Levels Protein Powder Review: An In-Depth Breakdown
You can live low fat and you can live low carb but the macronutrient you shouldn't consistently go low on is protein. I knew protein was important for most of my life but I didn't realize how neglectful I was of it until my mid-20s.
Once I learned its significance, I dove deep into seeking out healthy, high-quality proteins. I had some key criteria in mind, including sourcing from grass-fed sources, low or no sugar content, absence of fillers, and affordability. After trying numerous options, I found myself repeatedly drawn back to Levels Whey Protein Powder. Levels met these criteria and has become a critical part of my weekly routine.
In this review, I'll take you through my experience with Levels Whey Protein Powder, discussing its taste, texture, nutritional value, pros and cons, and how it fits into my fitness and dietary goals. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast looking for a quality protein supplement or someone simply aiming to increase their daily protein intake, read on to discover why Levels might just be the ideal choice for you.
Levels Protein Powder
Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Essential Nutrients: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ingredient Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Health Benefits: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Bottom Line
Levels Whey Protein Powder is a premium, high-quality protein supplement, packing 25g of protein per serving alongside 5.6g of BCAAs and all essential amino acids. It prides itself on transparency, containing no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or fillers. Its ingredient list is concise, predominantly featuring whey protein concentrate with various natural flavorings.
This protein powder shines due to its grass-fed sourcing, absence of added sugars (relying on monk fruit and stevia for sweetness), and its commitment to avoiding artificial additives, hormones, and GMOs. It has a range of flavors that lie in the middle ground between strong and weak flavors. While not the cheapest option, its consistent affordability in the premium protein category is a compelling feature.
In summary, Levels Whey Protein is a safe, effective, and affordable top-tier protein supplement for those seeking a quality protein source.
Levels Whey Protein Powder
From The Manufacturer:
"LEVELS® WHEY
25G PROTEIN
Whey concentrate is the least processed form of whey, which means it’s loaded with high-quality complete protein and essential amino acids.
5.6G BCAAS
The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) found in whey protein can help build lean muscle and support post-workout recovery.‡
No artificial flavors, no fake sweeteners, and no bogus fillers.
You’ll find nothing deceptive in our whey, and only what's necessary. That means no added sugar^, no soy, no fillers, and no artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Made with minimal ingredients and no added flavor."
What’s In Levels Whey Protein Powder?
Whey Protein Concentrate
Flavor. These vary depending on the type. Chocolate has cocoa powder, vanilla bean has vanilla extract, cappuccino has decaffeinated coffee powder, etc.
Sunflower Lecithin
Sea Salt
Stevia Leaf Extract
Monk Fruit Extract
Some flavors also contain "Natural Flavors"
The most basic version ("unflavored") only contains two ingredients: whey protein concentrate and non-GMO sunflower lecithin. Some flavors also contain “natural flavors.” I reached out to Levels to find out what that means. This is what they said,
“For an ingredient to be labeled as a “Natural Flavor,” all of its components
must be natural.
o The “Natural Strawberry Flavor” that we use in our product consists of these three components:
o Natural Flavor: This is essential oils, essences, and extracts from Strawberry and other fruits, vegetables, spices, roots, leaves, or similar plant material.
o Non-GMO Maltodextrin: This acts as a carrier for the Natural Flavor, allowing the essential oils, essences, and extracts to be stable in a powdered form.
o Gum Arabic: Which is a natural dietary fiber that is derived from the Acacia tree. This acts as a binder between the Natural Flavor and the carrier.”
The sunflower lecithinis the only ingredient that made me furrow my brow initially. The company says that it is used “For easy mixing, without it your protein shakes would be lumpy.” Upon further investigation, sunflower lecithin actually has a variety of health benefits and its safer than other forms of lecithin such as soy and corn versions.
Selling Points
Grass-fed whey protein concentrate: Grass-fed cows produce milk that is higher in omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), both of which have been linked to a number of health benefits, including improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and weight loss. It also means that these cows eat what they evolved to eat, grass, and are not fattened up with cheap feed. More on the importance of that here.
No added sugars: Levels Whey Protein Powder is sweetened with monk fruit extract, a natural sweetener that is low in calories and carbohydrates.
No artificial flavors or sweeteners: Levels Whey Protein Powder does not contain any artificial flavors or sweeteners. Instead, they use monk fruit and stevia leaf.
No hormones or GMOs: Levels Whey Protein Powder is made with hormone-free and GMO-free dairy.
