Naked Whey Review: A Protein Powder with Squeaky Clean Ingredients
Naked Nutrition
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Now more than ever, health-minded people are interested in more than just calories and macronutrients—they’re interested in ingredient quality, too.
Sports supplements often feature notoriously long ingredient labels, full of unfamiliar ingredients that can sound more industrial than nutritional.
These ingredients aren’t necessarily harmful, but there’s a huge and growing demand for sports supplements with simple, traceable ingredients.
That’s where Naked Nutrition comes in. This brand’s original Naked Whey is a protein powder made with just one ingredient: whey protein from grass-fed cows.
Interested in trying it? In this Naked Whey protein review, we’ll share a few things to keep in mind before you check out.
Key Features
- Made with minimal ingredients, like grass-fed whey and organic coconut sugar
- Informed Choice certified for sport
- Free of artificial ingredients
- Provides 25 grams of protein per serving
Naked Whey Protein Ingredients
Naked Whey is made with simple, high-quality ingredients that are as minimally processed as possible for a protein powder. All the flavors are gluten-free, GMO-free, soy-free and free of artificial flavors, sweeteners and colors. The whey in every flavor is also sourced from grass-fed cows that aren’t given supplemental growth hormones.
The powder is cold-processed, which according to Naked Nutrition is a gentler form of processing that preserves the quality of the ingredients.
Also, Naked Whey grass-fed whey protein powder is Informed Choice certified for sport—meaning it is free of all banned substances identified by the World Anti-Doping Agency. This certification ensures that it can be used without issue by competitive athletes, and what you see on the label is what you get.
Here’s the ingredient list for each flavor:
- Original: whey protein concentrate
- Chocolate: whey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao powder
- Vanilla: whey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, organic natural flavor
- Strawberry: whey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, organic dried strawberries
Nutrition Facts
Nutrient content varies slightly between flavors. Here’s what you’ll find in one 94-gram (two scoop) serving of the original, unflavored Naked Whey protein powder:
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 25 grams
- Fat: Two grams
- Carbohydrates: Three grams
The other flavors all contain 25 grams of protein as well, but more carbs and calories from the addition of coconut sugar as a sweetener. All the flavored varieties contain 150–160 calories and eight grams of carbs per serving.
Naked Whey also has a complete amino acid profile, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids—what your body uses to build proteins—in optimal ratios. Additionally, it contains branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which may help with post-workout muscle recovery.
Price
On the Naked Nutrition website, a five-pound (60-serving) container of Naked Whey in any flavor typically costs $109.99.
If you subscribe, you can save 20 percent on your first shipment and 10 percent on all recurring shipments.
Flavors and Taste
Naked Nutrition Whey Protein is available in four flavors: unflavored, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
Like the unflavored version, the flavored varieties are made with simple, natural ingredients. For instance, the strawberry Naked Whey is flavored with dried strawberries and sweetened with organic coconut sugar.
Reviewers say that the flavored options have a mild, slightly sweet taste. One Amazon reviewer says, “It’s hard for me to drink any powder proteins but this one I like because its flavor is very light. Most protein powders taste so chemically to me.”
Other reviewers also like that Naked Whey doesn’t have the artificial flavor of many other protein powders, but some say it isn’t flavorful enough.
One reviewer on the Naked Nutrition website says, “The strawberry flavor is barely noticeable.”
Related Post: The Best-Tasting Protein Powder on the Market
Mixability
Naked Nutrition Whey Protein has mixed reviews for mixability. Some reviewers say it mixes well, but others say it’s clumpy and can’t be mixed thoroughly with a spoon or in a shaker cup—only a blender.
“It’s hard to blend without getting clumps,” says one Amazon reviewer, “but then again I don’t use a blender or a shaker cup… so I just stir it vigorously.”
However, several reviewers have also noted that it mixes well in hot or cooked foods, like oatmeal or high-protein baked goods.
Who Naked Nutrition Whey Protein Is Best For
Whey is a milk protein that offers several health benefits. Many scientific research studies on protein supplementation use whey protein, so we have a fairly comprehensive understanding of its potential uses.
If you have any of the following health goals, Naked Whey may be a great addition to your supplement routine.
- Muscle growth: Protein and resistance training are two research-backed ingredients for muscle growth. Taken before, during or after a strength training workout, whey protein may help your body repair and build muscle tissue.
- Weight loss: A high-protein diet offers several advantages for weight loss, like helping you feel full, regulating your appetite hormones and making it easier to stick with a calorie deficit. Protein powder can aid weight loss by making it easy to meet your protein goal without overdoing it on calories.
- Protein intake: Finally, protein powder can also be a valuable resource for people struggling to meet their protein needs. Protein intake is particularly important for older people, people who are ill or injured and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Although any whey protein can be helpful for these goals, Naked Whey is a particularly good choice if you are concerned with ingredient quality and sourcing.
Who Naked Nutrition Whey Protein Is Not Best For
Naked Whey may not be suitable for everyone. For instance, it’s not appropriate for vegans or vegetarians, because whey comes from cows.
Additionally, you should avoid Naked Whey and all whey protein if you’re allergic to milk. However, some people with lactose intolerance may be able to tolerate it.
Finally, Naked Whey is costly. It has a much higher price point than protein powders made with lower quality ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners and flavors, or whey from conventionally raised cows. Therefore, it may not be a good fit for all budgets.
Naked Whey FAQs
What is Naked Whey Protein sweetened with?
The chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors of Naked Whey are sweetened with organic coconut sugar.
The original, unflavored version doesn’t contain any added sweetener.
How much protein per serving does Naked Whey protein powder have?
One serving of Naked Whey provides 25 grams of protein.
Is Naked Whey Protein GMO-free?
Yes, Naked Whey is non-GMO.
Is Naked Whey Protein vegan?
No, Naked Whey contains whey protein, which is sourced from cows. However, Naked offers plant-based protein powders made from seeds, brown rice, pea or peanut butter.
Final Thoughts
Naked Whey from Naked Nutrition is a fantastic protein powder for anyone mindful of ingredient sourcing and quality. The flagship Naked Whey contains only whey from grass-fed cows, and the flavored options are sweetened naturally with organic coconut sugar and flavored with real, natural flavors.
It’s also Informed Choice certified, so athletes can trust it’s free of banned ingredients.
Naked Whey isn’t a good choice for vegans, people with milk allergies or people on a tight budget, though. Reviewers also say it can be clumpy and difficult to mix.
Still, if natural, simple and traceable is what you’re looking for in a protein powder, Naked Whey is definitely worth your consideration.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
