Whey Protein Without Sweeteners: Your Best Options

That artificial sweet taste in most protein powders? Not everyone is a fan. Some people get a weird aftertaste, others just want to know exactly what goes into their shake. If you are looking for whey protein without sweeteners, this guide is for you.

Why is there sweetener in whey?

Pure whey tastes like very little. Slightly milky, slightly bland. That is why manufacturers add sweeteners: sucralose, aspartame, stevia or acesulfame-K. It makes the taste bearable without adding sugar and calories.

But some people do not want this. Maybe because of the aftertaste, maybe concerns about artificial substances, or simply because they prefer to control the sweetness themselves.

What are your options?

There are two types of "no sweeteners":

• Completely unsweetened (unflavored) - Pure whey, no flavorings, no sweeteners. Tastes like very little. You can sweeten it yourself with fruit, honey or whatever you like.
• Naturally sweetened - With stevia or monk fruit instead of artificial sweeteners. Technically still sweetened, but without sucralose or aspartame.

What you need depends on your reason. Want zero sweetening agents? Then unflavored is the way to go.

The downsides of unsweetened

Let us be honest: unsweetened whey does not taste great. With water it tastes like milk powder. With milk it is more bearable, but still bland.

The trick is to mix it with something else. Oats, a banana, peanut butter. Then you barely notice the taste.

Unsweetened whey sometimes costs a bit more per kilo. Less demand means less economies of scale for manufacturers.

Which brands sell it?

Most major brands have an unflavored variant:

• Myprotein Impact Whey (Unflavored)
• Bulk Pure Whey (Unflavored)
• NOW Sports Whey Protein (Unflavored)
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (Natural)

Note: "natural" does not always mean without sweeteners. Always check the ingredients list.

Is unsweetened healthier?

That depends on what you mean by "healthy". Sucralose and aspartame are approved by food safety authorities as safe in normal amounts. There is no hard scientific evidence that they are harmful.

But if you prefer eating minimally processed products, or if you are sensitive to certain sweeteners, then unsweetened might be a better choice.

Want to compare whey and filter by ingredients? Check the comparison tool on WheyWijzer for product details.