Fairlife is a milk brand that also sells bottled protein shakes. The shakes come in four flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana and Strawberry Banana.
In this article we’ll review the ingredients in Fairlife protein shakes to give our take on whether or not they’re healthy, and whether they make for an effective post-workout drink.
Ingredient Review
Fairlife protein shakes provide an effective dose of protein at 26 grams (g). A medical review published in 2013 found that protein doses around 25 g maximize muscle protein synthesis after exercise.
The protein in these shakes comes from filtered lowfat grade A milk, and there is no reference to whether the milk is sourced from grass-fed or conventional animals, so we will assume the milk is sourced from conventionally-raised animals.
An extensive scientific review published by the University of Minnesota concluded that grass-fed milk is healthier than conventional milk for two main reasons: it provides a more optimal ratio of fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids, and is also higher in conjugated linoleic acid which may have cardiovascular benefits.
Fairlife protein shake also contains a number of additive ingredients we recommend avoiding, listed below.
Suraclose is an artificial sweetener that has been shown in a clinical trial to negatively affect insulin function in young and healthy volunteers. The trial participants only consumed 15% of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of sucralose and experienced a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity.
Acesulfame potassium is another artificial sweetener that was found to cause intestinal injury and negative changes to gut function in an animal study.
Natural flavors is a broad descriptor that can refer to a wide range of chemical compounds. As we detailed in our review of Orgain protein powder, there is medical evidence that some flavoring agents pose toxicity risks to humans.
This protein shake also contains added vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D3. As documented in an extensive meta-study published in 2017, excess intake of vitamins poses health concerns, and we consider it illogical to consume foods and supplements with added vitamins and minerals without a documented deficiency in that vitamin or mineral.
Overall we do not recommend Fairlife protein shakes due to the inclusion of so many questionable additive ingredients. We do believe that this product is likely to be effective for post-workout muscle synthesis and recovery due to the effective protein dosage.
A popular YouTube review of Fairlife protein shakes is published by a channel called “Nicole Hoskens” who is a Registered Dietitian (RD):
Fairlife Elite Protein Shake Review
Fairlife Elite has a very similar formulation to regular Fairlife protein shakes. The main difference is that the Elite version contains 42 g of protein.
We do not consider this increased protein dosage likely to confer any additional benefits, as we haven’t come across medical evidence that protein intake above 25 or 30 g in one sitting maximizes muscle synthesis further.
One benefit of this shake is it appears to be at least partially sweetened with strawberry puree, which is a nutritious whole food ingredient that’s rich in potassium according to the USDA.
All of the questionable additive ingredients we highlighted in the Fairlife ingredient review are also in Fairlife Elite: sucralose, acesulfame potassium, natural flavors, vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D3.
We do not recommend Fairlife Elite due to the additive ingredients, but we do believe it will be effective for muscle building and recovery post-workout due to the effective protein dosage.
A popular YouTube video published by a channel called “The Supplement Reviewers” compares Fairlife Elite to Muscle Milk Pro Series and appears unsponsored:
Fairlife Protein Shake Real Customer Reviews
Fairlife is sold on Amazon which is better resource for objective customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion. Fairlife's chocolate protein shake has been reviewed over 10,000 times on Amazon and has an impressive average review rating of 4.8 stars out of 5.
This product has an "A" rating on Fakespot, which is a software tool that detects potentially fraudulent Amazon reviews. This suggests that all of Fairlife's reviews are legitimate.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "Phyllcar" who likes the taste of the shakes:
"This shake is a great way to get a power boost when you’re running late and don’t have time for breakfast. It’ll hold you over until you have a better chance to eat a regular meal or use it for a quick snack in between meals. Best taste when cold"
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "Janelle" who dislikes the artificial sweeteners:
"Evidently the recipe for this product has changed since the review I read of it on the Web. I was looking for a drink without any artificial sweeteners and was shocked to get a product that contains sucralose which is undigestible for me and tastes awful. Complete waste of money. Amazon needs to highlight the ingredients list for this product."
Our Clean Protein Shake Recommendation
We recommend Bulletproof Collagen Protein as our top protein product.
First, let's discuss the formulation: Bulletproof's protein powder only contains one single ingredient: collagen protein sourced from grass-fed animals. No questionable additives at all.
Bulletproof's product costs $43.95 and provides 25 servings, which equates to a per-serving price of $1.76. Most Fairlife shakes cost between $2 and $4 on Amazon at the time of updating this article.
As the core structural protein in skin, supplemental collagen is also clinically proven to reduce visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles, which is a beneficial secondary benefit not offered by other types of protein like whey.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Protein at this link to the product page on Bulletproof's website.
Fairlife Protein Shake Pros and Cons
Here’s our take on the pros and cons of Fairlife’s protein shakes:
Pros:
- Effective protein dose
- Complete protein
Cons:
- Artificial sweeteners
- Added vitamins
- Contains natural flavors
- Expensive per serving
