There are three ways you can think about protein powders and the Paleo lifestyle:
1. You can go against it completely with the belief that powders are processed, and processing is not in agreement with the Paleo diet. You may also make arguments about the heat used in most processes and the unhealthy animals sourced for some powders.
2. You can reason that protein powders may not be entirely Paleo, but there are some healthy options that only break the rules slightly. Sometimes rules can be broken if they are in favor of your health, right? There are many protein powders that you may consider, such as those that source protein from hemp, beef, or egg whites.
3. You can rule that there are some Paleo-friendly protein powders out there, such as MRM All Natural Egg White Protein. This is the closest you will find to a Paleo approved protein powder, and you can read more information about it at the end of this page.
There are many healthy protein powders that you could incorporate into a Paleo lifestyle, but what you ultimately select depends on which of the above groups you fall into. There is a lot of debate on what is and is not acceptable to this lifestyle, so you must make decisions based on your own beliefs and health goals.
The Problem with Whey
Many Paleo believers have attacked whey as if it were something evil. This is because many whey protein powders source their protein from cows that are raised on grain. Since grain is not an approved Paleo food, this makes these protein powders bad choices. The way around this is to use a paleo protein powder that sources its protein from grass-fed cows.
The next argument against whey is that dairy products are not allowed on the Paleo diet. It turns out that the cavemen didn’t milk cows and pour the milk over cereal every morning. For the strict Paleo believer, this will make whey protein powders non-paleo without argument.
If you like to follow a Paleo diet that is not so strict and see the benefit to allowing some small exceptions when they are good for your health, you may want to use an organic whey protein powder that sources its protein from grass-fed cows. There is one excellent option if you want to give organic whey protein a try:
USDA organic certified whey protein sourced from grass-fed cows and then processed at low heat without acid treatment. The cows are not treated with hormones and are raised on sustainable Wisconsin farms. No sweeteners, preservatives, or artificial fillers are added to the final product, so this is as natural as whey protein gets.
What about Vegetarian and Vegan Protein Powders?
If there is a paleo protein powder in existence, certainly it is vegetarian or vegan, right? This may get your hopes up since many vegan and vegetarian products are natural and healthy, but it turns out many protein powders made from non-animal protein sources are not Paleo friendly. This is because they rely upon pea protein and brown rice protein. Since the cavemen did not rely on peas and brown rice for their meals, these forms of protein are typically not accepted in the Paleo lifestyle.
The one way to find a vegetarian or vegan paleo protein powder is to look at all-natural hemp products. Hemp comes from the cannabis plant but does not have the ability to get you high, so it is not like smoking a joint. Most Paleo believers consider it a natural plant source that is perfectly acceptable in its raw form. It is a small leap from “raw form” to a natural hemp protein powder that has been processed, but for many people following the Paleo diet this is an acceptable product if it is organic and natural.
The best hemp-sourced Paleo protein powder is made by Nutiva:
Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein
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The protein in this powder is sourced from USDA certified organic hemp seeds grown on Canadian farms. It provides 11 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber in every serving. The only ingredient is organic hemp protein, so you do not have to worry about added ingredients that may not be Paleo friendly.
Are Beef Protein Powders Acceptable?
Some Paleo followers will argue against beef protein powders because most are made with grain-fed cattle or simply do not disclose whether their cows are grass or grain-fed (which typically means they are grain-fed). If you are not a strict Paleo follower and are satisfied with high quality beef protein, the following product is a great option:
Beverly Ultra 40 Desiccated Liver
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This protein powder sources its protein from beef livers. Not only is it a great source of protein, but it is packed with iron and B-vitamins. The beef is Argentinian, so many users have confidence that unnatural hormones and artificial additives are not used. Of course, that is not advertised so you cannot be certain.
The Best Paleo Protein Powders – Egg White Protein
The argument against egg white protein powder from strict Paleo followers is that you do not know if the eggs are collected from grain-fed animals that were not injected with hormones or fed other unnatural feeds. If you can accept not knowing that information, egg white proteins are right up there with hemp as being the closest thing you can get in terms of a legitimate Paleo protein powder.
What are the best egg white protein powders currently on the market? These are the best out there for those following the Paleo lifestyle:
Now Sports Eggwhite Protein
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This is a trusted brand name offering a pure egg white protein powder with no added ingredients. It does not even contain flavorings, so you may want to cook with it or add it to other ingredients that will give it some life for your taste buds.
MRM All Natural Egg White Protein
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MRM does give you a guarantee that this egg white protein is natural and contains no hormones, dairy, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. It is also cholesterol and fat free! If a protein powder will ever pass inspection from a strict Paleo follower, this is the product that will make the cut.