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If you’re on the hunt for the best whey protein that doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or food additives, you’ve come to the right place. In this Naked Whey Protein review, we’ll give you our honest take on this whey protein powder from a company dedicated to transparent food labels and high-quality ingredients.
During our testing process, we followed a formulated supplements testing methodology with the following considerations (all of which will be covered in more detail later):
- Price per serving
- Forumulation
- Taste
- Solubility
- Third-party testing
- Customer reviews
- Customer service
For this Naked Nutrition whey protein powder review, GGR performance editor and certified nutrition coach, Anthony O’Reilly, tested the unflavored version of Naked Whey in traditional protein shakes and cooked up some protein pancakes with it, too. We also spoke with registered dietitian, Perry Nix, for her thoughts on Naked Nutrition’s bare-bones protein supplement.
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.
85 Protein Powders Tested and Counting
Our team of expert product testers and writers here at GGR are not just fitness and nutrition enthusiasts. We’re a group of certified nutrition coaches and personal trainers. We use our collective fitness industry experience to deliver the most honest reviews on everything we test—from the best treadmills to the best pre-workout and everything in between.
Naked Whey
Naked Nutrition Naked Whey
Product Highlights
- Flavorless option
- No artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners
- Sourced from small dairy farms
- Cold processed to limit contamination
- Only 3 ingredients (unflavored has 1)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Relatively low cost per serving
- GMO-free
- Non-denatured
- Zero additives
Cons
- Can be foamy when mixed
- Limited flavor options
- Some reviews mention errors on the product label
Bottom Line
Naked Nutrition Naked Whey is a great natural protein powder if you are looking for a flavorless protein option.
A Quick Look at Naked Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder
Naked Nutrition was founded in 2014 by Stephen Zieminski, a former cross country and track All-American athlete. His vision started when he realized how many supplements include ingredients that have little nutritional value.
Naked Nutrition started with a grass-fed whey and pea protein powder, each with very few ingredients and more importantly no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or mixing agents.
RELATED: Pea Protein vs Whey Protein
The brand has since grown into an entire lineup of supplements from protein powders and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to collagen peptides and fiber supplements.
In this review, we’re going to focus on the whey protein powder, which is available in four different flavors: Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, and Unflavored. Our tester, Anthony, tried the unflavored version and gave it a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating overall. The price per serving, minimal ingredients, and third-party testing makes Naked Whey Protein worth a try.
Before You Buy
- By taking a quiz on the Naked Nutrition website, you can get 20% off your first order.
- Naked Whey is sourced from cow’s milk from small California and Idaho dairy farms.
- Naked Whey is cold pressed and non-denatured, which basically means the process does not modify the molecular structure of the whey protein.
Is Naked Whey Protein Worth It?
Based on the price (and quality) of Naked Nutrition’s Naked Whey protein powder, we think it’s worth the nearly $100 investment for a 5-pound bag. It works out to about $1.25 per serving, which is an affordable price point for some of the best protein powders on the market. In fact, we gave Naked Whey a 5-out-of-5 star rating in the price per serving category (but we’ll break that down further in just a moment).
Great for:
- People who prefer all-natural ingredients
- Building muscle
- Folks with common allergens
Not recommended for:
- Plant-based diets
- Milk- and lactose-sensitive folks
- People looking for a weight gainer shake
Naked Whey Protein Powder Specs
| Price per serving | About $1.25 |
| Serving size | 2 scoops (30 g) |
| Flavors | Unflavored, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry |
| Calories per serving | 120 |
| Protein per serving | 25 g |
| Carbs per serving | 3 g |
| Fats per serving | 2 g |
| Third-party testing | Informed Choice |
Experience Using Naked Whey Protein
Ordering Naked Whey was as easy as clicking “add to cart” and within the week, product tester Anthony O’Reilly had unflavored Naked Whey protein show up at his door.
Anthony was overall pleased with the unflavored whey, noting it doesn’t have a strange smell or taste, which is not uncommon for unflavored protein supplements.
In addition to Naked Whey not being offensive, smelling or tasting, you’ll be happy to know it’s high in protein with 25 grams per serving and fairly low in both fat and carbohydrates. It also has minimal ingredients and is soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
RELATED: High Protein, Low-Carb Foods
Registered dietitian and GGR expert panelist Perry Nix says, “Whey protein concentrate has a higher lactose and fat content than whey protein isolate, but you’d never know it considering Naked Nutrition Whey only has 2 grams of fat and 3 grams of carbs.”
The manufacturing process for Naked Whey is cold pressed, which according to the website, leaves the amino acids, omega-3s, CLA, and immunoglobulins intact. Although there are some studies about non-denatured, cold-pressed protein consumption among mice, there is little evidence suggesting this process is superior to traditional whey processing for human consumption.
The whey that Naked Nutrition uses comes from grass-fed cows from small farms in California and Idaho. The website also notes that their cows are on pasture more than 300 days out of the year. When the temperatures are too cold, cows are fed pre-cut grasses.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Perry says, “This product isn’t suitable for vegans or those with a milk allergy since the whey protein is derived from cow’s milk. Consider a protein powder made from soy or pea protein if you prefer a vegan-friendly or non-dairy option.”
