best whey protein under 1000 was not something people would ask for a few years back when the whey protein market was dominated by foreign brands. But now, the times have changed, dozens of CHEAP whey proteins are available. So, which is the protein powder under 1000 you’d buy ?
Importing whey protein in India might be the right word to use instead of manufacturing as even now the raw whey is primarily imported from the USA in India.
But nevertheless, the point is we have options available now, and with options comes confusion. That’s where we come in, I reviewed 20 whey proteins under 1000 rs available in India, and shortlisted the best 5 among them.
As a bonus, I’ve also included 2 cheap whey protein powders under 1000 which you should absolutely not buy. More on that later.
Before we get started, I want to highlight the 3 most important metrics that I’ve used to rank these supplements.
Protein Market Update 2022: Important
I've been updating this article with new whey proteins for the last two years with changing market, but since the beginning of the year 2022, it has become increasingly difficult to come across great whey protein supplements under 1000 Rs.
With the rise in inflation up to almost 8% in India in May'22, it's no surprise that things are becoming increasingly more expensive and especially the items imported from the US have been impacted the most and raw protein powder is no exception.
So, reading further you'd find that most of these whey proteins fall in the category of rather "whey proteins under 1500 Rs".
Following are the reasons why I've excluded all the available whey proteins still available under 1000 rupees:
- The cost of raw whey concentrate 80 has almost touched 1000-1200 Rs per Kg when imported in bulk. Now if you add the cost of other ingredients and packaging it almost touches Rs 1500. It’s not possible for anyone to still sell an 80% whey protein for under 1000 Rs without adultering it.
- Some cheap brands are still available for under 1000 Rs as they are fairly new, and not much information is available about them.
- Being a nutritional consultant, I cannot promote cheap whey proteins or any other supplements made with fillers.
Best Whey Protein Under 1000 in India
Checklist to buy any protein powder.
Protein Manufacturer and Import source.
Always check the whey protein label to find the manufacturer information.
Protein manufacturers import raw whey from either the US or Canada. This makes for the primary ingredient in any whey protein supplement you use.
Most Indian manufacturers do not disclose the exact company they procure their whey protein powder from which is not an ideal thing to do. Disclosing your source improves transparency and builds consumer trust.
More often than not whey protein is imported from either of these 3 companies, viz; Hilmar, Davisco, and Glanbia. All three are reputed companies with thousands of clients which include big players like Optimum Nutrition & Muscletech.
Once the whey is imported, Indian manufacturers procure other ingredients like enzymes, stabilizers, preservatives, and packaging. Finally, they use all these items to package them into one and deliver the finished product.
Percentage of Protein delivered per serving
This goes without saying, you want the maximum protein content per serving, and any product which has high carbohydrates or fats is not worth wasting your money on.
When you’re buying a protein powder under 1000 rupees, this becomes even more important as companies try to add fillers like maltodextrin or do amino spiking, usually with cheaper nonessential amino acids like L-Taurine, L-Glycine, Glutamine or Arginine to increase the volume.
Always look at the amino acid profile for any protein on the label and check if they have an unusually high amount of cheaper non-essential amino acids. Also make sure the content of leucine, isoleucine, and valine is high.
Value for Money
A product can be really good and there are good products out there, but do you buy everything out there that is good? No, it also needs to justify the price tag.
And at the same time, one should also understand that they’re not going to get the world’s best protein powder under 1000 Rs, there are going to be trade-offs that one needs to make.
That being said, any concentrate based whey is good value for money if it offers you at least 75% whey protein on an as-is basis and does not contain any cheap fillers or thickeners.
Best Whey Protein Under 1000: 1 KG
1. NAKPRO PERFORM Whey Protein concentrate
Know The Manufacturer
Nakpro Nutrition is a brand of Nakoda Dairy Pvt. Ltd. which was set up in 1940. It is one of the oldest dairy companies in India. They deal in a range of products including spread, ghee, milk powder, and cheddar.
Nakoda Dairy started Nakpro as their subsidiary to market their nutrition supplements which range from protein based supplements to green coffee beans.
Hilmar Cheese Company of the US, which produces the most cheese under a single roof in the world, is their primary whey supplier. Hilmar has many big names in their client list and they export whey protein powder to over 3 dozen countries.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
- Ingredient – Whey protein concentrate and digestive enzymes. No added preservatives, colors, or sweeteners.
- Scoop size – 33 gm. Total 30 servings in 1 Kg pack
- Calories – 126 kcal
- Protein per scoop – 24 gm (72.7%)
- Carbohydrates- 4.4 gm
- Fats – less than 1.2 gm
- Cost per scoop – Rs 43.3 per serving (Calculated on Rs 1299/Kg basis)
PROS
- Great mixability.
- Lab test report provided on amazon actually shows 27.24 gm protein/33 gm serving on a dry basis which is more than what the company claims, this alone makes it the best whey protein under 1000.
- Import source disclosed Hilmar nutrition is a reputable name in the industry.
- Best value for money whey protein in the market.
- Multiple authentication ways are provided. Website as well as SMS.
