Here are the 9 best protein powders for PCOS. Whether you’re looking for plant-based options or whey protein isolate, we have got you covered.
With the right protein powder as part of your PCOS-friendly diet plan, you can take proactive steps toward managing your PCOS effectively.
Protein powder can be a valuable addition to PCOS friendly diets for several reasons.
Protein plays an important role in hormone production and balance and helps to support overall hormonal health in PCOS patients.
It also keeps you full for a long time and can help with weight management, which is a common concern for many individuals with PCOS.
Here are the 9 best PCOS friendly protein powders:
- Best Whey Protein – Levels Grass Fed 100% Whey Protein
- Best Vegan Protein – Garden of Life Organic Vegan Protein
- Best Organic Protein – Orgain Organic Vegan Protein
- Best Hemp Protein – Nutiva USDA Organic Hemp Protein
- Best Pea Protein – NorCal Organic Premium Pea Protein Isolate
- Best PCOS Weight Loss – Isopure Whey Protein Isolate
- Best Protein In India – Origin Nutrition 100% Natural Vegan Protein Powder
- Best Protein In The UK – PINK SUN Whey Protein Isolate Powder
- Best Protein In Australia – Orgain Organic Protein + Superfoods Powder
Keep reading to see the breakdown of each protein powder!
Best Whey Protein Powder For PCOS – Levels Grass Fed 100% Whey Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 24 grams of protein per serving
- 130 calories per serving
- Low glycemic index
- Natural sweeteners (Stevia)
- 9 delicious flavors
- Hormone-free
The Levels protein powder is a great whey protein for PCOS, it has 24 grams of protein per serving and contains almost no carbs or fat.
This protein powder won’t interfere with your natural hormone production, since the protein comes from grass-fed cattle and is hormone-free.
The flavors are also natural and the protein doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners. The only sweetener used is Stevia which is a great option for PCOS patients. Stevia has a very low glycemic index, so it won’t spike your blood sugar levels.
Sweeteners that spike your blood sugar levels can increase insulin levels in your blood. High insulin levels can cause spikes in androgen activity (the male sex hormone) which is the main cause of most PCOS symptoms such as acne, hair loss and irregular periods.
The Levels protein powder has 24 grams of protein and only 130 calories per serving which is perfect for managing your weight while still getting enough protein in your diet.
The protein powder comes in 9 different flavors and the high-quality milk that they use makes the protein powder taste delicious!
Best Vegan Protein Powder For PCOS – Garden of Life Organic Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 22 grams of protein per serving
- 130 calories per serving
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
- 5 grams of fiber
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
Garden of Life’s vegan protein is the best plant-based protein powder for PCOS. Compared to some other vegan proteins, this product contains all 9 essential amino acids, which gives your body all the amino acids needed to build proteins.
The protein powder is a mixture of different plant-based protein sources such as pea, rice and pumpkin seed protein.
Each serving has 22 grams of protein and only 2.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of carbs, out of which 5 grams are dietary fiber.
The protein powder also has a probiotic and enzyme blend which improves gut health and helps with digestion.
It’s completely sugar-free and doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners. Garden of Life uses stevia leaf to sweeten the protein powder which is a great sweetener for PCOS since it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels.
The protein powder comes in 4 different flavors. Vanilla, chocolate, vanilla chai and unflavored. The unflavored option is perfect for making PCOS-friendly smoothies and pastries.
Best Organic Protein Powder For PCOS – Orgain Organic Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 21 grams of protein per serving
- 150 calories per serving
- 5 grams of prebiotics
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
- Sugar-free
Orgain’s organic vegan protein powder is a great option if you are looking for a sugar-free organic and vegan protein powder.
The protein powder tastes great and mixes super easily in any liquid, each serving has 21 grams of protein and 5 grams of prebiotics and fiber to help with digestion and gut health.
The plant-based protein sources are pea, brown rice and chia seed protein which together contain all 9 essential amino acids.