RELATED: Best Lactose-Free Protein Powder
Price Per Serving
When it comes to price per serving, we understand that protein powder is a supplement to your diet and shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to have it on hand. From our extensive supplement testing methodology, we’ve determined that most protein powders on the market fall between $1.25 to upwards of $2 per serving.
In this category, we rate supplements on a 1-to-5-star scale. The average rating of 3 stars usually means that the price is between $1.50 and $1.90 per serving. Lower scores (like 1- or 2-star rating) means the powder is fairly expensive at $2 or more per serving.
The Naked Nutrition whey protein powder is reasonably priced at $1.25 per serving, which gives this protein supplement a 5-out-of-5-star rating with our testers. We think this price is especially impressive considering Naked features non-GMO ingredients and free artificial sweeteners.
When you purchase directly from the Naked Nutrition website, you’ll buy a 5-pound bag at $94.99, which contains 76 servings. On Amazon, you’ll have this 5-pound option and a 1-pound tub option depending on flavor and availability. The 1-pound tub is priced around $24 on Amazon (for a one-time purchase) with only 12 servings per container, which means the cost increases to $2 per serving for a smaller package.
RELATED: Best Protein Powder on Amazon
Formulation
One of the best selling points about Naked Nutrition is the fact it’s formulated with very few ingredients. In the case of the unflavored whey option (the one Anthony O’Reilly, our product tester tried), there is literally just one ingredient: whey concentrate.
“This product contains only one ingredient, whey protein concentrate, so you know you’re not consuming unnecessary additives and fillers,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix.
We know unflavored isn’t everyone’s jam, so we also wanted to let you know what to expect on the ingredient list for the other Naked Whey flavors:
- Chocolate: Grass-fed whey protein, organic coconut sugar, and organic cacao
- Vanilla: Grass-fed whey protein, organic coconut sugar, and natural vanilla flavor
- Strawberry: Grass-fed whey protein, organic coconut sugar, and dried strawberries
All four options contain 25 grams of protein per serving. Each flavor has a slightly different carbohydrate content (either 2 or 8 grams of carbs) and fat content (either 2 or 3 grams of fat per serving). While each flavor varies slightly, the Naked Whey formulation gets a 5-out-of-5-star rating.
RELATED: Types of Protein Powder
We think Naked Nutrition earns this rating for formulation because it contains more than 20 grams of protein per serving and delivers all the essential amino acids that can help promote muscle gain1 after exercise.
Taste and Solubility
When it comes to taste, product tester Anthony O’Reilly gives Naked Whey unflavored a 4-out-of-5-star rating. “It truly tastes like nothing,” says Anthony. And if you’ve ever had an unflavored whey protein, you know this is a good thing. “Plus, there is no weird aftertaste or texture.”
“Because Naked Whey is totally unflavored, it works well for making your own protein flapjacks or waffles for a high-protein breakfast. However, I will note that I had to change the ratio of wet-to-dry ingredients.”
“I’ve played with the recipe and I find it’s best to add a scoop (or two) in place of about a 1/4 cup of flour. The trick is to mix very well to avoid clumps. Seriously, whisk the dry ingredients together for a solid 30 seconds before you add your wet ingredients,” explains Anthony.
Additionally, the Naked Whey earns another 4-out-of-5-star rating for solubility. Although it mixes pretty well, Anthony docked a point off because there was quite a bit of foam after mixing it with a traditional shaker bottle.
Third-Party Testing
Naked Nutrition earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating for third-party because Naked Whey is certified by Informed Choice, which is an organization that tests the supplement products for banned substances and the manufacturing facility itself.
The brand also features an independent heavy metals testing result on the website when you browse through the product images. You’ll see the Naked Whey does have traces of heavy metals and gluten. That said, in a 2020 Toxicology Reports2 study, researchers found that typical intake of dietary supplements is unlikely to result in adverse health effects from heavy metals.
Naked Whey Protein vs Legion Athletics Whey+
Legion Athletics Whey+
Legion Whey+
Product Highlights
- Sourced from small dairy farms in Ireland
- Over 5 g of BCAAs per serving
- Non-GMO and animal welfare approved
- Third-party tested for banned substances
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low in carbs and fat but high in protein
- Natural ingredients
- Money-back guarantee
- Made with ethically-sourced milk
- Lots of flavor options
- Subscribe and save 10%
Cons
- Comparably high cost per serving
- May be clumpy when mixed
- Some customers thought flavor was too sweet, or in some cases lacked flavor
Bottom Line
Legion Whey+ is a clean, sustainable protein powder that also is macro-friendly and a great option for anyone looking for a clean protein supplement. Many of our testers have bought this with their own money because they love the taste and easy mixability.
