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If you’re familiar with casein protein, you likely know how it compares to basic whey protein powder. But, like whey protein, there are a lot of options for casein protein. The search isn’t any easier if you’re looking for a no-nonsense casein without artificial ingredients, additives, or heavy metals. Fortunately, Naked nutrition, makers of highly rated Naked Whey, now offers a totally clean casein protein powder that comes with all the transparency you’d expect, and none of the extra ingredients you don’t.
RELATED: Naked Whey Protein Review
In this Naked Nutrition casein review, GGR contributor Amanda Capritto, CPT, CSNC, walks us through her experience using this natural, U.S.-made casein protein. We’ll also share some insights into the company and their practices, and why we consider this one of the best casein proteins you can buy.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Whether Casein, Whey, or Soy, GGR Knows Protein
We at GGR pride ourselves on delivering honest, in-depth reviews of the latest fitness supplements and gear. Whether you’re looking for the best whey protein powders or the best fitness gifts under $25, we’ve got you covered. Our GGR experts aren’t just fitness enthusiasts, they’re certified personal trainers, Olympic weightlifting coaches, and registered dietitians.
We tapped former GGR Staff Writer, certified sports nutrition coach, and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto for this comprehensive Naked Casein Protein review. She gave us her thoughts on the protein and her overall experience. Using our supplement testing methodology, she scored Naked Casein on a scale of 1 to 5 across multiple categories, including:
- Price per serving
- Taste and formulation
- Third-party testing
- Side effects
- Customer service
Naked Casein
Naked Nutrition Micellar Casein Protein Powder
Product Highlights
- 100% micellar casein
- 26 g of protein
- 5.4 g of BCAAs
- Gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 1–3 ingredients (depending on flavor)
- Subscribe and save 20%
- Independent heavy metals and allergen testing
- No additives or artificial ingredients
- 3 flavors, including unflavored
Cons
- Not recommended to use with shaker bottle
- 1 serving = 2 scoops
- Limited reviews
Bottom Line
Naked Casein has 26 grams of protein per serving. It won’t mix well in a shaker bottle, but customers love the short ingredient list.
A Quick Look at Naked Nutrition Casein
Naked Nutrition was founded in 2014 by cross-country star Stephen Zieminksi. His goal was to create high-nutritional-value sports supplements with limited ingredients. Naked’s initial offering was pea protein powder. Since then, Naked has grown into a massive player in high-quality natural supplements, free of artificial sweeteners and GMO’s, with no additives and protein sources from grass fed cows right here on U.S. farms. Their lineup now includes various protein supplements, BCAAs, creatine, pre-workouts, collagen protein powders, and much more.
This review focuses on Amanda’s experience with Naked’s unflavored micellar casein protein powder. She gave the protein an overall score of 3.8, with high marks for price, taste, formulation, and solubility. Let’s see whether Naked really has nothing to hide.
Before You Buy
- This casein protein is all natural and additive-free.
- There are 26 grams of protein per serving.
- It is 100% pure slow release casein protein.
- Subscribe and save options are available to make it more affordable.
Is Naked Nutrition Casein Worth It?
Amanda dropped $100 for a 5-pound tub of Naked Nutrition’s casein protein powder. This may seem like a hefty price, but at 76 servings and $1.31 per scoop, it really can’t be beat. This alone earned a rating of 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Casein protein is an effective alternative or additional source of protein. Casein is the primary source of protein in milk. It is a slow-digesting protein and thus promotes satiety as well as, potentially, prolonged protein synthesis1, particularly after resistance training. Because of its slow release into the intestines, it’s often used in the evening to promote muscle recovery during sleep. A 2018 study2 indicated no real difference in muscle gain after casein consumption when taken in the daytime versus in the evening. However a meta-analysis published in June of 20203 suggests a little bit of casein before bed might do the body good (or better).
