Bulk Supplements whey protein isolate has never caused me any of those issues. I buy it on Amazon and have been using it for at least a year now without issues.
I like Jarrow unflavored whey as well as bulk supplements whey isolate. I buy when they are on sale on Amazon, always sign up for subscription (set at six months) and always delete my subscriptions periodically because the first order is usually MUCH better discount than subsequently.
Both are relatively cheap, completely neutral tasting and smooth/easy to mix.
The advice doesn't differ from men.
I treat protein bars as candy bars tbh. A sweet treat that has high protein in it. My favorite ones honestly have shit protein per calorie BUT it doesn't use any artificial sweeteners.
Premade protein shakes are a lazy treat for me as well. I mostly reserve them for when i'm gonna be away from home but want a protein shake with me. I'm not the biggest fan due to cost and artificial sweeteners.
Protein powder I use less for shakes and more for flavoring yoghurt. Getting a shaker bottle helps with consistency, but it was just not something I enjoyed very much. I personally opted for a protein powder without artificial sweeteners (Transparent Labs is one example). I have also used just plain whey isolate (BulkSupplements), but remember, plain doesn't mean flavorless!
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So that being said, I try and avoid the artificial sweeteners because that's what I deem 'healthier'. Others may disagree and have no issues with them.
Value for money is going to be protein powder way more than premade shakes or bars. But if you get the nicer brands, it's still gonna be pretty pricy. I compare cost by working out the price per 1g of protein. Then I also compare that cost to buying chicken breast.
Most effective? Protein is protein. From a muscle building perspective, there's nothing different than having some chicken breast or having a protein shake. I prefer whole foods for majority/all of my protein intake on an average day. This comes with other nutrients as well, which I prefer.
Naked worked pretty well mixing wise. Currently on a batch of Bulk Supplements whey isolate. I get unflavored and like how it basically goes into the background of whatever I’m mixing in
bagobok
