As one of the most important nutrients for the human body, protein helps build muscle, repair tissues, produce enzymes and much more. Protein continually breaks down in your body, so it is essential to keep replenishing it for proper growth and maintenance of health.
The amount of protein required for each person varies. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) recommends a modest 0.8 grams each day for every kilogram you weigh.
For the average male, this amounts to about 56 grams a day, while the average female is 46 grams a day.[1] However, this is only the minimum amount to avoid getting sick, not how much you should actually consume.
There are certain instances when you’d want to supplement your diet with protein. Increasing your protein intake may make sense if you’re on a mass-building program, recovering from a sports injury, or on a vegetarian diet.
Gainful protein powder is a supplement that promises to tailor its formula to your specific needs. As a subscription-based product, Gainful offers a variety of flavors and ingredients - all customized based on your health and fitness goals.
The process to get your customized Gainful protein formula is fairly simple.
You start with Gainful’s quiz, which asks basic information about your age, body type, existing exercise habits, and your health goals.
After completing the quiz, Gainful will recommend a personalized protein powder based on your responses.
With your customized formula in hand, Gainful will provide a brief overview of your particular blend and how this blend will meet your health & fitness objectives.
Instructions for preparing the protein formula is clear and concise. Simply add 1-2 scoops of your protein powder into 4-12 ounces of a beverage of your choice. Add a couple of their provided flavor sticks, mix well and enjoy!
Having taken the quiz for myself, my customized blend ended up with a formula of:
Of course, results will vary depending on how you respond to the quiz.
My customized plan comes with a new supply of protein powder (14 servings of powder includes 14 flavor sticks of your choice and a plastic scooper) every three weeks.
It is free to change, pause or even cancel your subscription at any time.
To learn more about the ingredients in your protein formula, Gainful provides helpful descriptions describing the function of each ingredient.
Although ingredients will vary for each formula, the common ones are as follows:
Derived from the cheese-making process, whey protein is processed through various filtering and dialysis techniques and then pasteurized for use. Whey protein is the key ingredient for many health-related benefits such as muscle repair and weight loss.[2]
High in nutritional value, oats have become popular in many foods including breakfast cereals, bread, rice, cookies, biscuits and more.
Oats are known to combat gastrointestinal issues and exhibit high levels of antioxidant activity. Studies have even shown oats to possess the ability to fight cancer.[3]
Pea protein comes from protein extracted from ground yellow peas. It’s high in amino acids, promoting healthy heart/blood flow as well as stimulating muscle growth.[4]
Another excellent source of amino acids, studies have shown that brown rice protein is just as effective as whey protein when it comes to building muscle mass and exercise recovery.[5]
Sunflower oil powder comes from the seeds of the sunflower. It is a good source of unsaturated fats (the good kind of fat). Unsaturated fats are known to help lower cholesterol and fighting heart disease.[6]
Green tea is widely known for its numerous medicinal benefits. Green tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate), which is known to treat various diseases.[7]
Tapioca maltodextrin is a starchy powder used as a thickener as well as improving shelf life in various food products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes maltodextrin as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) food additive.[8]
Gainful uses all-natural sweeteners, which does not affect the overall calorie count. Their sweeteners are organic stevia leaf and organic monk fruit extracts - both plant-based extracts used in Asia and South America for many years.
The main benefits to Gainful protein powder are:
There is no one-size-fits-all solution with Gainful protein. The custom protein blends are catered specifically for your body type, exercise habits, and health goals.
Whether you’re a vegan, have allergy concerns or wanting to mix-up the flavors, there are tons of ways to customize your blend.
Its versatility in customizable ingredients separates Gainful’s protein blends from the generic blends you’ll find in many of the big-box stores.
Gainful promotes its ingredients as practicing “radical transparency.” This means their manufacturers provide Certificate of Analyses (COA) for each ingredient, ensuring they are of the highest quality.
All of Gainful’s proteins are hormone-free. Plant-based protein ingredients are also all non-GMO and certified organic.
Gainful provides you access to a Registered Dietician. If you have any questions, concerns or any follow-up that is required, you’ll be able to utilize a free, 1-on-1 consult with your Registered Dietician.
With six different flavors to choose from, you won’t need to worry about getting tired of your protein shake.
Customize the sweetness of your blend or completely omit the flavor sticks altogether if you so desire.
Since it is a subscription-based product, Gainful will automatically replenish your order every few weeks, depending on your plan.
You can change your ingredients anytime with no charge. There is also no charge with pausing or canceling your subscription.
Gainful protein, as with any protein powder in general, is considered safe and most take it without any adverse effects.
Any side effects would likely be a result of some intolerance to specific ingredients, which Gainful is transparent in disclosing.
For instance, some people may encounter digestive issues when consuming whey protein. This may be due to an intolerance of lactose.
Acne-related issues may also be a side-effect resulting from lactose allergies. For those who are lactose intolerant, Gainful recommends their 100% plant-based formulas as an alternative.
A few customers have mentioned their dislike of the flavor. One specifically said the flavor sticks tasted “fake” and others have mentioned there was a bitter aftertaste.
Others have mentioned customer service response was slow and a little cumbersome. Another common complaint was that the price point was too high.
At the time of writing this review, Gainful reviews averaged 4.5/5 stars on both their Facebook page and Trustpilot.
Most users commented on the benefit of being able to customize their protein powder. One user described her experience as the following:
“I have to say the quiz was great to take - I never really took the time to figure out what I want out of my protein. I love that it's customized for me!”
Another user commented on “both the transparency and simplicity of this product” in describing Gainful’s ingredients.
Other commenters enjoyed the various flavors available to them, while some appreciated having access to their nutritionist:
“Their nutritionist was well informed, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my questions were being answered!”
Having the ability to customize your protein formula is probably the biggest advantage of using Gainful protein. Knowing precisely what your blend consists of is extremely beneficial for those with dietary restrictions or those looking to optimize their exercise regimen.
There isn’t any conclusive evidence that Gainful protein will 100% hit your fitness or health objectives, though. They even admit themselves on their site that:
“there is a pretty large margin for error when estimating protein/nutritional needs. Because of this, it can often be difficult to find out how much protein you should personally consume.”[9]
With that being said, you can reasonably expect Gainful to cater their formula towards your specific needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all, generic protein powder.
Moreover, access to their registered dietician can give you even more personalized advice to help you meet your goals. Online customer reviews have also been largely positive, which helps provide credibility for the product.
With the ability to customize your formula, high-quality ingredients and personalized customer support, Gainful protein is a product that is worth checking out for yourself.
You can purchase your personalized Gainful protein powder directly on their website. Because each formula is different and catered to your specific needs, prices will also vary.
At the time of writing this review, the price starts at $1.75 per serving. Average protein powder prices range from $0.86 to $5.50 per serving, so Gainful lands somewhere in the middle in regards to their pricing.
Gainful does not accept returns or refunds after shipping/payment. Shipping is, however, free on all orders.
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