Body Fortress Whey Protein is one of the most popular protein powders on the market. The brand describes its product as "Super Advanced" and "the ideal post workout protein supplement."
But does Body Fortress whey contain an effective dose of protein for muscle-building? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? What certifications does the brand have, and do they matter? And is Body Fortress Whey Protein better or worse than other popular protein powders like Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Body Fortress Whey Protein to give our take on whether or not the protein content is effectively-dosed for building muscle, and whether or not the supplement is healthy overall.
We'll also explain what the company's NSF certification means and why it matters, and compare Body Fortress to other popular protein powder brands to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Effective protein dose for muscle-building
- Contains artificial sweeteners we consider to be unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Body Fortress Whey
Will Body Fortress Whey Build Muscle?
The protein content in Body Fortress Whey is 30 grams (g) per scoop, and 60 g for two scoops:
Both one and two scoops of this protein powder should be effective for building muscle according to a 2013 medical review that established 20 g of protein as the post-workout dose for maximizing muscle protein synthesis.
We haven't come across medical studies suggesting additional muscle-building benefits from consuming a protein dose as high as 60 g in one sitting, so it may be a good idea for consumers on a budget to stick to one scoop rather than two.
Our only concern about the protein in Body Fortress Whey is that the brand fails to specify whether it's sourced from conventionally-raised or pastured animals.
Animal products from pastured animals are clinically shown to be more nutritious than from conventional feedlot animals, although this is less of an issue with processed food products like whey protein and more of an issue when considering whole food products like cheese and meat.
A well-researched video from the "Flow High Performance" channel discusses what the optimal protein intake is for muscle growth:
Other Ingredients Analysis
Apart from protein, Body Fortress contains an "Immune Support Blend" with three vitamins and minerals and a large number of inactive ingredients:
Vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc are included in this protein powder and we don't understand why. Most consumers don't use protein powder for immune support, they use it for muscle-building.
We haven't come across any clinical evidence that these ingredients support muscle growth.
As documented in our review of Ka'Chava, another wellness brand recently had to recall several of their shakes from the market because the added vitamins and minerals were causing toxicity in customers.
Body Fortress Whey provides 250% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin D in two scoops, and it may be unsafe for consumers to take such a high dose of a fat-soluble vitamin on a regular basis, especially if they're also getting vitamin D from multivitamins, other supplements, diet and sun exposure.
Acesulfame potassium and sucralose are artificial sweeteners, the latter of which was shown in a 2020 clinical trial to cause negative changes to insulin function in young, healthy adults.
Natural flavor is a broad categorical descriptor that fails to document the specific flavoring chemicals used. A 2013 medical review suggested toxicity concerns related to some flavoring additives.
As we explained in the first section, we expect this protein powder to be effective for muscle building given its effective protein dose. However, we do not currently recommend this product from a health perspective given the ingredients highlighted above.
NSF Certification – Why it Matters
Body Fortress Whey Protein has an NSF certification, which is a good sign of product quality and brand legitimacy. The NSF is a third-party, non-profit organization that tests contaminant and ingredient levels in supplements to ensure product purity and label accuracy.
It’s a good sign when a product is NSF-certified, because it ensures that the product is free of harmful contaminants like steroids or heavy metals. A medical review found that contamination of workout supplements is a legitimate issue. Some workout supplements were found to contain steroids like testosterone and stimulants like caffeine without these ingredients being included on the ingredient label.
We would always recommend a protein powder that's NSF-certified over a protein powder that's not NSF-certified if they have similar formulations.
Body Fortress Whey vs. Popular Protein Powders
Here's how Body Fortress Whey Protein compares to other popular protein powders in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
Contains artificial dye Yellow 5, which is clinically shown to have DNA-damaging potential.
Body Fortress Whey is free from artificial dyes.
Winner: Body Fortress Whey
Gainful
Contains an active ingredient at an unspecified dose which is clinically shown to cause liver injury at high doses, as we documented in our Gainful Protein review article.
While we don't consider Body Fortress Whey to be healthy, we don't consider any of its ingredients to be acutely dangerous.
Winner: Body Fortress Whey
Ryse
Contains artificial flavor, which has been shown in various research studies to be harmful to human health.
Body Fortress Whey is naturally-flavored.
Winner: Body Fortress Whey
Our Clean Protein Picks
MBG Whey Protein Isolate+ is our top overall protein powder.
Whey protein is a "complete" protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids.
Anthony's Organic Hemp Protein is our top vegan protein pick.
It's extremely nutrient-dense, providing 25% of the Daily Value (DV) of iron and 8% of the DV of potassium.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Body Fortress Whey Protein Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Effective protein dose
- Should support muscle growth
- Cheap per-serving
- NSF certified
- No added sugar
Cons:
- Contains artificial sweeteners
- Contains high doses of a fat-soluble vitamin
- Contains flavoring additives
- May be sourced from conventionally-raised animals
- Unappealing brand design