Orgain uses Erythritol instead of sugar as a sweetener in their protein powder. Erythritol is a better sweetener for PCOS than sugar since it has a lower glycemic index and contains fewer calories.
Each serving is only 150 calories which makes it perfect for use in low-calorie smoothies and shakes.
The powder is also completely free from lactose, gluten, dairy and GMOs, which could interfere with your natural hormones and cause symptoms of PCOS.
Best Hemp Protein Powder For PCOS – Nutiva USDA Organic Hemp Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 15 grams of protein per serving
- 110 calories per serving
- 5 grams of fiber
- 2 grams of omega-3 and 6
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
Nutiva’s hemp protein is a great nutritious protein powder for PCOS. Each serving has 15 grams of protein as well as 5 grams of fiber and 2 grams of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
Hemp protein is one of the best vegan protein sources since it’s one of the few plant-based proteins that contain all 9 essential amino acids.
Another benefit of hemp protein for PCOS is its high omega-3 content. Omega-3 stabilizes insulin levels and lowers inflammation which can help to alleviate PCOS symptoms.
The only slight drawback of hemp protein is that it has a lower protein content than most other protein powder options. Each serving of 30 grams contains 50% protein (15 grams).
The Nutiva hemp protein powder is unflavored and has a bit of an earthy taste. It tastes alright if you blend it with water, to make it tastier I recommend that you mix it in a smoothie or add a natural sweetener such as stevia.
Best Pea Protein For PCOS – NorCal Organic Premium Pea Protein Isolate
Features & Benefits:
- 22 grams of protein per serving
- 100 calories per serving
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
- Sugar-free
- High in L-Arginine
The NorCal Pea Protein Isolate is a super-pure powder with 85% protein. It’s a great plant-based and low-calorie protein option for PCOS.
Each serving has only 100 calories and 22 grams of plant-based protein with all 9 essential amino acids.
Pea protein is very rich in the amino acid L-Arginine. L-Arginine together with L-Cysteine can help to restore the natural hormone balance in your body which can alleviate PCOS symptoms.
The NorCal pea protein powder is completely sugar-free and doesn’t contain any sweeteners.
Unsweetened products are optimal for PCOS patients since sugary foods can spike insulin levels which can cause PCOS symptoms down the line.
The powder is unflavored which makes it perfect for smoothies and baking. You can also mix it with water and a small amount of natural sweeteners to add some taste to it.
Best Protein Powder For PCOS Weight Loss – Isopure Whey Protein Isolate
Features & Benefits:
- 25 grams of protein per serving
- 100 calories per serving
- Gluten and lactose-free
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
- 0 grams of fat and carbs
The Isopure whey protein isolate is a great low-calorie PCOS protein powder for weight loss. It has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio on this list.
Each serving contains 25 grams of protein and only 100 calories! It’s completely carb and fat-free which makes it perfect for lowering your caloric intake while still having enough protein in your diet.
The protein powder doesn’t contain any sugar or sweeteners and won’t spike your insulin levels which is a big plus if you have PCOS symptoms.
It’s also unflavored which makes it perfect for smoothies and baking. Whey protein has a pretty neutral taste and you can mix and drink it with water or low-fat milk just as well.
The Isopure protein isolate is also gluten-free and has lactase enzymes that break down the lactose in the dairy. Avoiding lactose has been shown to reduce symptoms of PCOS.
Best Protein Powder For PCOS In India – Origin Nutrition 100% Natural Vegan Protein Powder
Features & Benefits:
- 25 grams of protein per serving
- 128 calories per serving
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
- No added sugar
- Fat-free
- Contains digestive enzymes
The Origin Nutrition Vegan protein powder is the best PCOS-friendly alternative on Amazon in India. It contains 25 grams of plant-based protein and only 128 calories per serving.
The protein powder has all 9 essential amino acids which gives your body all the necessary amino acids to build proteins.
