Transparent Labs 100% Whey Protein Isolate Review (Updated 2024)

Transparent Labs offers a wide range of nutritional supplements with quality ingredients minus the unnecessary stuff.

Well, their whey protein isolate is no exception and if you’re serious about achieving your fitness goals; then it’s a must-have. Protein is essential for many bodily processes from tissue growth, to immune function and even hormone regulation.

So, incorporating a quality protein powder in your diet is a no-brainer. Whey is proven to aid in muscle growth and performance but you don’t want just any product. Quality matters and we’ve got your back when it comes to good protein selections.

I tried a few of Transparent Labs products and here’s my unadulterated review of their ProteinSeries 100% whey isolate in French vanilla…

Ingredients

There are very minimal ingredients in this formula which is ideal for those who prefer to be as simple as possible.

Each serving provides 28 grams of clean, 100% grass-fed whey protein isolate which is naturally packed with essential amino acids (building blocks of the body). And the remaining ingredients are natural vanilla flavor (500mg), stevia (200mg), and sodium chloride (salt) (75mg)… that’s it!

The ingredients are all safe for consumption even in the amounts in which they are added, so no worries there. And there are also no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives and the formula is gluten-free.

One thing to note is that there are very minimal vitamins and minerals, plus small amounts of carbs and fats. So, this protein supplement should not replace your meals as it’s a nutritional aid which only supplies high-quality protein.

Whey Concentrate vs. Whey Isolate

So, you’re probably wondering what the difference between these two common forms of whey protein. Well, first off all both are milk-based which are made from the leftovers of the cheese or yogurt making process.

And the main difference between concentrate and isolate is that the latter goes through additional processing to form a more pure protein (90% or more protein). Fats and carbs are reduced and therefore you have a more isolated form. (1)

And as a result, isolate is the more expensive of the two and it’s a better option for those who aren’t as tolerant to lactose. Although, whey concentrate isn’t necessarily a problem for most people. (2)

Now, many products combine both protein forms while others contain either one. But they’re both quality sources and it really depends on which one you prefer.

Nutrition Facts

• 120 calories
• 0g fat
• 0mg cholesterol
• 90mg sodium (4%)
• 1g carbs (0%)
• 0g fiber
• <1g sugar (0g added)
• 28g protein
• 10% calcium, 2% iron, and 2% potassium

If you’re looking for just a protein powder then this is truly your best bet because you won’t get much else besides natural-occurring amino acids! Vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbs are very minimal. Fiber is non-existent and there’s a minuscule amount of sugar.

But if you’re looking to keep your calories on the lower end, then you’ll be a happy camper because there are only 120 per serving.

Benefits

Numerous studies have concluded that whey protein supplementation following resistance training is very beneficial for supporting muscle hypertrophy.

You see, after an intense workout, you have a few hours to maximize the anabolic properties of the protein. And according to research, pre and post-workout meals containing protein should not be separated by any more than 3-4 hours. (3)

So, for example, the shorter your workout; the more time you have to take advantage of the “anabolic window”. But the longer your workout, the less amount of time you’ll have to capitalize on the benefits of muscle protein synthesis (MPS).

But since whey is a fast-digesting protein, it can start to repair the muscle tissue immediately following exercise. And research shows that it has a better initial effect for muscle protein synthesis when compared to slower-digesting forms of protein. (4)

But pre-exercise protein consumption is just as important according to one study; which showed equally positive body composition and performance benefits when compared with post-workout protein intake. This also lends to the fact that the “anabolic window” is based on when your pre-exercise meal was consumed. (5)

But protein should be included in every meal to ensure you’re supplying your muscles with a constant flow of muscle-building nutrients.

Protein is also beneficial for fat loss since it increases satiety and boosts metabolic rate. (6)

How Much Do I need?

Check our protein calculator to figure out how much you need per day to achieve your goals.

But generally, 1.6-2.2kg/day should be a sufficient range to remain within for muscle hypertrophy. And more recent research has actually found that ingesting 40g of protein is more beneficial for MPS than 20g following resistance training. (7, 8)

Taste

There are no artificial sweeteners in this formula but stevia is used to ramp up the natural vanilla flavor. Now, there’s nothing more I can say than “if you like stevia that’s good if you don’t then there are other products out there that don’t use it”.

Taste is subjective and although I don’t mind stevia, others simply refuse to consume anything where it’s used as a sweetener. But I did find the vanilla flavor to be satisfactory.

Mixability

I seldom have an experience where a quality whey protein powder clumps up and doesn’t mix well (probably due to product selection). And this time was no different. Now, I tend to use a blender because I think it gives the best result. But, I also tried to shake up the powder in a bottle and it mixed surprisingly well.

Although, you do have to add the right amount of liquid and shake pretty good to get a good consistency.

But I can’t complain in this regard.

Price

Quality usually comes with a higher price tag which is not unreasonable, especially if the cost is justified. Whey isolate does require an additional process to produce a more pure protein and grass-fed versions tend to be considered better quality as well.

You do get 30 servings per bag which aren’t a low or particularly high amount but this is usually also the case with products at such price points.

Here are the prices based on the number of bags purchased…

• 1 bag: $59
• 2 bags: $109
• 3 bags: $139

Now, would I say that the price is good for this protein? Well, I’d always suggest getting the more premium options if you can afford it. But, there are some great quality protein powders for cheaper; however, you have to be ok with the ingredient profile when making your selection.

And products can differ greatly regarding the quality and number of added ingredients. But it’s entirely preference-based.

Overall Rating

• Ingredients: 9/10
• Taste: 8.5/10
• Mixability: 8.75/10
• Price: 8.25/10

Wrapping Up

Transparent Labs offers an excellent whey isolate option with a completely “transparent” (pun intended) label that hides no ingredients. It’s a simple, yet effective formula that provides quality protein to support your muscle gains and nothing else.

Now, if you’re looking for the cheapest option possible, then you’re not going be thrilled. But like mentioned previously; quality costs a little more.

So, I’d definitely recommended Transparent Labs whey isolate formula if you’re looking for a product that delivers.

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