Top 7 Low Sodium Protein Powders [Upd. 2023]
7
Protein Powders Reviewed
74
Hours of Research
96
Reviews Examined
3
Experts Interviewed
Published by David Williams
As an engineer, David loves technical product comparison and analyzing the data to assess top products.
Table of Contents
Most consumers spend billions of dollars annually on protein powders that promise to make them feel healthier, lose weight, and add muscle. Little do they know that they’re unwittingly adding something unwanted as they chase better health – excess sodium.
Research shows that out of the 81 protein powders tested, 70 of them contained a higher amount of sodium content than the nutritional facts care to admit. (1)
But why so much sodium content?
Most of these powders promise rapid muscle growth. Excess sodium causes significant bloating, which tricks consumers into believing they’ve added muscle mass when they weigh themselves.
In this article, we’ll highlight the best low-sodium protein powders you can use without worrying about the risks of high sodium.
Read on to learn more.
How to Choose the Best Low Sodium Protein Powder
Before we jump to our top low-sodium protein powder list, here are the attributes to look out for. After all, if you go ahead and buy a low-sodium protein powder that falls short on these factors, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice.
- Cost-benefit analysis: Because prices on different brands vary, it’s best to check which brand offers the best value. So, focus on the cost per flavor and serving because these are the most significant determining factors on whether you’ll get the satisfaction you need.
- Sugar content: You should remain mindful of a protein powder’s sugar content, especially if you’re losing weight or are diabetic. A few grams of sugar make a tremendous difference.
- Organic vs. non-organic: There’s an endless debate on the value of organic food vs conventional options. We suggest that if you desire organic products, you ensure they meet the designated standards because organic labels can be misleading.
- Protein value: You’re buying a protein powder because of its protein content. So, the higher the protein content per serving, the more you get for your dollar. Even more, not all protein types are equal, so check the protein type in your chosen powder.
- Sodium: You can find protein powders that contain no sodium or a minimal amount, which may vary between 10mg and 60mg. So, take into account your preferences. The FDA recommends 140 mg per serving and below. The different sodium types are sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, and monosodium glutamate. (2)
- Taste and flavor: While this may or may not be a factor, consider it a bonus if you like your protein powder with a bit of flavor.
Now that you know what to look for when shopping for your low-sodium protein powder, let’s look into the best low-sodium protein powders in the market.
100% Tri-Protein
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
100% Casein
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
My Protein
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
1. Crazy Nutrition 100% Tri-protein
This Crazy Nutrition Tri-protein is a post-workout protein supplement that supports muscle recovery, burning fat, performance, and muscle growth. Its formula offers the body’s correct amount of protein for muscle development.
Furthermore, the Tri-protein contains six different protein sources released in three phases. At each phase, proteins are broken down to aid in muscle growth, strength, and energy. The protein suits athletes and bodybuilders for lean muscle mass, better recovery, and gaining more strength.
Product Specification
This protein powder contains the following per serving:
- Fat-reduced cocoa powder
- 0.92g fat
- 1.58g sugars
- 1.92g carbohydrates
- 23.25g protein
- 6mg DigeZyme® Enzyme Complex
- 111.50 mg energy
- Non-GMO
- Sodium 0.19g per 30g serving
It’s among the best low-sodium protein powders, with 23.25g of protein content per serving. It even serves as a meal replacement shake.
Product Features and Benefits
This protein powder contains whey protein isolate, a critical ingredient that helps keep blood pressure in check and helps you shed excess body weight. In addition, the staggered absorption rate gives your muscles a steady supply of much-needed amino acids. It gives your body more strength and energy than the regular soy, hemp, and other whey protein formulas.
It comes in three great flavors: salted caramel, chocolate, and vanilla. Plus, the powder quickly digests, ensuring fast absorption, an added advantage in post-workout recovery. Also, its low sodium content is an added advantage.
Price
This Crazy Nutrition 100% Tri-protein costs approximately $62.80, with free shipping for orders above $50. Also, you can opt for a subscription that costs $50.24, saving you 20%.
