Is Premier Protein Healthy (Nutrition Pros and Cons)?

Premier Protein is a company that makes a range of protein-rich products, including shakes, drinks, whey and plant-based protein powders, cereal, and pancakes. You can find Premier Protein shakes at Amazon, grocery stores, or big-box stores like Costco. G protein shakes are a competitor of Premier products.

The company makes these products for people who need a protein boost throughout the day or after working out. Some people use these products as a meal replacement. Premier Protein claims that its products provide a “delicious way to boost protein”. 

According to the Premier Protein website, each protein shake contains 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, three grams of fat, only one gram of sugar, and 24 vitamins and minerals. Since these numbers look relatively good, some people may feel this product is a good choice for a healthy diet. 

The Premier Protein Shake flavors are Pumpkin Spice, Chocolate, Vanilla, Caramel, Café Latte, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cake Batter Delight, Strawberries & Cream, and Winter Mint Chocolate.

With all these flavors and a low fat and sugar content, the taste has to come from somewhere, and some of those ingredients that provide flavor are highly processed or made from chemicals.

Premier Protein shakes have a long list of ingredients, including milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, natural and artificial flavors, inulin, cellulose gel and gum, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, carrageenan, tripotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, hexametaphosphate, various synthetic vitamins, and more.

I’ll break down some of these ingredients in more detail below to help determine if they are a good option.

You may also like my Ghost Protein review.

Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) and Calcium Caseinate

Milk protein concentrates (MPC) and calcium caseinate are dried protein powders made from skim milk undergoing heavy mechanical or chemical processing. Calcium caseinate is from the casein protein in the milk.

Although these ingredients contain less lactose than most dairy products, they may still not be suitable for someone lactose or dairy intolerant or those following a plant-based diet. It can cause digestive issues in some people, like bloating, gas, cramps, and nausea. 

Although they only contain a gram of sugar each, all Premier Protein shakes contain the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Both can potentially harm your health. 

Several studies have revealed that artificial sweeteners can cause chronic gastrointestinal problems and inflammation and may damage the gut microbiome. Research has also shown that artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain and obesity instead of helping you to lose weight. 

Long-term use of sucralose can cause toxicity and can harm the gut biome. Acesulfame potassium has been linked to cancer and may be carcinogenic. 

Premier Protein shakes contain various highly processed food additives, including:

• High Oleic Sunflower Oil
• Natural and Artificial flavors
• Inulin
• Cellulose Gel and Gum
• Carrageenan 
• Tripotassium and Dipotassium Phosphate
• Sodium Hexametaphosphate

Although some additives may not directly impact your health in small quantities, they can add up quickly.

If you drink protein shakes like this every day or regularly consume other products with high levels of food additives, it can cause gastrointestinal problems like bloating, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation. 

Food additives take longer to digest, so they remain in your gut longer than food should and negatively affect gut bacteria. Over time, it can disrupt regulatory pathways in your intestines and cause inflammatory disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The vitamin and mineral blend in Premier Protein shakes includes vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, and B vitamins, zinc, selenium, iron, and potassium. This product also includes all the essential amino acids.

Premier Protein shakes contain modest doses of these synthetically produced vitamins and minerals. None are more than 50% of the RDV.

Instead of adding synthetic vitamins and minerals to your diet through a highly processed product, it’s best to find out whether you are deficient in any of them and use natural supplements from real food or reputable sources.

As a food ingredient, sodium can help enhance flavor, retain moisture, preserve, or help thicken products.

Premier Protein shakes contain a substantial amount of 180mg to 380mg of sodium per serving.

Getting enough sodium in is essential, especially when you do strenuous exercise that causes you to sweat a lot regularly.

But, some people who are sensitive to sodium may need to be cautious of food products that often contain a lot of added sodium.

With a relatively high protein content, Premier Protein shakes can keep you fuller for longer and improve muscle recovery after strenuous workouts. It acts as a protein source which is important for maintaining and building muscle mass.

Protein is an essential nutrient and can help with unwanted weight gain by helping you feel feel longer.

Premier Protein products and shakes contain very little fat and added sugar and are gluten-free. 

For people who want protein drinks on the go or for busy days, these may be a convenient way to get enough protein.

However, Premier Protein shakes are highly processed, contain food additives and artificial sweeteners, and have a high sodium content.

Some ingredients may harm your health and cause potentially nasty side effects like gastrointestinal problems and allergic reactions. This is also the reason why Orgain Protein is not healthy.

These shakes also come in plastic bottles that are not good for the environment.