Great for:
- Anyone who wants all natural ingredients
- Bodybuilding and weight loss
- People with common food allergies
Not recommended for:
- High calories or weight gain
- Vegan or plant-based eaters
RELATED: Plant Protein vs Animal Protein
Naked Nutrition Casein Specs
| Price per serving | $1.31 (5-lb tub, $100, 76 servings) |
| Serving size | 2 scoops |
| Type of protein | Micellar Casein |
| Protein content | 26 g |
| Carb content | 0 g |
| Fat content | 0 g |
| Notable ingredients | Just casein |
| Flavors | Unflavored, Chocolate, Vanilla |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
Experience Using Naked Nutrition Casein
Naked Casein is a simple, effective, and high quality protein. Free of artificial sweeteners, it’s a guilt-free addition to your protein shakes, smoothies, or even water or coffee. Amanda’s experience with it was relatively unremarkable, which is exactly what you’d want in a product with only one ingredient that is free of all the additives we’re used to.
That said, Amanda was able to easily mix the casein into a bunch of beverages. It tasted, well, unflavored, but that made it easier to add to anything.
Overall, Naked Nutrition casein is a great protein for all fitness goals. With 26 grams of slow-digesting protein, it’s comparable to the best protein powders for muscle growth and muscle recovery. It’s sourced from grass-fed cows on U.S. farms and is GMO and soy-free. You really can’t ask for more (or less, technically).
Price Per Serving
At $1.31 per serving, Amanda gave Naked Casein 4.25 out of 5 stars. For reference, supplements between $1.50 and $2.00 earn an average of 3 stars. The protein in question comes in a 1-pound or 5-pound tub; Amanda opted for the 5 pounder. That ran her $100 and had 76 servings. Note that this price decreases to $79.99 if you subscribe for autoship, bringing the price per serving down to $1.05. This is for first-timers, but you’ll save 10% on every additional shipment
For reference, Naked Nutrition’s Naked Whey Protein runs $94.99 for a 5-pound tub. You can find Naked Casein on Amazon for $99.99, which will drop down to $94.99 with a subscription.
Formulation
This casein is nothing more than you’d expect, earning 5 stars for formulation. A typical serving (two scoops) looks like this:
- 110 calories
- 0 g carbohydrates
- 0 g fat
- 26 g protein
That’s it, a pretty minimal ingredient list. In the chocolate and vanilla flavors, you’ll find coconut sugar, cacao, and natural vanilla flavoring. Again, true to the name.
RELATED: High-Protein Foods
Taste and Solubility
For taste, Naked Casein earned 4 stars—pretty good for an unflavored protein. Amanda prefers not to drink it by itself, opting instead for a spirited coffee protein shake with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. She also shared a not-so-secret use for the casein: “It makes for a FANTASTIC chocolate mug cake!” she said. I think a little peanut butter could add a bit of creaminess.
Naked Casein mixes pretty well, earning 4 stars. Amanda thought it was a bit harder to mix thoroughly than other casein powders. But still, a great score.
Side Effects
There were no side effects that Amanda noticed, so she gave it 5 out of 5 stars in this category. This makes sense considering there is only one ingredient—casein. There are no common allergens, in fact, the Naked Nutrition website boasts superior allergen testing, as well as being gluten-free. Note this is a milk product, so it may be an issue for those with sensitivity to lactose.
Third-Party Testing
Naked Nutrition earned only 2.5 out of 5 stars for third-party testing. This isn’t because they DON’T test—they do—but they don’t indicate which products are tested or who does the testing. This isn’t in keeping with the spirit of transparency. That said, Amanda puts a good bit of trust in the quality of the Naked brand.
Naked Nutrition Casein vs NOW Sports Micellar Casein
NOW Sports Micellar Casein
NOW Sports Micellar Casein
Product Highlights
- Micellar casein powder
- 19 g of protein
- Non-GMO, kosher, gluten-, nut-, egg-, and soy-free
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Informed Sport–Certified
- No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives
- Gluten-free
Cons
- Lower protein per serving than competitors
- Only available as unflavored
- Tastes bad according to reviews
- Produced in a facility that processes allergens
Bottom Line
NOW Sports Micellar Casein powder has 19 grams of protein and a short list of ingredients, but the taste is very poorly reviewed.
Naked Nutrition, while they boast transparency and minimal ingredients, isn’t alone in this field. NOW Sports Casein offers direct competition and was featured in our best casein proteins roundup.
Naked has the upper hand on protein content, but NOW is slightly cheaper. Both have nearly similar ingredient lists, but NOW does contain a small amount of lecithin for stability. Both also have good portions of branched-chain amino acids and essential amino acids.