CONS
- A complete amino acid profile is not disclosed on the product label, only 15 amino acids are mentioned.
- Carbohydrates on the higher side, are not suitable for the ketogenic diet.
- Filteration method not mentioned anywhere.
2. Scitron Raw Whey 100% Whey Protein Concentrate
Know The Manufacturer
Scitron Nutrition Pvt. Ltd. is a sports nutrition brand dealing in health supplements like whey proteins, creatine, BCAA, glutamine, etc. But they do not manufacture them in their own facility, the manufacturing is outsourced to a Maharashtra based company names Vital Neutraceuticals private limited.
Vital Neutraceuticals private limited is a nutraceutical company established in 1995, their products include, fortified dairy products, anti-oxidant supplements, herbal medicines, cereals, and sports nutrition supplements.
Scitron mentions that their raw whey is imported from the USA on their product label, but if you check their website they do mention that it’s sourced from Glanbia Nutriiotns which is one of the biggest players in the whey market in the US. To give you some perspective, Glanbia, an Irish company is the parent company of Optimum Nutrition and exports whey to many other leading manufacturers. So, one can expect their product to be good.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
- Ingredient – Whey protein concentrate. No added preservatives, colours, or sweeteners.
- Scoop size – 30 gm. Total 33 servings in 1 Kg pack
- Calories – 120 kcal
- Protein per scoop – 24 gm (80%)
- Carbohydrates- 1.35 gm
- Fats – less than 2.1 gm
- Cost per scoop – Rs 48.45 per serving (Calculated on Rs 1599/Kg basis)
PROS
- Authentication mechanism provided; a holographic scan using the TRUE MPN app.
- Comes in a box packaging, most products in this budget provide pouches generally.
- Neat & Clean ingredients, no added flavor, sweetener, preservatives, or enzymes.
- Import source disclosed, Glanbia is one of the biggest whey protein manufacturers.
- Very low carbohydrates, ideal for a lean bulk, and for people on the keto diet.
- Complete amino acid profile disclosed on amazon.
CONS
- Average mixability, you’d have to shake for around 30-40 seconds for a lump-free experience.
- Whether the claimed protein is on a dry basis or as-is basis is not mentioned.
- The lab test report is not provided anywhere.
- High price fluctuation, changes on an almost daily basis, usually in the range of 800 and 1000.
- Filteration methods not mentioned anywhere on the product or website.
3. sixpack nutrition raw whey concentrate 80%, 907 gm/2lb
Know The Manufacturer
Sixpack Nutrition is a sports nutrition brand owned by UTH Beverage Factory Pvt Ltd which is a Pune based company established in 2006.
Sixpack nutrition offers concentrate and isolates based whey protein powders along with BCAA, glutamine, creatine, and other sports nutrition products.
They mention on their product as well as on their website about their collab with a US-based research company named innowheyte nutrition USA for product development, sourcing, and quality guidelines. Although I could not find any information about this company, so one would have to go with their claims.
About the source, Sixpack does not mention where they source their whey protein powder from neither on their product nor on their website.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
- Ingredient – Whey protein concentrate and digestive enzymes. No added preservatives, colours, or sweeteners.
- Scoop size – 30 gm. Total 30 servings in 2 lb pack
- Calories – 122 kcal
- Protein per scoop – 24 gm (80%)
- Carbohydrates- 2 gm
- Fats – less than 2 gm
- Cost per scoop – Rs 49.96 per serving (Calculated on Rs 1499/2 lb basis)
PROS
- Clean ingredients, no fillers added.
- Complete amino acid profile disclosed on the product label
- The lab test report is available on Amazon which justifies the company’s claim of 80% protein.
- The authentication app works great, lab reports can be checked for each batch lot which is great.
CONS
- The product does not mention if the 80% protein is on a dry basis or as-is basis. Although from the lab report, it’s obvious that the content is based on a dry basis.
- Import source is disclosed anywhere.
- Filteration process not disclosed.
ALSO READ: 6 Best Whey Protein In India:[Buyer’s Guide with Lab Report]
4. Zenith Nutrition Raw Whey Protein 80%
Know The Manufacturer
Zenith’s Raw Whey Protein 80% is manufactured by Medizen Labs Pvt. Ltd was established in 2011 in Karnataka. Medizen labs are a big established producer of pharmaceutical goods with over 40 trademarks since its inception. They also happen to manufacture Asitis whey protein products.
They import raw whey isolate from a non-disclosed US company, followed by lab testing for its quality from a third party lab and finally packaging and selling it to the end user.
And as far as Zenith nutrition goes, they have a complete line of nutritional products including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, standardized herbal concentrates and amino acids. They have been around the industry since 2007.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
- Ingredient – Whey protein concentrate 80% and digestive enzymes blend. No added preservatives, colours, or sweeteners.
- Scoop size – 30 gm. Total 33 servings in 1 kg pack
- Calories – 118 kcal
- Protein per scoop – 24 gm (80%)
- Carbohydrates- 2.4 gm
- Fats – less than 1.4 gm
- Cost per scoop – Rs 45.42 per serving (Calculated on Rs 1499/1 kg basis)
PROS
- Clean ingredients, no added preservatives or artificial sweetener.