Pros
- It has fast, medium, and slow extended-release protein phase
- The protein has a smooth texture and mixes easily
- Its digestive enzymes prevent stomach upsets, cramps, gas, and bloating
- It has a 90.6% balanced protein blend containing milk protein concentrate, micellar casein, hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, and protein concentrate
Cons
- It’s not suitable for people who are lactose intolerant.
2. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein
Rapid protein usage is necessary before and after exercise to help refuel your recovering muscles, but sometimes delayed digestion and absorption are also beneficial. Because casein proteins are acid-sensitive, they tend to thicken in the stomach.
Thus, it takes twice as long for the Gold Standard 100% Casein to break down.
The powder is excellent for muscle support as you sleep and after a workout. It delivers 24g of slow-digesting casein per scoop.
Product Specification
- 1g fat
- 1g sugar
- 24g casein protein
- 5g of BCAAs
- 9g essential amino acids
- Sodium 130mg
Product Features and Benefits
This protein powder contains high-quality ingredients that help you lose weight while keeping you feeling fuller for longer. In addition, it helps maintain muscle mass in the event of a calorie deficit.
Plus, the protein powder contains essential amino acids, which help maintain healthy muscles during muscle synthesis. Another standout feature is its low-carb/sugar content making it an excellent option for individuals on a ketogenic diet. Also, the Gold Standard 100% Casein is an excellent source of protein for lactose intolerant people.
Price
A 2 lb container costs £44.99, and you’ll get free delivery on orders above £50. Enjoy 15% off the first order when you sign up for the Optimum Nutrition newsletter.
Pros
- Offers 8 hours of sustained amino acid release
- Low lactose, making it ideal for lactose-intolerant people
- It has digestive enzymes that aid in absorption
- It’s low in fat and sugar, making it ideal for weight watchers
Cons
- It has a chalky feel in the mouth
- If you’re looking for quick protein absorption, this protein powder is slow-digesting, making it not ideal.
3. Impact Whey Protein
Excellent for muscle support post-workout and during sleep. This faster-digesting, low-sodium protein provides a range of essential and non-essential amino acids that stimulate growth and recovery.
One reason the Impact whey protein stands out is its absorption rate in the body. That makes it an excellent choice for athletes because of its rapid absorption. And unlike other proteins on the market, this 100% whey protein concentrate contains no other proteins.
Product Specification
Each serving of the Impact Whey Protein contains:
- 1g fat
- 1g sugar
- 25 grams of protein per serving
- 3.6g glutamine
- Sodium 0.13g per serving
- 4.5g BCAAs
Product Features and Benefits
The Whey protein is a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids. It includes 3.6g of glutamine and 4.5g of BCAAs, a naturally occurring protein that helps build and repair new muscle.
Also, with just 103 calories per serving, 1g of carbohydrates, and 1.9g of fat, the Impact Whey protein is perfect for all, regardless of your fitness goal.
The recommended time to take the protein powder is 30-60 minutes post-workout – but it can be taken whenever you want.
Price
250g of the protein powder costs £7.79 for a one-time purchase. You can also enjoy a subscription to swap your flavor anytime, control the frequency, and cancel anytime.
Pros
- It aids in weight loss and has low sodium, depending on the flavor
- Low in sugar, carbs, and amino acids
- It contains BCAAs and essential amino acids
- It has over 40 flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry
- It has a high protein content of 80% per serving
Cons
- Not ideal for lactose-intolerant people
- May cause bloating
4. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein
This Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey protein is among the most widely consumed protein powders on the market. While it comes with less protein and more fat per gram than peptides and isolates, it contains more ingredients offering health benefits like CLA, which aids in weight loss and phospholipids. (3)
Optimum Nutrition, in this case, gives what it promises. A dependable whey protein powder that’s inexpensive and tasty too.
Product Specification
The protein powder contains the following:
- Whey protein isolate
- Whey protein concentrate
- Peptides
- 1g sugar
- 112 kcal calories
- 1.2g fiber
- Sodium 130mg
- 0.5 saturated fat
Product Features and Benefits
This protein powder is quite well-known among athletes for being an affordable, high-quality protein. It wins our top pick in price, though it falls behind in macronutrient breakdown.
