{"id":556986499145,"title":"Fairlife Protein Shake Review: Healthy or Not?","created_at":"2022-09-24T23:05:45-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Fairlife Protein Shake Review: Healthy or Not?\",\n \"keywords\": \"fairlife protein shake, fairlife protein shakes, fairlife protein shake review, fairlife protein shake reviews, fairlife, fairlife elite protein shake\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews every ingredient in Fairlife protein shakes and Fairlife Elite protein shakes to give our take on whether they're healthy and effective for muscle building. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/fairlife-protein-shake-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"creator\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"food, nutrition, health, wellness, microbiome, exercise, workouts, strength and conditioning, probiotics, metabolism, obesity, weight loss, science, medical research, clinical trials, cardiovascular health, diet\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Fairlife_Protein_Shake_Thumbnail.png?v=1664075786\",\n\"width\": \"3110\",\n\"height\": \"3110\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23899756\/\", \n\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/pasture-based-dairy\/grass-fed-cows-produce-healthier-milk\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30535090\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34368996\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/orgain-protein-powder-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4692722\/\",\n\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/167762\/nutrients\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/core-power-high-protein-milk-shake-chocolate-14-fl-oz-pack-of-12\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"grass-fed\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"natural flavors\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"artificial sweeteners\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"added vitamins\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Fakespot\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-09-24\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Fairlife_Protein_Shake_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1664075283\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eF\u003c\/span\u003eairlife is a milk brand that also sells bottled protein shakes. The shakes come in four flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana and Strawberry Banana. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Fairlife_Protein_Shake_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1664075300\" alt=\"Fairlife protein shake ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFairlife protein shakes provide an effective dose of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eprotein\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e at 26 grams (g). A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23899756\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in 2013 found that protein doses around 25 g maximize muscle protein synthesis after exercise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe protein in these shakes comes from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efiltered lowfat grade A milk\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAn extensive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/pasture-based-dairy\/grass-fed-cows-produce-healthier-milk\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003escientific review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFairlife protein shake also contains a number of additive ingredients we recommend avoiding, listed below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSuraclose\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an artificial sweetener that has been shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30535090\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcesulfame potassium\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another artificial sweetener that was found to cause intestinal injury and negative changes to gut function in an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34368996\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eanimal study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNatural flavors\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a broad descriptor that can refer to a wide range of chemical compounds. As we detailed in our review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/orgain-protein-powder-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOrgain protein powder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, there is medical evidence that some flavoring agents pose toxicity risks to humans.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis protein shake also contains added \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003evitamin A palmitate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003evitamin D3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. As documented in an extensive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4692722\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA popular YouTube review of Fairlife protein shakes is published by a channel called “Nicole Hoskens” who is a Registered Dietitian (RD):\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mJHLx9zPH3I\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFairlife Elite Protein Shake Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFairlife Elite has a very similar formulation to regular Fairlife protein shakes. The main difference is that the Elite version contains 42 g of protein.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne benefit of this shake is it appears to be at least partially sweetened with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003estrawberry puree\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which is a nutritious whole food ingredient that’s rich in potassium \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/167762\/nutrients\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eaccording to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e the USDA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAll 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA popular YouTube video published by a channel called “The Supplement Reviewers” compares Fairlife Elite to Muscle Milk Pro Series and appears unsponsored:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jA2WzhmC74A\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFairlife Protein Shake Real Customer Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFairlife 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis product has an \"A\" rating \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/core-power-high-protein-milk-shake-chocolate-14-fl-oz-pack-of-12\"\u003eon Fakespot\u003c\/a\u003e, which is a software tool that detects potentially fraudulent Amazon reviews. This suggests that all of Fairlife's reviews are legitimate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named \"Phyllcar\" who likes the taste of the shakes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"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\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named \"Janelle\" who dislikes the artificial sweeteners:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"\u003cspan data-hook=\"review-body\" class=\"a-size-base review-text review-text-content\"\u003eEvidently 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Protein Shake Recommendation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Protein_Powder_Image_Optimized.png?v=1664075597\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recommend \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/illuminatelabs\"\u003eBulletproof Collagen Protein\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eas our top protein product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst, let's discuss the formulation: \u003cstrong\u003eBulletproof's protein powder only contains one single ingredient: collagen protein sourced from grass-fed animals. No questionable additives at all.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof's product costs $43.95 and provides 25 servings, which equates to a per-serving price of \u003cstrong\u003e$1.76\u003c\/strong\u003e. Most Fairlife shakes cost between $2 and $4 on Amazon at the time of updating this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the core structural protein in skin, supplemental collagen is also\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\u003eclinically proven\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto reduce visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles, which is a beneficial secondary benefit not offered by other types of protein like whey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Protein\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/illuminatelabs\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on Bulletproof's website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFairlife Protein Shake Pros and Cons\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere’s our take on the pros and cons of Fairlife’s protein shakes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003ePros:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEffective protein dose\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eComplete protein\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCons:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eArtificial sweeteners\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAdded vitamins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains natural flavors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eExpensive per serving\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not recommend Fairlife protein shakes or Fairlife Elite protein shakes. While both products contain an effective protein dose for muscle building and recovery, they also contain a number of additive ingredients we recommend avoiding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn our opinion, using a protein powder is a simpler and cleaner solution for protein intake than a bottled shake with many additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFairlife protein shakes are also relatively expensive, costing over $2 per serving.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-09-24T23:28:56-04:00","updated_at":"2022-11-07T21:13:41-05:00","summary_html":"We review every ingredient in Fairlife protein shakes and Fairlife Elite protein shakes to give our take on whether they're healthy and effective for muscle building. We highlight some questionable additive ingredients.","template_suffix":"","handle":"fairlife-protein-shake-review","tags":"_related:protein"}

Fairlife Protein Shake Review: Healthy or Not?

Fairlife Protein Shake Review: Healthy or Not?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

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 shake ingredients

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
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Conclusion

We do not recommend Fairlife protein shakes or Fairlife Elite protein shakes. While both products contain an effective protein dose for muscle building and recovery, they also contain a number of additive ingredients we recommend avoiding.

In our opinion, using a protein powder is a simpler and cleaner solution for protein intake than a bottled shake with many additive ingredients.

Fairlife protein shakes are also relatively expensive, costing over $2 per serving.




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