It has 0 grams of added sugar and it’s also fat-free. The low-calorie content makes it perfect for losing weight while still getting enough protein in your diet!
The protein blend consists of pea protein and pumpkin seed protein. The powder also has enzymes that help with digestion and gut health.
The Origin vegan protein powder comes in 5 different flavors. Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, caramel coffee and unflavored. The best-tasting options are vanilla and caramel coffee!
It’s naturally sweetened with stevia extract which is a great sweetener for PCOS since it doesn’t spike insulin levels which can cause PCOS symptoms.
Best Protein Powder For PCOS In The UK – PINK SUN Whey Protein Isolate Powder
Features & Benefits:
- 23 grams of protein per serving
- 95 calories per serving
- No added sugar
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
- Hormone-free
The Pink Sun whey isolate is a super-pure protein powder with 92% protein and only 95 calories per serving. The protein powder doesn’t contain any added sugar, sweeteners or flavors.
Each serving has 23 grams of protein and only 0.5 grams of fat and carbs. The whey protein is made out of milk from grass-fed cows and is hormone-free and won’t interfere with your natural hormone production.
The protein powder is unflavored which makes it great for smoothies and baking. It mixes super easily and gives your smoothies a nice texture and a good dose of protein without adding too many calories.
For baking, you can use protein powder instead of flour to make high-protein pastries.
PCOS sufferers should cut out flour from their diets as much as possible. Flour has a high gluten content and a high glycemic index which can worsen PCOS symptoms.
Best Protein Powder For PCOS In Australia – Orgain Organic Protein + Superfoods Powder
Features & Benefits:
- 21 grams of protein per serving
- 150 calories per serving
- 5 grams of prebiotics and fiber
- 50 superfoods
- Complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids)
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
Orgain’s organic vegan protein powder is a great protein powder for PCOS. It’s sugar-free and doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients.
The protein powder is super tasty and each serving contains 21 grams of protein and 5 grams of prebiotics and fiber to help with digestion and gut health.
Each serving has 150 calories which makes it perfect for low-calorie smoothies and shakes. It’s an easy and healthy way to add more protein to your diet while you’re losing weight.
It also has a superfood blend with 50 superfoods packed with antioxidants and vitamins that improve your immune function and health.
The plant-based protein is a mixture of pea, brown rice and chia seed protein and contains all 9 essential amino acids that your body needs to build proteins.
Orgain uses Erythritol instead of sugar as a sweetener in their protein powder. Erythritol is a better sweetener for PCOS than sugar since it has a lower glycemic index and contains fewer calories.
The powder is lactose, gluten and dairy-free. It doesn’t contain any GMOs, which could interfere with your natural hormones and cause symptoms of PCOS.
High Protein PCOS Smoothie Recipe
When it comes to managing PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), following a balanced PCOS diet plan is crucial. Including protein in your meals can help regulate blood sugar levels, promote satiety, and support hormone balance.
One delicious way to incorporate protein into your PCOS diet plan is by preparing a homemade protein powder smoothie.
Here is a super tasty recipe for a high protein PCOS smoothie that wil provide you with the nutrients you need.
Now, let’s move on to our PCOS-friendly smoothie recipe:
- 1 scoop of PCOS-friendly protein powder (pea protein, hemp protein, etc.)
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup of frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries)
- 1 small ripe banana
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (unsweetened)
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or ground flaxseeds
- A handful of spinach or kale (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional, for desired thickness)
This high protein PCOS smoothie is not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients. The protein powder will provide you with a good dose of protein, helping to stabilize your blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full.
The berries and leafy greens offer antioxidants and fiber, supporting overall health and digestion.
Chia seeds or ground flaxseeds contains healthy fats and additional fiber, while the peanut butter adds a creamy texture and a touch of flavor.
Incorporating this homemade protein powder-based smoothie into your PCOS diet plan can be a convenient and enjoyable way to increase your protein intake.
Feel free to experiment with different variations by adding other PCOS-friendly ingredients like avocado, coconut milk, or a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor.