Contains amino acids. Levels contains all of the essential amino acids (EAA) and three branch-chain amino acids (BCAA), leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Both are important for muscle growth, repair, and various essential bodily functions.
The flavors. Lots of flavors to choose from: vanilla, vanilla cinnamon, cappuccino, chocolate, chocolate mocha, chocolate peanut butter, double chocolate, strawberry, and unflavored. They're not particularly strong as compared to the flavor of other protein powders which is something I like.
Cost. Dirt cheap protein powder is available but it comes at a cost. That cost is typically in the form of non-reputable brands, low-quality ingredients (artificial dyes, preservatives, fillers), as well as unnecessary and unhealthy ones (sugar, excessive additives). High-quality protein, like Levels, cost more but this has consistently been the least expensive of this grass-fed/higher-quality category that I’ve found.
Third-party tested. Each lot of protein is third-party tested.
It’s processed and packaged in The U.S. ‘Merica
Drawback
Cost. Yes, cost again. While it's the best price I've found for a grass-fed whey protein powder, these higher-quality protein powders tend to be more expensive than lower-quality ones.
Who Do I Recommend It For?
Those who don't get enough protein.
Athletes looking to maintain or increase muscle strength.
Those who want a high-quality protein powder with a lost cost-per-serving.
Anyone who has difficulty with digestion. Since this powder contains fiber, probiotics, and digestive enzymes it may help offer relief to the stomach.
Those who want to lose weight. Protein is one tool in the toolbox for weight loss but it is a very impactful level to pull. Get enough protein and your satiety increases. If you eat protein powder that is high in sugar (some are as high as 23g/serving) then this will likely reduce this satiety affect and take you on a glucose roller coaster. Use it to include in a meal, not as a supplement to one you would already eat.
Tips
Make protein shakes ahead of time. Sunday night is my meal prep night where, in addition to the lunches I make for my kids and me, I line up my mason jars and make 3-4 protein shakes for the week. I throw in a couple of scoops of Levels, Nested Naturals Supergreens, kefir, frozen berries, raw nuts, and shake. I throw it in the fridge and it’s an easy grab on my way out the door. For another protein smoothie idea, see here.
Use double chocolate with leucine. Every once in a while I'll try to bulk up. When I do, I supplement with leucine which has a great evidence-based track record for muscle hypertrophy. And it worked way better than I thought it would, helping me put nearly 10 pounds of muscle on in a few months. While Levels has leucine and isoleucine within it, I add 5g on most of those days I am working out. The taste of leucine is absolutely gross with a strong sulfur aftertaste to it. My tip is to use the double chocolate flavor as a mix-in with your leucine supplement if you ever plan to do this.
Don’t limit yourself to a scoop. Each scoop of Levels is 24g and, coincidentally, there’s a myth out there that there is a ceiling for protein absorption and bioavailability somewhere around that number. This is not true, although protein absorption depends on many factors (age, fitness, genes, type of protein) so it is difficult to say what that number is. While 24g is a good amount of protein, I tend to do at least a scoop and a half to make sure I’m hitting the minimum effective dose of protein.
Look at their other stuff. Levels make great whey protein but they’ve branched out and also make casein protein powder and a collagen mix.
My Experience
When first learned about the impact protein has on our health, I went on a deep dive into the most affordable high-quality protein powder. My sticking points were that it had to be grass-fed, not have fillers, and no sugar. I was blown away by the fact that Levels had this and more, and it was a good chunk less than the other grass-fed brands. I tried a few more but ended up sticking with Levels for all of the reasons above.
In writing this article, I really struggled to find drawbacks or provide less than 5 stars to most categories. I don’t like (or tend to trust) reviews that are all-in on something but if I had all of the money and opportunity in the world to create a protein powder supplement, this is probably exactly what I’d do.
I primarily use it in my smoothies (see above), my occasional post-dinner desert (mixed with yogurt, vanilla extract, nuts, seeds, etc.), or as a quick between-meal supplement to make sure I’m topping off my protein stores for the day. A handful of times I’ve also used it as a quick way to get protein and satiety before I know I’m going somewhere that won’t have healthy food.
I’ve been a fan of this protein powder for about a decade now so I reached out to them to help spread the word. They responded by giving me giving me a 20% discount to give to all of you. So, if you’re interested in Levels, use the promo code MBD20 to get 20% off (good for their casein and collagen as well).
Have you tried Levels whey protein powder? Leave your own thoughts in the comments below.
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