The main problem is a relatively high content of carbs and sugar. It may be fine for those on bulking or maintenance, but it may cause some difficulties for athletes who count every gram of carbs in their diet.
Still, it’s excellent in terms of its quality. The brand uses only natural ingredients; a great match if you are searching for protein with no extra additives but also like good deals.
Price
A 5lb tab of the protein powder costs £14.99, and you’ll enjoy free delivery on orders above £50. There’s also a 15% discount on your first order when you sign up for a newsletter.
Pros
- It’s low-carb and has reduced fats and sugar content
- It provides essential amino acids post-workout, which is ideal for muscles
- It has different flavors and mixes well with milk or water
- Supports growth, muscle recovery, and gut health
Cons
- Depending on the flavor, it contains traces of soy and other allergens.
5. THE Diet
THE Diet comes fully loaded with well-researched, diet-specific ingredients. Its premium quality fast and slow-release proteins make the powder ideal for post-workout and any time to keep you saturated with all the protein you need.
To top it off, THE Diet comes in four great flavors: chocolate brownie, salted caramel, strawberry milkshake, and vanilla creme.
Created using the finest ingredients and expert filtration systems, THE Diet caters to your weight loss goals – while giving you a metabolism boost to help you get the most out of your training.
Product Specification
Here are some of this protein powder’s specifications:
- Energy 352 kcal
- Fat 1.5g
- Carbohydrates 8.5g
- Protein 76g
- Sodium 0.64g
- Cinnamon extract 0.6g
- CLA 1.5g
- Glucomannan 3.0g
- Matcha Green Tea 1.5g
This ready-to-mix powder is a blend of Bacillus coagulans, enzymes, cinnamon extract, green tea, vitamin B5, choline, conjugated linoleic acid, and Konjac glucomannan is suitable for vegetarians.
Product Features and Benefits
The protein powder is a unique protein blend refined and purified to fuel your body and is scientifically proven to help grow and maintain your muscles. Furthermore, its pantothenic acid aids you in remaining sharp and on top of your game.
Another attribute is that it contains choline, which converts fat into energy by keeping your lipid metabolism regular, which is perfect for weight loss. Also, the protein powder contains an expertly developed enzyme blend that helps break proteins into amino acids.
You’ll also love that the Matcha green tea in the protein powder adds important polyphenols to the protein powder.
Price
THE Diet retails at £42.24 with free delivery on orders above £65 and free UK delivery on orders above £45. Also, it’s important to note that some postcodes do not feature in this offer.
Pros
- Low carb and sugar content
- Rich in essential amino acids
- It has eight delicious flavors
- It contains 28g of protein per serving
- It has high fiber content, ideal for weight loss
Cons
- Has artificial sweeteners
- It contains soy and milk allergens.
6. Naked Whey 100% Grass-Fed
The Naked Whey protein powder has high-quality ingredients with an outstanding balance in the nutrient breakdown. Plus, Naked doesn’t use extra additives.
Product Specification
- 120 calories
- 25g of proteins per serving
- 3g carbs
- 2g sugar
- 2g fat
- 45mg sodium
Product Features and Benefits
Naked Whey is sourced from grass-fed cows, which offers several health benefits. Each serving of the protein powder offers essential amino acids to build and maintain a lean muscle mass.
In addition, grass-fed whey contains high immune boosters like lysozyme, lactoferrin, and beta-lactoglobulin. The compounds improve the body’s response to fight against infections. (4)
In addition to boosting immunity, the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) helps preserve a lean muscle mass and enables you to burn more fat. Also, both CLA and omega-3 fatty acids support a better metabolism while improving your cardiovascular health.
Price
It’ll cost you $94.99 for a 5lb tab. You don’t expect to buy first-class protein powder cheaply. It costs a little more if you wish to enjoy first-class quality.
Pros
- Convenient packaging
- Tastes good
- From grass-fed cows
- No extra additives
- It offers an excellent nutritional breakdown
Cons
- It contains lactose.
