We tried Transparent Labs’ Grass-Fed Whey Protein for ourselves, but we wanted to bring you along on the journey. Based in Utah, Transparent Labs makes a wide variety of sports nutrition supplements, all of which are totally free from artificial ingredients. Of course, the company’s biggest strength may be their transparency: Not only are all their products third party tested, but Transparent Labs also provides certificates of analysis on composition for further peace of mind.
This grass-fed whey isolate is a great option for those who are focused on clean ingredients and grass-fed dairy. It’s got 24g of protein per serving, 130 calories, and no artificial colors or sweeteners. While it’s a little high in cholesterol, if that’s not an ingredient you’re acutely aware of, this is a solid protein powder for anyone on the hunt for a leaner whey concentrate formula.
Main Takeaways
- This protein is made from 100 percent grass-fed whey protein concentrate, which means it didn’t go through the additional filtration process allowing it to keep its immune boosting Immunoglobulins, cysteine, and prebiotic Lactoferrin.
- The macros are ideal for anyone who wants a lean whey concentrate — 24g of protein with only 2.5g of fat and 2g of carbs.
- Transparent Labs contains no artificial flavorings or sweeteners, and comes in Milk Chocolate, Mocha, Salted Caramel, and French Vanilla.
An extremely transparent ingredient list from a company that goes out of its way to provide clear sourcing. This supp packs 24g of protein, and just 2.5g of fat and 2g of carbs per serving.
Transparent Labs Whey Protein Highlights
Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Isolate is made from 100 percent grass-fed whey protein. This formula is also fairly lean, containing only 2.5g of fat, 2g of carbs, and no sugar. Plus, you’ll find added micronutrients like iron, potassium, and calcium.
However, this blend does contain some cholesterol, containing five percent of your recommended daily intake (RDI). You may also find even leaner blends, if that’s something you’re interested in for a cut or weight loss journey.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Whey Protein
- Folks who are specifically looking for a whey protein isolate — this product is made from 100 percent grass-fed whey isolate.
- If you’re looking for a lean whey, you’ll like the macros here: 28g of protein, one gram of fat, and one gram of carbs.
- Anyone who wants micronutrients included in their protein powder will like the iron, potassium, and calcium here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Whey Protein
- Those who want a protein powder with more macros.
- Folks looking for a casein protein will want to look elsewhere, as this is a whey isolate.
- Anyone who is trying to watch their cholesterol intake will likely want to avoid this formula.
Price
You can pick up one tub for just under $60. With 30 servings per tub, this comes out to around $1.99 per serving. That’s pricier than conventional whey isolate, but it’s about what we’d expect to pay for an all-natural, grass-fed whey concentrate.
Formulation
Transparent Labs offers a clean whey concentrate formula with 28g of protein and 130 calories per serving. It also offers a dose of micronutrients and comes in various different flavors. It’s leaner than many whey isolates you’ll find across the market. Here’s a deeper breakdown of all the ingredients in this formula.
Macros
Whey concentrate is the simplest and cheapest kind of whey protein. A lot of times, this means it has a much higher carb and fat content when compared to the pricier whey protein isolate that goes through filtration to reduce these macros. However, Transparent Labs is actually quite low in carbs and fat at just one gram of each, respectively, and it still contains a solid 28 grams of protein.
Micronutrients
As far as micronutrients go, there ‘s eight percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium, five percent of your daily cholesterol, nine percent of your daily sodium, four percent of your daily iron, and four percent of your daily potassium. While there are formulas that contain more added vitamins and minerals, having a dose of calcium, potassium, and iron is a respectable addition.
Sweetener
This product goes out of its way to ensure it’s free of artificial flavors and sweeteners. It’s sweetened with stevia, made from the stevia leaf, and of course, it’s pricier than your artificial sweeteners.
Flavor
This blend comes in Milk Chocolate, Vanilla Oatmeal Cookie, French Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, Unflavored, Strawberry, Vanilla Peanut Butter, Mocha, Cinnamon French Toast.
What to Consider Before Buying Transparent Labs Whey Protein
Transparent Labs is a very clean grass-fed whey protein isolate. However, before you decide this is the formula you want to buy, here are a few things you should consider.
Macros
If you’re looking for a lean, whey protein concentrate, this blend is for you. This whey protein concentrate contains one gram of fat and carbs per serving, but still boasts 28 grams of protein per serving. However, if you’re looking for a whey isolate that may be even leaner, or a casein that may help you bulk, Transparent Labs may not be the best option for you.
Micronutrients
Many protein powders contain additional micronutrients that may help fill nutritional gaps. This formula contains a few vitamins and minerals, but not the most we’ve seen. It has iron, potassium, and calcium, but you won’t find vitamins A, C, or D, like some other blends have. This formula also doesn’t have any helpful digestive enzymes or probiotics.
Since there are no digestive enzymes (like lactase), the lactose here may cause issues for those who are intolerant. And since this was made on equipment that processes products containing eggs, soybeans, wheat, shellfish, tree nuts, and peanut oil, athletes with particularly sensitive allergies may want to steer clear.
Mixability
We found Transparent Labs to have pretty solid mixability in both water and milk. This is something you want to consider if you don’t want any powder left in the bottom of your cup, or you’d rather not feel any powder particles in your mouth. Many protein powders can leave something to be desired in this department, but TL is not one of those powders.
Flavor
Transparent Labs offers 12 different flavors in this protein, so if it’s flavor variety you’re after, you can definitely find it here.
As for the flavor itself, we only tried the Milk Chocolate flavor, and it wasn’t our favorite. It’s all-natural, and had a strong dark chocolate flavor, which we didn’t find to be super creamy. However, if you like dark chocolate, this flavor may be appealing to you. Just be sure to consider your options and read others’ reviews before settling on one of these flavors.
Final Word
We always appreciate when companies put out naturally flavored protein powder, and Transparent Labs’ commitment to transparency is commendable. When a company puts so much effort into keeping everything “natural,” it’s understandable that the final product may not have the perfect taste or an abundance of additional benefits.
This blend is a straightforward whey concentrate: 28 grams of protein, one gram of fat, one gram of carbs, and zero sugar. You’ll find a few vitamins and minerals, but not as many as some other brands offer. This is a lean whey concentrate, but what makes it stand out is its natural ingredients — like grass-fed dairy. Transparent Labs Whey Protein is not the tastiest or the most effective whey protein, but if you like your supplements clean and transparent, you could do worse than this formula.
FAQs
Is Transparent Labs Whey Protein better than a whey isolate?
It depends on your personal goals. A whey concentrate is generally higher in carbs and fat, while a whey isolate is filtered to have little to no carbs or fat. If you’re trying to lose weight, an isolate may be better, but as far as concentrates go, this particular blend is fairly lean itself.
Is Transparent Labs Whey Protein expensive?
This is a pretty expensive whey concentrate. Whey concentrates are generally a cheaper whey option than isolates, but because this blend is natural and transparent, it’s a little pricier than its whey concentrate competitors.
Does Transparent Labs Whey Protein taste good?
We tried the Milk Chocolate, and it wasn’t our favorite flavor. However, if you like dark chocolate, this flavor may actually be great for you, as that is what the Milk Chocolate actually tasted like to us. Plus, it does mix really well, which is a huge plus when it comes to taste.
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Concentrate
Per Serving: $1.74
Pros
- No artificial ingredients
- 3rd party tested
- No soy or gum
Cons
- No digestive enzymes, despite lactose
- A little expensive
- Unusually high in carbs and cholesterol
