As mentioned in our Premier Protein review, this is the most popular and most reviewed protein product on Amazon. Today, we shall analyze and finally answer the question “Is Premier Protein good for you?”.
Premier Protein offers a wide range of protein products, with the most popular being their ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes.
These offer 30g of protein, just 1g of sugar, and all 24 essential vitamins and minerals your body needs. They come in various flavors, and Premier Protein shakes are quite affordable as well.
So it’s no surprise that you’ve found them on your search for a healthy protein shake or even a good meal replacement.
That said, where is the trick? Is this too good to be true? Is Premier Protein actually healthy or should you look for other alternatives?
Our top meal shake recommendation
Rootana Real Food Shake
Rootana is our top everyday meal shake, with premium plant-based nutrition from oats, pea protein and golden flaxseed. Its carefully balanced nutritional profile combines protein, complex carbohydrates, fibre, essential fats, vitamins and minerals in a satisfying, convenient meal.
The clean ingredient list uses organic coconut sugar for subtle sweetness, with no stevia, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K or monk fruit. Our review found a mild, pleasantly oaty flavour and smooth texture, without the intense sweetness or lingering sweetener aftertaste of many meal shakes. It becomes creamier with milk or a milk alternative.
Complete ingredients & label facts
Complete ingredients by flavour
Original: oat flour, pea protein isolate, organic coconut sugar, gold flaxseed powder, sunflower lecithin, sunflower oil powder, vitamin and mineral blend (potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, ascorbic acid, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, phylloquinone, retinyl palmitate, zinc oxide, manganese citrate, cholecalciferol, D-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, biotin, folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine HCl, thiamin HCl, riboflavin, chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate), guar gum, xanthan gum.
Dark Chocolate: oat flour, pea protein isolate, organic coconut sugar, gold flaxseed powder, sunflower lecithin, sunflower oil powder, cocoa, natural flavors, vitamin and mineral blend (potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, sodium chloride, ascorbic acid, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, phylloquinone, retinyl palmitate, zinc oxide, manganese citrate, cholecalciferol, D-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, biotin, folic acid, pyridoxine HCl, riboflavin, thiamin HCl, chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate), guar gum, xanthan gum.
Both current US labels show 14 servings per pouch. Contains oats.
| Nutrient | Original · 102 g | Dark Chocolate · 105 g |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 400 kcal | 400 kcal |
| Total fat | 14 g | 14 g |
| Saturated fat | 2 g | 2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 440 mg | 400 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 44 g | 46 g |
| Dietary fiber | 8 g | 9 g |
| Total sugars | 12 g | 12 g |
| Added sugars | 11 g | 11 g |
| Protein | 20 g | 20 g |
All vitamins and minerals, per serving
| Nutrient | Original · 102 g | Dark Chocolate · 105 g |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | 3.8 mcg | 4 mcg |
| Calcium | 270 mg | 280 mg |
| Iron | 8.1 mg | 10.5 mg |
| Potassium | 860 mg | 1070 mg |
| Vitamin A | 180 mcg | 180 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 18 mg | 18 mg |
| Vitamin E | 3 mg | 3 mg |
| Vitamin K | 24 mcg | 24 mcg |
| Thiamin | 0.24 mg | 0.24 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.26 mg | 0.26 mg |
| Niacin | 3.2 mg | 3.2 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg | 0.3 mg |
| Folate | 80 mcg DFE | 80 mcg DFE |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.5 mcg | 0.5 mcg |
| Biotin | 6 mcg | 6 mcg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1 mg | 1 mg |
| Phosphorus | 340 mg | 370 mg |
| Iodine | 30 mcg | 30 mcg |
| Magnesium | 75 mg | 90 mg |
| Zinc | 2 mg | 2 mg |
| Selenium | 11 mcg | 11 mcg |
| Copper | 0.2 mg | 0.2 mg |
| Manganese | 0.5 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Chromium | 7 mcg | 7 mcg |
| Molybdenum | 9 mcg | 9 mcg |
| Chloride | 730 mg | 630 mg |
US labels: Original 102 g; Dark Chocolate 105 g. Official ingredients and nutrition.
Premier Protein Shakes Overview
If you are looking for a protein shake on Amazon or in your local retailer, you’ve definitely come across Premier Protein shakes.
They are the most ubiquitous and popular brands with over 195,000 Amazon reviews!
The brand offers various protein supplements including RTD, powders, and bars. However, their most successful product is their protein RTD, which comes in 13 flavors, costs $2.5 per serving, and it’s gluten-free.
On top of that, when you consider that they provide you with 30g of whey-based protein in only 160kcals and 24 vitamins and minerals, it’s clear why people might like them.
Is Premier Protein Good For You?
Nevertheless, numbers can lie, and often what’s shiny on the outside, it’s not so good on the inside.
It’s important to read the nutritional label carefully to truly understand what Premier Protein is made of, and decide whether Premier Protein is healthy or not.
Nutrition
From a nutritional standpoint, Premier Protein can be considered quite healthy, depending on your use or goals.
If you are planning to use Premier Protein, as a protein supplement to boost your daily intake of protein, then it’s a good option. However, if you are using Premier Protein to replace meals, then it’s not the healthiest option available, and in fact, you will be missing key nutrients.
This is because if used as a meal replacement, Premier Protein should provide you with healthy fats, like omega-3 that our body can only acquire through food. For instance, our omega-3 intake is already low in the US, so using meal replacements that have omega-3 in them would be a much healthier alternative.
Furthermore, Premier Protein shakes have no carbs and no fiber, both which are important for a balanced and healthy diet.
Packed with Artificial Ingredients
Besides, when you look at the ingredients list, you will realize that Premier Protein is made of highly processed ingredients with low nutritional value.
This means that they will not be rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, anti-inflammatory agents, and other phytonutrients that have important roles in boosting your immune system, slowing down aging, reducing the risk of chronic diseases etc.
For some people, acesulfame-k is also an issue. While this artificial sweetener has been approved by the FDA, there have been some studies linking it to an increased risk of brain damage.
Therefore, if you are taking Premier Protein shakes as a supplement, it won’t be a big issue, but if you are using it to replace meals, you should look for healthier alternatives.
Who Is Premier Protein Good for?
So who are Premier Protein shakes good for?
- People who are looking to add protein to their diet
- After-workout snack
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts
Who Shouldn’t Buy Premier Protein?
On the other hand if you are one of the following, you should look for an alternative:
- Looking to use Premier Protein as breakfast or lunch replacement
- People who want to use Premier Protein as a weight-loss shake
- Vegans (their vegan shakes are not great)
- People with lactose intolerance
Conclusion – Is Premier Protein Healthy?
Premier Protein shakes are not the healthiest protein shakes you can buy, despite the positive reviews. However, this doesn’t meant that Premier Protein shakes are bad for you.
These protein shakes have a use case, and Premier Protein shakes can be a good option for those who are looking to increase the protein intake in their diets. With 30g of protein per 160kcal, they have a great protein-to-calorie ratio, and provide you with highly absorbable protein (whey).
However, Premier Protein shakes are not a good option as a meal replacement. They have too much protein, too little carbs, and no essential fats that your body needs to function. Plus, they are packed with low-quality artificial ingredients that are void of nutrients. Rootana is our current recommendation for a powdered meal shake.