7. Nutiva Organic Hemp Seed Protein Powder
This protein powder has organic whole raw hemp seeds with the oil expeller pressed. The process extracts 80% of the oil content from the seeds.
Nutiva isn’t very tasty because it contains only one gram of sugar and is sodium-free. But you’ll love that it blends well with juices and other shakes.
Product Specification
- 1 g of sugar
- 3 g fat
- 15 g protein
- 110 calories
- Sodium 0mg
Product Features and Benefits
Nutiva is among the best options for a no-sodium protein powder in this list. It is an organic plant-based supplement, which is, on top of that, relatively affordable among other vegan products.
The most exciting part about this protein is the source of it – hemp. It is pretty unpopular on the market but has some valuable benefits. In our case, Nutiva contains no sodium, so it may be a perfect match for athletes with some health issues forcing them to decrease their salt intake.
On the other hand, people who are searching for the highest protein content better skip this option. The serving size is 30 grams, but only 15 are protein. That is, unfortunately, the biggest drawback of most vegan supplements. On the other hand, if you want to increase your protein intake, even 15 grams of it make sense.
Another benefit of Nutiva is the absence of lactose. Athletes with stomach issues may not tolerate whey proteins well, but plant-based options can be a great solution.
Price
A peak protein 16 oz tab costs approximately $20.99. The different flavors and options have different prices. Also, you can save more through the discounts they offer when you buy in bulk or have a subscription.
Pros
- It uses organic, all-natural, organic hemp protein powder
- It contains lower cholesterol levels to high dietary fiber
- Ideal for those who follow keto and paleo diets
- Sodium-free
- Suitable for vegetarians
Cons
- Some people might not like the flat taste
Benefits of Low-Sodium Protein Powder
Excess sodium intake primarily hinders the cardiovascular system, which is harmful to the kidneys, and may make you look plumper than you are. Here are some of the benefits to expect in taking low-sodium protein powders.
1. Keeps Blood Pressure in Check
Your blood pressure is the most severely affected when taking too much sodium. It may spike your blood pressure, leading to numerous heart conditions such as stroke in the long term. Thus, most people prefer to stick to low-sodium protein powders.
2. Bloating
You might experience bloating and other gastrointestinal issues with increased salt intake. So, switching to a low-sodium protein powder is advisable.
3. Swelling
Your level of swelling depends on your sodium intake, which controls fluid balance in the body. If you notice that the face looks plump, it could be a sign of too much sodium intake. It’s high time you switch to low-sodium protein powders.
The Bottom Line
Sodium intake is just as critical as healthy fats, proteins, and carbs intake, and curbing sodium intake is as crucial as curbing sugar intake.
To sum up, the eight protein powders we’ve reviewed are some of the best low-sodium options on the market. They’ll help you stick to your low-sodium diet and help you with muscle building, weight loss, and general well-being.
Remember, these protein powders only supplement a healthy diet and lifestyle. They’re a supplement to whole foods to help you reach your fitness and health goals.
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David Williams
A diet and fitness enthusiast, David is an ex-Army Airborne Ranger and Infantry soldier with decades of fitness and wellness experience. A West Point graduate with a degree in engineering, he focuses on technical research related to fitness, nutrition, and wellness. He loves the beach, and spending time with his wife and daughters.
References
- Labdoor. (2020, July 28). Labdoor: Over 90% of protein supplements contain excess sodium. Labdoor Magazine.
https://magazine.labdoor.com/labdoor-over-90-of-protein-supplements-contain-excess-sodium/ - Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (n.d.). Sodium in your diet. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-diet - WebMD. (n.d.-d). CLA: Health benefits, uses, safety information, dosage, and more. WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cla#:~:text=Conjugated%20linoleic%20acid%2C%20or%20CLA,as%20a%20weight%2Dloss%20aid. Actor, J. K., Hwang, S.-A., & Kruzel, M. L. (2009). Lactoferrin as a natural immune modulator. Current pharmaceutical design.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915836/
