If you could only use one supplement for the rest of your life, which one would it be? I'd wager that the vast majority of our readers would choose whey protein. Although it is not the most important supplement, its popularity easily surpasses all other products. There are countless reasons why this is so. Protein is an affordable and extremely effective source of protein, which is, after all, crucial for muscle growth.
Content of the review
I even dare to say that whey protein has become a kind of symbol of strengthening - usealmost everyone uses it, and who doesn't leave the gym with a shake in his hand after a workout, it's as if he didn't even work out. Of course, we are aware of your interest in proteins, which is why we are constantly trying toand test other proteins, which we then bring you detailed reviews on. So today we're taking a look at Smart Whey Protein from the legendary Czech company Smartlabs.
When I say that the Smartlabs brand is a living legend on the Czech market, I am not exaggerating at all. In 2007, they introduced the first ever hydrolysate in the Czech Republic, which we will look at in a separate review. The company itself was founded a year earlier and since then it has managed to maintain a very high quality of its products. Among other things, it prides itself on using quality ingredients, avoiding controversial sweeteners (acesulfame K, aspartame) and on its affordable price.
Almost flawless composition
The most important ingredient in protein is, of course, protein. Smart Whey Protein contains a total of 28 grams of protein in one serving, which is really a hefty load. However, it should be noted that this is mainly due to the size of the recommended dose. The larger the dose, the more protein you can logically fit into it. But the same applies to the other ingredients, which can turn out to be quite a big disadvantage. In addition to the 28 grams of protein, you also get 5.6 grams of carbohydrates per serving, which is a lot compared to the competition. In the case of fats, it's a bit better, with about 2 grams of them per serving.
So we can safely say that in the Smart Whey Protein diet, for example, it won't be a happy choice. But the above mentioned 28 grams of protein is a really good prerequisite for building muscle mass. Of course, it contains all essential and semi-essential amino acids, and the total amino acid spectrum contains up to 18 items. I consider the absence of harmful or controversial sweeteners, which unfortunately we can encounter quite often today, to be a big positive. Taking into account all the pros and cons, I have to rate the composition very positively. The biggest flaw is, of course, the high carbohydrate content, but otherwise there is really nothing to criticise. Moreover, the protein is perfectly digestible, which is always a sign of a quality and well-constructed composition.
The unmistakable taste and trouble-free solubility
What is your biggest concern when you buy a new protein? For me personally, it's taste and solubility. If you don't like the taste of a protein or have problems with it not dissolving enough each time you use itdissolving, you probably won't be very happy with it, even if it has absolutely perfect nutritional values. We had the chocolate flavor available for testing, an absolute classic. We've probably all tasted countless chocolate proteins, so we have plenty to compare it to. Personally, I would put Smart Whey Protein in the category of the more hilarious chocolate flavours. The manufacturer used cocoa from unroasted cocoa beans from Ecuador, which sounds much more luxuriousthan the classic "cocoa powder" label you'll find in most manufacturers.
The flavour itself is not very strong, which you will either welcome or not. I'm pretty much fine with it, because the more pronounced the protein is, the sooner you'll overdrink it. Smart Whey Protein is also not too sweet, so if you are looking for a protein with a balanceda balanced flavour but not too strong, you'll definitely find it to your liking. As far as solubility is concerned, I didn't notice any problem while using it. Ultimately, therefore, I rate the taste and solubility very positively.
Unreasonably high recommended dose
When I talked about the high protein content, I mentioned the non-standard size of the recommended dose. The manufacturer recommends taking two heaping scoops, so one dose is 40 grams of protein. This, of course, has a negative impact on how many crowns a single dose will cost you. And in this respect I certainly can not overflow with some great praise. After all, one scoop of Smart Whey Protein costs more than most of the products at the top of our ranking of the best proteins on the market. Of course, you could adjust the dosage, but that would also reduce the protein content, which is one of the biggest pluses of the whole protein. Personally, though, I think that even if you reduce the dosage slightly, you'll get a decent amount ofYou'll also reduce the amount of carbohydrates and the protein will last longer.
Original packaging
When Smart Whey Protein arrives at your home, the first thing that catches your eye is its unusual packaging. Smartlabs packs its proteins in small plastic buckets. At first I didn't know what to think of this choice, but after some time I came to the conclusion that it's absolutely perfect. While it is somewhat impractical in terms of storage, scooping protein from a bucket with a wide opening is incredibly easy. It may seem like a complete triviality, but hunting down the last of the protein from a classic pixel is regularly a major ordeal for me. I have to admit, though, that when you first open the protein, you'll probably be taken aback by how much of the packet is dusty.
Conclusion.
Considering how many proteins we've had the opportunity to try, it's pretty hard to impress us in any way. The protein market is incredibly crowded and coming up with something original is extremely difficult for manufacturers. After some time of testing, you get to the stage where a good protein just isn't good enough. With so many options on the market today, customers are becoming more and more demanding. That's why sometimes, even when reviewing a quality protein, it can feel like we're criticizing it.
Smart Whey Protein is exactly that case. Apart from the, in my opinion, nonsensically set recommended dose and the associated high carbohydrate content, there really isn't much to criticize here. But if I were to say that this is one of the best proteins on the market that you must try at all costs, I wouldn't have a completely clear conscience. Is Smart Whey Protein worth a try? You certainly can't go wrong with it. Is there a better option? Undoubtedly, yes. In this context, I will refer you once again to our ranking of the best proteins, in which you will find only the best proteins on the market.
For today's review, that's all for our part. Of course, we will be glad if you write your opinion about Smart Whey Protein in the comments section. You can also contact us with any questions or comments.
Other expert reviews
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- Biotech Iso Whey Zero [review]: the best isolate on the market?
- Scitec 100% Whey Professional [review]: one of the most popular proteins
- Nutrend Protein [review]: just another lure for money?
- Optimum Nutrition Whey Gold Standard [review]: the gold standard among whey proteins