a good choice too, it smells very good at least.

The strawberry I've tried in the past, that was a good flavor too. Have not tried banana, coconut, etc.

So in summary there are some good flavors Optimum makes, and it is cheaper to order online vs. the retail store. Oh yes - and get a good shaker or too. My favorite is the smaller sized (16 oz?) "Blenderbottle" - it is sturdy, mixes things smoothly, and is easy to wash out. And here on Amazon it is around $6. Order a couple so you have a backup. Also great to take when you travel. Also like the Tupperware shaker bottle, that is around $10.

So I hope this is helpful info to the reader. My newer policy is to try a new flavor in as small a container as you can order. Then if it is crap, you can try to give it away, or throw it away, and you are not out so much $$. :)

Switch any bodybuilder's Whey Protein drink with some Optimum 100% Whey Protein and watch as he wants to put a barbell through your head for giving him a McDonald's shake. Once you have convinced him that it is indeed a Whey Protein supplement he will want to see the list of ingredients with the important protein to carbohydrates to fat ratios that will prove its fatty content... only to discover that Optimum 100% Whey Protein just beats all other Whey Protein into submission with its astonishing lack of fats and higher protein content. So automatically the bodybuilder assumes that the stuff is probably twice the price of other Whey Protein supplements with half the amount until you whip out the bottle that is twice the size of other Whey Protein supplements for the same price. The end result is simply - every single bodybuilder is switching to Optimum 100% Whey Protein. The only downside is finding out that it is not available and having to pay up for a Whey Protein supplement that gives you less and does not taste as good. Once you are supplementing with Optimum 100% Whey Protein it is difficult to swallow another brand. This stuff has revolutionized bodybuilding supplementation.

Calories: 120
-Calories from Fat: 10
Total Fat: 1g
-Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Cholesterol: 30mg
Total Carbohydrates: 3g
-Sugars: 1g
Protein: 24g
Calcium: 140mg
Sodium: 60mg
Potassium: 220mg
Enzyme Blend: 25mg
-Aminogen --
-Lactase --

As an added note: I have tried a few tastes, and Chocolate (also known as Double Chocolate) is one of best all round for everybody. Also Mint Chocolate tastes great if you like Mint Chocolate. Cookies and Cream is not so bad for a change. Personally I prefer Mint Chocolate.

Been using this brand of protein for a year now and it works well! I personally think it's the best brand out there in terms of taste and price (especially here on Amazon.) But please, get the chocolate, you'll thank me.

General
I've tried a couple of whey protein brands in the past and this one is by far the best. It's the best price for quality in the market and ON really put in some effort to develop a quality product.

Cutting or bulking. Works excellent both ways.
I started using this product in a cutting cycle Feb '11, after being off from working out seriously for about 1-2 years. This helped me drop from a 19% body-fat to a 6.5% (current) without losing any considerable muscle mass (my arms stayed at around 16' through the whole process). After I dropped to a low BFP I started a bulking cycle a couple of weeks ago to try and reach 17ish size in my arms, and then drop body-fat until I'm happy.

I'm telling you, either if it's bulking or cutting if you combine this product with a solid diet you're going to have awesome results.

Serving Size
24gr of protein per serving is pretty good considering that the scoop is relatively small, which means that this product is highly concentrated (being a whey protein isolate).

Flavors
So far I've tried (in both water and skim milk): double rich chocolate, french vanilla, vanilla ice cream, strawberry and cookies and cream. The big winner for me has to be cookies and cream, not to sweet not to stale, just perfect, takes like real ice-cream without that sugary feel. Second place are the vanillas which taste pretty much the same, with a very imperceptible flavor, you might want to try this one if you're planning to make shakes adding other stuff in (such as bananas, peanut butter, etc). Third place comes the chocolate, which tastes like dark chocolate (kind of a sour flavor) which some people love, but I'm not a big fan of. In last comes strawberry, this one tastes like pure sugar for me. It tasted a little better when mixing with milk, but I couldn't believe the label when it said it contained the same amount of sugar as the other flavors because it's just TOO sweet.

Conclusion
I try to maintain protein intake at 1gr per lbs when cutting and 1.5-2gr per lbs when bulking, this is the perfect supplement to achieve those high protein levels. For me, this product constitutes approximately of 40-50% of my daily protein intake and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

Recommendation
If you have a bigger budget you might want to consider ON's HydroBuilder for after training, and taking 100% Gold Standard Whey throughout the day.