5 Super Delicious Protein Drinks You'd Never Guess Are Healthy AF

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(Image credit: @rebbl)

Up until a few months ago, I'd never met a protein drink I could stomach, much less enjoy. Despite their deceptively nutritious guise, many options on the market are actually far from healthy—loaded with artificial ingredients, tons of sugar, and other suspect oils and preservatives that, frankly, our bodies really don't need. Especially when it's just as effortless to get a hit of protein from a homemade shake (psst, check out our favorite clean protein powders), a hard-boiled egg, or even palmful of almonds. Thus, considering the number of sketchy ingredient lists I've scanned and the even sketchier chalky aftertastes I've endured, it's been a personal mission of mine to steer clear. 

However, a couple of months ago I began receiving an onslaught of pitches and deliveries all bearing protein-rich, allegedly "healthy" beverages. Additionally, whenever I'd go to the gym or visit my favorite natural grocery stores in L.A. like Erewhon Market or Whole Foods, I would notice a new slew of admittedly intriguing protein elixirs, infused with superfoods, ultra-clean ingredients, and enticing flavor profiles like cake batter and mint chocolate. Obviously, I concluded, proteins drinks were having a startling resurgence within the wellness world, and while I desperately wanted to ignore them, I couldn't help having a piqued interest.

So, being the health junkie nit-picky consumer I am, I decided to conduct the ultimate experiment (FYI: I freaking love experiments) by slurping, sipping, and yes, sometimes even chugging the new and most promising protein shakes. My criteria was simple: The drink must have clean, truly healthy ingredients (aka nothing I couldn't pronounce or buy straight up at the grocery store) and honest-to-goodness deliciousness. Too much to ask? Apparently not, because I managed to find a fabulous five I fell pretty hard for—and yes, this coming from the person who's a self-proclaimed protein drink basher. In fact, if you were to look at the fridges I frequent (both work and home), you'll find at least one of each waiting and ready for my eager guzzle. Ahead, five super-delicious protein drinks that just so happen to be honest-to-goodness healthy. Cheers!

Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.

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Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.