RELATED: Best Protein Powders Without Artificial Sweeteners
| Naked Nutrition Casein | NOW Sports Casein | |
| Price per serving | $1.31 (5-lb tub, $100, 76 servings) | $0.97 (1.8-lb tub, $33.08, 34 servings) |
| Serving size | 2 scoops | 1 scoop (24 g) |
| Type of protein | Micellar Casein | Micellar Casein |
| Protein content | 26 g | 19 g |
| Carb content | 0 g | <1 g |
| Fat content | 0 g | 0.5 g |
| Third-party tested? | Yes (not listed) | Yes |
Customer Experience
Naked Nutrition’s customer service isn’t exceptional—it earned only 2 out of 5 stars for a just OK return policy and basic customer service. The website states customers can return unopened/unused products within 14 days of original purchase.
Everything else is relatively simple, from checkout to delivery. Plus, the company does strive to be sustainable, and it’s certainly admirable that they can adhere to their promises of minimal ingredients, third-party testing, and supporting local agriculture.
Customer Reviews
Naked’s casein has a 4.8 average rating from over 500 reviews on their own website. I checked Amazon, too, and found a 4.4 average rating from over 2,000 reviews. Most of the customers were stoked to try a truly unflavored protein with bare minimum ingredients at a decent price. The majority of those less than thrilled with Naked had serious complaints about the taste, poor mixing, and lack of customer service. That said, the vast majority of reviews expressed contentment with Naked’s casein and other products.
RELATED: Best Protein Powders on Amazon
Final Verdict of Our Naked Nutrition Casein Review
In the end, Naked Nutrition Micellar Casein Protein came away a winner, but not without its cuts and bruises. Naked delivers on its commitment to minimal ingredients and full transparency. The unflavored casein is suitable for protein smoothies or on the go with water in your shaker bottle. The price is hard to beat, too, and will accommodate most budgets.
That said, the lack of flavor may be a drawback for some. And, despite their name, it seems Naked is overdressed on third-party testing disclosure.
Our most important takeaways:
- 26 g casein per serving is a great dose of high quality protein suitable for muscle growth or weight loss
- Over 5 g of BCAAs per serving
- Suitable for people who want the fewest ingredients
- Sourced from U.S.-grown, grass-fed cows ensures a commitment to sustainable, domestic agricultural practices
- No common allergens, GMO free, free of artificial sweeteners
Full Rating
Naked Nutrition Casein
Naked Casein has 26 grams of protein per serving. It won’t mix well in a shaker bottle, but customers love the short ingredient list.
Product Brand: Naked Nutrition
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 99.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.8
Naked Nutrition Casein: FAQs
What are the negatives of casein protein?
Casein protein is an all-around great protein for muscle growth or weight loss. It is slow-digesting which can help keep you feeling full. The only negatives would be if you are lactose intolerant or have a dairy allergy, as casein is a dairy product.
Is it worth taking casein protein?
Absolutely! Casein is just as effective as whey protein, keeps you full, and may be gentler on your stomach than whey protein.
Does casein before bed actually work?
Yes, some studies have shown that casein before bed promotes better protein synthesis than if taken during the day.
Does casein help you lose weight?
Naked Casein has no sugar or fat. Like whey protein, it can be used to supplement your diet and help you lose weight, especially as part of an effective exercise routine.
Who should avoid casein?
People with dairy sensitivities may want to use caution with casein as it is derived from milk. Always look for other ingredients or allergens that you may want to avoid.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Horstman, A. M. H., & Huppertz, T. (2023). Milk proteins: Processing, gastric coagulation, amino acid availability and muscle protein synthesis. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 63(30), 10267–10282. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2078782
- Joy, J. M., Vogel, R. M., Shane Broughton, K., Kudla, U., Kerr, N. Y., Davison, J. M., … & DiMarco, N. M. (2018). Daytime and nighttime casein supplements similarly increase muscle size and strength in response to resistance training earlier in the day: a preliminary investigation. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15, 1-9.
- Kim J. (2020). Pre-sleep casein protein ingestion: new paradigm in post-exercise recovery nutrition. Physical Activity and Nutrition, 24(2), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.20463/pan.2020.0009
Further reading
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