Best Protein Powder Brands For PCOS
There are a bunch of great protein powder brands for PCOS. Some of the best brands are Orgain Nutrition, Garden of Life, Nutiva and KOS.
They offer a lot of different organic and plant based protein powders without any artificial sweeteners or flavors.
What’s The Best Type Of Protein Powder For PCOS
When it comes to finding a good protein powder for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), there are several options to consider. Let’s explore the best protein powders for PCOS and their benefits:
Pea Protein
Pea protein is a plant-based protein made from yellow peas.
Benefit: Pea protein is gentle on the stomach and doesn’t contain common allergens like dairy or gluten. It’s easy to digest and can be a good choice for those with PCOS.
Hemp Protein
Hemp protein is a vegan protein source derived from hemp seeds.
Benefit: Hemp protein is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help manage inflammation. It also provides fiber for better digestion and feeling full.
Brown Rice Protein
Brown rice protein is derived from brown rice.
Benefit: Brown rice protein is gluten-free and easy to digest. It’s a suitable option for individuals with gluten sensitivities or PCOS-related digestive issues.
Collagen Protein
Collagen protein is derived from collagen peptides.
Benefit: Collagen protein supports skin, joint, and gut health. It may also help with hormone balance in individuals with PCOS.
Soy Protein
Soy protein is a plant-based protein derived from soybeans.
Benefit: Soy protein is a complete protein source that contains all essential amino acids. It has potential benefits for PCOS, including regulating cholesterol levels and hormones.
Whey Protein Isolate
Feature: High-quality protein derived from milk, with lactose and fats removed.
Benefit: Whey protein isolate is easily absorbed by the body, making it effective for muscle recovery and growth. It can be helpful for individuals with PCOS who are focusing on weight loss and maintaining lean muscle mass.
Plant-Based Blends
Feature: Protein powders that combine different plant-based protein sources.
Benefit: Plant-based blends provide a variety of essential nutrients and amino acids. They can support overall health and are suitable for those following a vegan or plant-based PCOS diet.
When choosing a protein powder for PCOS, look for options that are free from artificial additives and excessive sugars.
Also avoid ingredients that are free from allergens such as dairy and gluten.
Does Whey Protein Affect PCOS?
Whey protein isolate is generally safe for individuals with PCOS. It provides essential amino acids for muscle recovery and growth. Monitor your body’s response and consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.
Does Whey Protein Cause Hormonal Imbalance?
Whey protein typically doesn’t cause hormonal imbalance in PCOS. Choose a high-quality isolate without added hormones or additives. It’s unlikely to worsen hormonal imbalances.
Is Whey Protein Good For Ovarian Cysts?
Whey protein is generally safe for ovarian cysts. However, it doesn’t directly impact cysts and everyone reacts differently. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.
Overall, whey protein isolate can be a beneficial supplement for PCOS. Choose a high-quality isolate without added hormones or additives and Include it in a balanced diet with PCOS-friendly foods.
Can PCOS Patients Take Protein Powder?
Yes, PCOS patients can take protein powder as part of their diet. Protein powder can be a convenient and effective way to increase protein intake, support muscle recovery, and promote overall wellness.
Opt for PCOS-friendly protein powder options. Choose protein powders that are free from common allergens like dairy or gluten if you have sensitivities or intolerances.
Pea protein, hemp protein, brown rice protein, collagen protein, and whey protein isolate are some examples of PCOS-friendly protein powders.
Look for protein powders that are made from high-quality ingredients, without unnecessary additives, artificial flavors, or high amounts of sugar. It’s also a good idea to ensure the protein powder is tested for quality and purity.
What To Do Now?
Now that you’ve found the best protein powder for PCOS friendly diets you might be interested in this article!
These natural homemade pre-workouts are great PCOS friendly options that can give you a boost before your workouts!
If you are looking for some super tasty protein powders you need to check out this review of GHOST’s protein powders!
