REVIEW: Nature’s Best ISOPURE. A Very Average Protein.

Posted on August 8th, 2016 By Allie Lewis in Protein Powder Reviews Read Time: 12 mins.

Recently updated on September 26th, 2022 at 09:49 pm

Greetings friends and thanks for stopping by to check out my Nature’s Best Isopure protein powder review! Another day another protein powder review. And this one I’m doing without the assistance of music. Which is the equivalent of trying to workout with no pre workout. Meaning it’s impossible. But you know what? I’m going to power through. Because that’s what I do. I do the impossible. People said, “you can’t write over five hundred supplement reviews”. And to them I said “oh yes I can”. And I’ll write many, many more. Because it’s what I love. And you can’t tell me otherwise. But. Anyways. What are we talking about today? Oh yeah. Isopure. Good old Isopure. I’m actually completely horrified that I’ve gone so long without reviewing this protein powder, which is one of the staples of most supplement stores shelf-space. Isopure has been around forever. I actually remember one of my very first supplement experiences was with the Isopure protein ready-to-drink. And it tasted (and still does actually) like glue. Literally. Glue. And I’ve EATEN glue before. So I would know. But today’s review is different. We aren’t talking about those gross ready-to-drink watery-glue things. We’re talking about their actual protein powders. So in this Nature’s Best Zero-Carb Isopure review I’ll tell you if it tastes like glue, or is actually decent. Got it? Good. Let’s do this.

That was quite the long-winded introduction, so why don’t I try the other side of things and be brief and to-the-point for the remainder of the review. Oh wait that’s impossible for me because I have ADD. And no music. Ahh. I might not make it. Yes I will. Let’s just focus. Let’s start with flavor. Flavor. Flavor. What is the best flavor of Isopure? That’s the info you’re after, right? I thought so. I actually, through a strange encounter with a GNC rep at a nightclub, had the pleasure of trying four different flavors of Isopure…when I woke up the next morning. Oh hush. He was cute. So. Let’s talk flavors. 

The best flavor of Nature’s Best Isopure is probably the Banana Cream. I know I’m going to get some hate mail from you all on this statement but banana-tasting things are bae. Not chocolate, like you probably think. I’m basic don’t get me wrong, but I know my proteins better than you do. And lots of these banana-flavored proteins taste way better than the chocolate alternatives. The banana cream flavor of Isopure is creamy, fruity, and actually tastes like authentic banana, which is more than I can say for some. 

The second-best flavor of Nature’s Best Isopure is, ok here it is, the Dutch Chocolate. Again, I like this one because the texture is nice and creamy, the sweetness level is on point, and the chocolate is nicely executed. Not too bitter, but a nice bite to it that makes it ‘real’. 

The third-best flavor, and by that I mean second-worst flavor for all you half-emptiers out there, is the cookies and cream. This flavor would usually get overlooked I bet because in my opinion it lacks the level of creaminess as the others. But it’s drinkable. It’s just sort of a neutral, milk chocolate taste. I don’t get a whole lot of the ‘cream’ part. Just the cookie I guess.

So the worst flavor, which is totally unfortunate, is the Creamy Vanilla. It’s really a poor effort on the part of Nature’s Best. You’d think vanilla would be the easiest flavor to really get on point, but, alas this flavor is the only one that tastes sort of like the traditional Isopure products- meaning it’s really sort of a ‘glue’ flavor. It’s so bad. Yucky. Very wide range on flavors here. Because the banana is quite good- I’d even venture so far as to say the Isopure banana is an ‘A’ on taste. But the vanilla is like a ‘D’, bringing the overall class average down- like me in 2nd grade through 9th grade. 

So that’s the Isopure flavor breakdown. From Best to worst:

  1. Banana Cream
  2. Dutch Chocolate 
  3. Cookies & Cream
  4. Vanilla
  5. Let’s talk about what’s actually in Isopure Protein Powder now. 

What’s in Nature’s Best Isopure Protein? 

The main ingredient is whey protein. I know that. But let me get this container out real quick and do a deep dive for you guys. YIKES. So. Looks like there was supposed to be two scoops in my shakes. Guess I screwed that up. But that is one large serving size that’s what she said. Lol. Here are the macros when dosed the way they tell you to:

Calories: 210

Total Fat: 1g

Sat Fat: 0.5g

Sodium: 340mg

Sugars: 0g

Protein: 50g

Fifty grams of protein is huge. So I’m going to go out on a limb and say just use one scoop here, unless you’re trying to pack on some serious muscle. The ingredients looks a little something like this: 

  1. Whey Protein Isolate (from dairy/milk)
  2. Vitamin and Amino Acid blend including taurine and a bunch of vitamins
  3. Artificial flavors and sweeteners and colors

Well, well, well. Look who might just be on the amino-spiking train? That’s right. YOU Nature’s Best! When you see an amino like taurine, or glycine, or some other of the ones that seem like they don’t belong standalone in a protein powder, that can usually mean bad things. As in they are putting a LOT of that amino in, and thus saving costs, since that amino quantity goes straight to the protein content. So. Just something to be aware of. This formula isn’t that great. The vitamins are overkill for someone who eats even sort of healthy, and then the cherry on top is the artificial ingredients to flavor it. 

It would be one thing if the flavor was SO good that you can excuse the use of artificial sweetener and flavor, but this product is not. So. Take that for what it’s worth. Let’s rag on this ugly gray tub and finish up. 

Isopure Protein Looks Not Great. 

Ok so maybe it’s not THAT ugly. It’s actually probably a very safe play for a protein powder. It looks serious, kind of sporty, but also maybe a little bit boyish for me. I can get down with masculine-looking stuff, but Isopure doesn’t do it for me. It seriously looks like, hm, an aluminum can of paint. Yes. That’s correct. Paint. It looks like a can of paint! Lol. I wonder if the Isopure designers have experience designing paint cans. I suppose from a textbook design perspective Isopure is fashionable enough. The layout, the spacing, the fonts, they are all done by a professional, and tastefully. I think to me though, it’s just not that clear that you are buying a health product. It is only mildly sporty, and I bet they’ve lost a significant amount of business to their competitors due to them not being able to infer exactly what it’s for, from it’s outward appearance. Because you all know we LOVVE judging books by it’s cover, and quickly at that. I can glance at a guy and judge him and probably his whole family from a split second of a snapchat story. That’s because you’re a shallow witch, Allie. I know. But really- it’s a proxy for how we judge. Isopure isn’t identifiable enough as a protein supplement and thus will get a B minus from me. It looks like paint. Alright let’s wrap this up. 

Nature’s Best Isopure Review Summary

  • Nature’s Best Isopure Flavor Grade: 8.3
  • Nature’s Best Isopure Formula Grade: 7.8
  • Nature’s Best Isopure Appearance Grade: 8.3
  • Nature’s Best Isopure Value Grade: 8.3

I’m going to give Isopure a grade that is just barely above ‘not-sucking’. There’s just too much wrong with it for me to consider it as one of our top-rated protein powders. The banana flavor TASTES ok but outside that you have inconsistent flavor, a really low-end formula, and average-looks. That’s just not true winner, folks.*

Nature’s Best Isopure Final Review Score: 8.0

Allie Lewis

By Allie Lewis

Hi, my name is Allie and reviewing products is my hobby. I am passionate about being fit and active, so making a blog about my experience with different products that help me stay healthy made sense to me. Please contact me at any time if you would like to guest post or advertise on-site.