You simply can\'t deny that the market for protein powders continues to expand at a phenomenal rate, partly due to the hype of the various manufacturers.
Did you know it\'s no longer uncommon for some manufacturers to market their protein product with a label displaying a BV of over 100? For those who don\'t know, BV stands for \"Biological Value\", a measurement scale used to determine to what extent a protein is utilized by the body. In theory, however, the highest a BV can be in any protein product is 100%. Oddly enough, \"Biological Value\" is displayed most often on protein powder products such as whey.

Because companies know the average customer will have no idea as to the maximum BV possible, manufacturers often display a BV figure which is far from being accurate...or honest.

The Economics

As is to be expected, it\'s all about economics. Companies are constantly under threat, both from competition as well as from customers. The only way for them to continue turning a profit is if they manufacture their products at the lowest possible cost. Of course, they also need to maintain their high profile marketing at the same time. Inevitably, something has to eventually give.

As you\'ve more than likely already assumed, the quality of product can start to deteriorate, especially for less well-known brands.

Current labeling laws, for example, allow the amount of whey hydrolysate content in a product to be reduced and substituted using whey isolate, without the manufacturer having any obligation to change the label. Considering whey hydrolysate is the second most expensive protein to produce, reducing the amount of it in a product by up to 25% results in a substantial amount of savings for the manufacturer.

Of course I could be wrong, but my guess is you\'d be none the wiser. Do manufacturers really go to such great lengths? Of course they do. Will the results be any less noticeable when compared to the more expensive product? In the vast majority of cases the answer is yes.

The Solution?

There\'s only one way you\'re ever going to be absolutely certain a product contains exactly what the manufacturers say, and that is; you\'ll have to send the product away for testing. Of course, we all know that very few people would bother with that.

Interestingly enough, a recent series of checks carried out by the International Olympic Committee showed that out of 600 legal supplements tested, 150 contained illegal substances which were not mentioned on the labels. These included certain steroids as well as caffeine and also ephedrine. In other words, 25% of the product they tested had misleading labels.

The Truth Exposed

Fortunately, numerous independent companies now carry out their own checks in order to establish which manufacturers follow a proper code of practice and which ones fail miserably. Some which consistently provide accurate labels are: Beverly International, CytoSport, Met-RX, Weider, EAS, and Twinlab. Of course, these are not the only companies providing accurate labels but instead, they were simply featured the most.

The biggest advantage of checks being done by independent companies is that they have no hidden agendas. Instead, results are based on solid information, thus allowing for consumers to make informed decisions.

Another Problem

It\'s undeniable that most protein powders taste awful at best. I\'m not trying to put anyone off protein powders but it\'s the simple truth. Practically any protein powder you taste will leave you with a foul taste in your mouth. Some, after trying them once, will make you vow to never subject your taste buds to such torture again.

Is There a Way Around It?

Yes, sure you can get around it. Simply ask for a few recommendations from people who\'ve tried plenty of them. In fact, I\'ve come across a few protein powders which not only taste great, contain exactly what\'s stated on the labels, and feature high-quality proteins. Admittedly, this list is far from complete and, of course, one has to also remember that personal preference and taste also plays a part.

However, in my opinion, most people will find at least one of the following to be very enjoyable:

* CytoSport Muscle Milk - Vanilla
* Met-Rx Original Version - Vanilla
* Beverly International Ultimate Muscle Protein (don\'t let the name scare you) - Vanilla

As I\'ve mentioned, I\'m sure at least one of the above products will please your taste buds. Try one and see what you think.