(10 lb) Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder

I started taking protein supplements in 2009 when I started weightlifting more seriously. Those first few years I jumped around from brand to brand and flavor to flavor to find something that tasted good and provided the levels of protein containing all nine essential amino acids I needed. In 2010, I became a vegetarian and protein powder became one of my primary sources of protein, alongside yogurt, eggs, and various grains, nuts, and seeds. I found that a lot of the protein powders caused gastrointestinal problems for me, primarily bloating/gas. For many of those years I assumed it was either because the grams of protein per serving were too high or it was due to the lactose naturally occurring in whey and that I had suddenly become lactose-intolerant in my early 20s. Optimum Nutrition's (ON) Gold Standard Whey protein powder became my supplement of choice. My flavor of choice was mocha cappuccino. I had a protein shake every morning until earlier this year (2024), even on the days I didn't weightlift. Since 2009 I had several friends and family members also using protein powders, and I had a few who told me they were quitting them because of the unwanted ingredients they were finding in them, such as artificial sweeteners. Some expressed concerns over cancer risks, others complained the ingredients were causing them stomach problems. Within the past year or so, I also started to take the ingredients in protein powders more seriously, and since ON Gold Standard had been my go-to for all of these years, I started re-thinking my need for this protein powder in my diet. It's been over 10 years since I started taking this stuff, and while I've had gastrointestinal problems that whole time, I have not encountered the more serious effects some believe artificial sweeteners may cause, such as cancer. Who knows, perhaps that is still to come in my future. What I can say is that the cramping, bloating, and gas are simply not worth it. They never were worth it. I think in some sense I may have been slightly addicted to this stuff because trying to quit it was challenging after so many years. And my recovery post-workout was absolutely impacted by cutting this stuff out of my diet. I have no doubt that ON Gold Standard is effective as a post-workout recovery supplement. I have noticed muscle-loss and a general weakness compared to when I was using this protein powder on the daily. If ON would stop using artificial sweeteners, especially acesulfame potassium, I would consider coming back to this product. Until then, I simply won't. You can do your own research, but studies have shown that acesulfame potassium does negatively impact the microbiome of your intestinal tract, and has an effect on your insulin levels. Other studies show it causes weight gain, cardiovascular issues, cognitive decline, and may complicate pregnancy for women. With researchers now looking at artificial sweeteners as a potential culprit for the rise in young people developing stomach and colorectal cancers over the past decade, it certainly gives one pause when thinking about these types of protein powders containing them. In an attempt to avoid acesulfame potassium and many other artificial sweeteners that have been shown to cause negative health effects, particularly aspartame, I've been looking more at natural substitutes. Even there it would seem we aren't completely safe. Erythritol, a sugar alcohol found in fruit, also causes gastrointestinal problems. Stevia, a plant extract, has been shown to be genotoxic in high amounts, causing damage to your DNA. And of course just going back to refined sugars like cane sugar is not a safe alternative because it's been the culprit of a plethora of serious health complications. If you're willing to risk potential negative health outcomes caused by artificial sweeteners, then ON Gold Standard Whey is the best protein powder out there. Several of its flavors are top notch when compared to the chalky stuff other brands put out, but most importantly for me they mix really easily in a shaker with milk or water without becoming overly frothy or foamy. To change things up I also used to add cocoa powder or ground cinnamon to slightly change the flavor when I got bored with the mocha cappuccino. The chocolate mint flavor was also a good option.