Best sugar-free protein powders in the UK

Protein powders have become a staple in gym bags in recent years, hailed for their muscle-repairing properties after a long workout.

Long gone are the days when you’d just find dated, macho-looking tubs in a dusty back corner of the supermarket. Today, there are dozens of fresh protein brands, offering vegan superfood mixes to whey-packed chocolate shakes.

However, flip over the packet and you might be surprised how much sugar is packed into each portion. Sugar enhances the flavour of protein powders and adds extra calories, but when you’re trying to be health-conscious, it might be something you’d prefer to avoid. Just glancing around health food stores, there’s an overwhelming amount of choice. So where do you start?

Generally, protein powders can be split into two camps: whey-based and plant-based. Whey is the protein found in cow’s milk; it’s the liquid that’s leftover after curds are formed and is the most widely used protein in many powders. However, some people find that they don’t digest whey well. Whey isolate powders are a good compromise; isolate just means the lactose has been filtered out, which increases the protein content to over 90