- Complete amino acid profile disclosed on the product label.
- The lab test report is provided.
- The authentication mechanism is provided.
CONS
- Whether the claimed protein is on a dry basis or as-is basis is not mentioned.
- Raw whey source not disclosed.
5. MuscleBlaze Fuel One Raw Whey Protein (Unflavoured, 1 kg)
Know The Manufacturer
You would have already heard of MuscleBlaze, the Indian giant needs no introduction. It was the first Indian brand to introduce its own whey protein back in 2012. The brand is owned by Bright Lifecare Pvt Ltd (blife.in)
Although Blife doesn’t manufacture fuel one themselves, they are more of an outsourcing company, and the product is in fact made by an Indian company known as Sapiens Labs Pvt. Ltd.
Sapiens lab is a Punjab based pharma organization that has existed since 2001. They produce prescription drugs, and multivitamins tablets, and have their own protein supplements branded as SP-G whey protein.
The point to note here is that Sapiens lab does not disclose where they source their raw whey protein powder from, hence it is not possible to comment if it’s from a reputed brand, one can only assume.
Although I do feel, that a massive brand such as MuscleBlaze should be more transparent and provide the importer’s information on the product label or on their website at least, as smaller brands have already started to do so.
NUTRITION PER SERVING
- Ingredient – Whey protein concentrate and digestive enzymes. No added preservatives, colours, or sweeteners.
- Scoop size – 33.3 gm(heaping scoop) Total 30 servings in 1 Kg pack
- Calories – 136.5 kcal
- Protein per scoop – 25 gm (75%)
- Carbohydrates- 5 gm
- Fats – less than 1.83 gm
- Cost per scoop – Rs 49.96 per serving (Calculated on Rs 1499/Kg basis)
PROS
- Brand Value
- Great mixability.
- Good taste and smell.
- Complete amino acid profile disclosed which adds up with the total protein content.
CONS
- Whey import source is not disclosed.
- Filtration method not disclosed.
- Carbohydrates are on the higher side, and not suitable for a low carb diet.
Bonus Content- 2 cheap whey protein powders under 1000 rupees not to buy
Fitness Standard Whey Protein Concentrate
While I was researching this product, I figured out that the filtration method used while refining Fitness standard whey protein concentrate was the ion-exchange method.
If you’re not familiar with the filtration methods used while manufacturing whey, this information might be of use to you.
Whey proteins are filtered at the time of manufacturing to remove the excess carbohydrates and fats from the liquid whey. There are 4 methods to filter any whey protein :
- Microfiltered
- Ulta filtered
- Crossflow micro-filtered
- Ion exchange
The First 3 methods of filtration are natural processes and do not change the nature of the protein molecules. But in the ion-exchange process, which is a chemical process, heat is used to filter the protein.
The problem with this process is that it causes some amino acids of the protein to denature, meaning their original characters are destroyed and they lose their qualities. The point being, a denatured amino acid cannot help you build muscle.
Another problem with this technique is that the immunoglobulins present in the protein, also known as antibodies are reduced or destroyed. Immunoglobulins serve many functions in our bodies, viz; improve immunity, anti-cancer properties, anti-viral properties, improve mineral absorption, rid the body of toxins, and many more.
Big muscles nutrition crude whey concentrate 80 %
Second, on the list is Big muscles nutrition crude whey concentrate, the reason why I’d not recommend this protein is that it has a very high amount of maltodextrin as one of its ingredients.
Maltodextrin is a highly processed plant starch that is sweet in nature and has a very high glycemic index(GI), viz; in the range of 105-140 which is almost 50% more than table sugar.
maltodextrin is a filler that is used as a thickener in supplements to increase their volume, it also acts as a preservative to increase a product’s shelf life. It is 10 times cheaper than other sweeteners such as sucralose or fructose.
If you’re diabetic or your goal is to lose weight, it is a strict no-no as it raises you’re blood glucose levels very quickly and puts a hold on fat loss.
It can be consumed in small amounts by people who want to gain weight, but 6 gm/ serving is a little too much even for them. It is better to completely avoid such cheap fillers when you’re paying good money for a protein supplement.
Another reason why I wouldn’t recommend Big Muscles crude whey is that when some independent lab tests were conducted, the amount of whey protein found in 1 serving (33 gm) was merely 7 gms as opposed to the claim of 24 gms. So please steer away from such brands.
BONUS CONTENT
Read This Article To Know About 6 Best Whey Protein In India | Detailed Review | Lab Reports
Conclusion
With the arrival of so many new whey protein brands, it’s now possible for an average Indian to afford high-quality whey protein at a reasonable price. With a little bit of knowledge, you can pick the right quality products which provide the bang for your bucks. These were the best whey protein under 1000 rupees in India according to my metrics as a nutritional consultant. Do share what you think in the comments and if there is a specific product you’d want me to review. #ChooseBetter
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