Whether you are trying to gain muscle, bulk up, increase your protein intake or lose weight, protein shakes are a great way to help you achieve your goals. Not only do they come in a wide variety of flavors, they are easy to make and cost effective. The problem is deciding which protein powder is right for you. Most are vegetarian but even vegans can find soy protein powder so the possibilities are endless. Listed below are five different types of protein powder available on the market today.

Whey Concentrate

When I got to Florida without my blender or juicer I bought a couple of bottles of goodies. One was Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai Tea with Soy Protein by a company which has been around since 1915 - Bolthouse Farms.

Bolthouse Farms is a family farm in the San Joaquin Valley of California. In 1915 the family started vegetable farming in Michigan. Now, on their fourth generation of farmers. They supply close to 80% of the fresh carrots in the United States.

Unless you buy natural whey protein, its almost certain that any protein powders you buy will be loaded with artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. Natural whey protein powders have none of these artificial sweeteners or other synthetic ingredients. They are made from naturally occurring ingredients found in nature.

Many people who use protein powders, namely athletes and body builders, don't care what's in the protein powders they consume. Just as long as they see the results they want to get, they're fine with it.

If you are one of many thousands of individuals who regularly or even semi-consistently drink protein shakes/smoothies, I'd highly encourage you to stop by OptimumSmoothie.com. Even if you're not exactly a protein shake junkie, I at least recommend that you check out the website and see if you're not subsequently enticed by all the great recipes.

Many people spend thousands of dollars and much more time on nutritional supplements hoping to improve their health and maximize their muscle gain and such. However, most people end up buying many supplements that are not only extremely expensive, but are recommended by magazines that are owned by these supplement companies.

Are you overwhelmed by the choices of protein supplements out there? Then when you find something that looks good, it has way too many carbs in it? Are you afraid it will taste bad but you really need to "get your protein in"? Well, I've done the taste testing for you and here's a guide for low-carb dieters and weight loss surgery post ops to the best tasting and most popular protein supplements available and where to get them.