When it comes to clean proteins and natural ingredients, one of our top picks on our best clean protein powder roundup is Whey+ from Legion Athletics. Overall, our product testers rate Whey+ at 4-out-of-5-stars. Legion offers more flavor options (and stronger) than Naked Nutrition, but it also features a longer ingredient list including Xanthan gum, sunflower lecithin, stevia leaf extract, and natural flavors.
Naked Whey may have a mild taste, but it offers more protein per serving and costs less to buy. From our experience, we think Naked wins the battle against Legion for Whey protein.
For more, check out our Legion Whey Protein review.
| Naked Whey | Legion Athletics Whey+ | |
| Price per serving | $1.25 | $1.99 |
| Flavors | 4 | 17 |
| Calories per serving | 120 | 100-120 |
| Protein per serving | 25 g | 22-24 g |
| Carbs per serving | 3 g | Varies by flavor |
| Fats per serving | 2 g | Varies by flavor |
| Third-party testing | Informed Choice | Labdoor, NSF-certified |
Customer Experience
From our experience, Naked Nutrition is pretty user-friendly. To start, there are multiple ways to reach customer service including a general inquiry form on the contact page, email address, and phone number with hours of operation listed. There is also a live chat function in the lower right corner of the webpage.
The brand also allows for returns on any unopened and unused items within the first 14 days of delivery. However, you won’t be refunded for any shipping fees.
Speaking of shipping, standard shipping fees apply to all orders under $100, which means if you only buy one tub of Naked Whey, plan to factor in shipping fees.
While the shipping fees and limited return policy damper the experience slightly, Anthony O’Reily gives Naked Nutrition a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating overall.
Customer Reviews
While the Naked Nutrition website only features 5-star reviews, we went digging on Amazon for a better sampling of customer feedback. Overall, the Naked Whey has a 4.2-out-of-5-star rating on Amazon with more than 140,00 customer reviews. About 76% of all the reviews are 4- and 5-star ratings with only 9% of those being 1-star reviews.
Reading through these reviews, one thing we noticed was folks thought the taste and solubility are just OK. Most customers were willing to overlook the mild flavor and lack solubility for the minimal ingredient list. One customer says, “It does not mix well with liquids but that’s OK because it doesn’t have emulsifiers.”
Final Verdict of Our Naked Whey Protein Review
If you prioritize natural products that don’t have a ton of artificial ingredients or additives, Naked Whey is worth a try. With an ingredient list that maxes out at three, it’s hard to go wrong.
However, with minimal ingredients comes a few drawbacks: minimal or mild taste and just OK solubility. For that reason, it may be necessary to add Naked Whey to your baked goods or protein shakes you put through the blender.
Naked Whey Protein Rating
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Naked Whey Protein: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Naked Whey and whey protein in general.
Which is the best whey protein?
We’ve tested over 80 different protein powders, and our expert product tester think the following nine best whey protein powders deserve a spot at the top of your list:
-Best Whey Protein Overall: Kaged Whey Protein Isolate
-Best Whey Protein for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
-Best Natural Whey Protein: Legion Athletics Whey+ Whey Isolate Protein Powder
-Best-Tasting Whey Protein: XWERKS Grow
-Best Whey Protein for Digestion: Jacked Factory ISO
-Best Grass-Fed Whey Protein: Swolverine Whey Protein Isolate
-Best Whey Protein for Athletes: Onnit Whey Protein
-Best Whey Protein for Recovery: 1st Phorm Phormula-1
-Best Budget Whey Protein: Optimum Nutrition 100% Gold Standard Whey
What is healthier than whey protein?
If you have dietary restrictions around dairy and lactose, whey protein will likely feel like a healthy choice for you. However, there are many alternatives to whey protein including egg protein and plant-based powders. One is not inherently better than the other because healthy food and supplements are unique to you as an individual.
What happens when you take whey protein without working out?
Consuming protein powders and shakes without working out is an acceptable form of protein intake. You don’t have to workout to earn a protein drink. In fact, your body needs proteins for normal cellular function. To learn more, read our guide on How Much Protein Do I Need?
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
- Børsheim E, Bui QU, Tissier S, Kobayashi H, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR. Effect of amino acid supplementation on muscle mass, strength and physical function in elderly. Clin Nutr. 2008;27(2):189-195. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2008.01.001
- Bandara SB, Towle KM, Monnot AD. A human health risk assessment of heavy metal ingestion among consumers of protein powder supplements. Toxicol Rep. 2020;7:1255-1262. Published 2020 Aug 21. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.08.001
Further reading
Our Transparent Labs protein review will let you know whether this protein powder is worth the cost and what’s really inside each container. Read more
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Want to run a fast mile, learn how to run faster and longer, or how to get better at running? Our expert guide serves up all the running tips you need. Read more
If you’re on the hunt for the best whey protein that doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or food additives, you’ve come to the right place. In this Naked Whey Protein review, we’ll give you our honest take on this whey protein powder from a company dedicated to transparent food labels and high-quality ingredients. During our testing process, we followed a formulated supplements testing methodology with the following considerations (all of which will be covered in more detail later): » Read more about: Naked Whey Protein Review (2024): Free From Soy, Gluten, and Food Additives » Read more