Max Lugavere is a health and science journalist, filmmaker, and author of the New York Times best-selling book Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. Max also hosts The Genius Life, the #1 health podcast on iTunes and Spotify.
So, it’s safe to say Max knows what he’s talking about when it comes to all things health and supplementation – especially protein powder. Max only endorses the best brands he has tried and tested himself, this is why he uses Perfect Keto Whey Protein Powder. In addition, Max supplements with Vital Proteins Collagen Powder – but as discussed below, this is not a sufficient substitute for whey protein and serves a total different purpose. This why it is best to supplement with both whey and collagen protein.
Max Lugavere on Protein Powder
Max Lugavere’s Protein Powder Brands
In an Instagram post, Max did a deep dive on all things protein powder. Max agrees that protein powder isn’t necessary to build muscle, as you can get adequate protein from food, but you can’t beat the convenience. Max argues that whey protein specifically is a way to increase your protein intake substantially, without significantly raising your calories.
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Here’s what Max had to say about whey protein powder on his Instagram post: “Whey is pretty much the most bioavailable protein you can find, along with animal protein. But if you’re dairy sensitive, you may want to stick with whey protein isolate, which has virtually no lactose or casein (the 2 problematic components of dairy).
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For myself, I prefer whey over veggie protein most of the time. Why? Some studies show that veggie proteins can contain heavy metals. Some protein powders made with rice protein also likely contain trace quantities of arsenic. Whey is just a much cleaner option, FAR less processed, and it’s very effective, having an abundance of BCAAs which are important for muscle building/maintenance. I’ll use veggie protein occasionally in moderation.
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If you go for whey, you don’t need to spend your money on grass-fed whey. It’s way more expensive, and there’s not much of a difference. Grass-fed whey is however more likely supportive of a humane and sustainable farming system, so I buy that, but in terms of health, no difference. Just make sure your protein powder is free of junk sweeteners like sucralose and sweetened with stevia or even plain!”
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With that being said, here is what Max Lugavere looks for in a whey protein powder:
- Whey protein, as it is clean, effective, and has an abundance of BCAAs
- It isn’t necessary to spend extra money on grass-fed whey
- Make sure your protein powder is clean and free of junk sweeteners – you’d be surprised how much just sugar might be in your favorite cookies and cream flavored protein powder
What Brand of Protein Powder Does Max Lugavere Use?
Max Lugavere uses Perfect Keto Whey Protein Powder, and for good reason. Perfect Keto uses isolate whey protein in order to reduce lactose content, and as an added bonus it also includes MCTs (Medium-Chain Triglycerides for the uninitiated keto crowd).
Each scoop is loaded with 15 grams of protein and only has 110 calories. This is impressive considering the added MCTs as well. You would consume almost double that amount of calories to get 15 grams of protein from a ribeye steak, not to mention the additional saturated fat and cholesterol. So save yourself some time, money, and calories and pick up some Perfect Keto Whey Protein Powder.
The Benefits of Whey Protein Powder
Did you know whey protein is one of the most studied supplements in the world? Whey protein is one of the best sources of high quality protein, is easily digestible, and is quickly absorbed.
Whey protein is also rich in amino acids, particularly leucine. Leucine has been proven in studies to be the most anabolic (best at building muscle) of all amino acids. Whey protein is also highly satiating, which can help reduce those late night cravings.
Besides all those muscle building benefits – according to Healthline – whey protein has these additional benefits:
- may lower blood pressure in those with already high blood pressure
- may help treat type 2 diabetes by moderating blood sugar
- help reduce inflammation by reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein
- strengthen the body’s antioxidant defense by reducing oxidative stress and increase glutathione
The benefits of whey protein powder are endless, so it is advisable to add a whey protein supplement to your stack.
Max Lugavere’s Collagen Protein Powder Brand
While collagen powder serves a completely different purpose than whey protein, Max still recommends supplementing with Vital Protein Collagen Powder. In the below Instagram post he had this to say about collagen protein: “I’m a fan of collagen. It’s a protein that is hugely abundant in the human body (1/3 of all bodily protein is collagen), and is a rich source of glycine, an amino acid that we don’t get a lot of in our diets and yet may be important to ingest for a number of important reasons.”
Max also went on to say that collagen protein doesn’t “count” towards your daily protein intake goals, so this is why you would also need Perfect Keto Whey Protein. This is because collagen contains a minimal amount of amino acids, but it does contain glycine – a precursor to your bodies own production of collagen that declines with age.
Supplementing with collagen provides the following benefits:
- May promote healthy bones and joints
- Can help boost skin hydration and elasticity
- Supports healthy hair and nails
- Helps provide body with glycine which declines as we age – aka helps us look and feel younger
Conclusion
Max Lugavere concludes that while protein powder isn’t necessary, it is a great way to get protein into your diet without adding many calories – not to mention the added benefits of BCAAs and the pure convenience of protein powder. Max’s go-to protein brands are Perfect Keto Whey Protein and Vital Collagen Protein. If you want to take your protein intake to the next level, the best way to do this is to invest in a high-quality protein powder.