Body Fortress Whey Protein is one of the most popular protein powders on the market. The brand describes its product as "Super Advanced" whey protein because it contains other ingredients like zinc that may support immune function. But does it have a healthy formulation? Is the protein content effectively dosed? How does the price compare to other whey protein products on the market?
In this article we’ll answer these questions by analyzing every ingredient in Body Fortress Whey Protein based on medical studies.
We'll also share a real user review of the product and highlight some questionable additive ingredients.
Is The Protein Effectively Dosed?
People have varying dietary protein needs based on sex, age and weight, but most consumers use protein powders to enhance workouts. This is the basis we’ll be using for our analysis of protein dose. Put simply, is there enough protein in this formulation to enhance workout performance and recovery?
The answer is yes. Body Fortress contains 30 grams (g) of protein per scoop, and 60 g in two scoops. This is significantly higher than the 20 g minimum requirement established in medical research to optimize post-exercise muscle synthesis.
We haven't seen any additional benefit from using a protein dose as high as 60 g post-workout, so we would recommend using one scoop instead of two.
Unfortunately the whey protein in Body Fortress appears to be sourced from conventionally-raised animals, while we know from medical research that animal products from grass-fed animals are more nutritious due to a more optimal fatty acid ratio (omega-3 versus omega-6 fats).
Ingredient Review
Apart from protein, Body Fortress contains an "Immune Support Blend" and a wide range of inactive ingredients.
The Immune Support Blend contains vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. We haven't come across any medical studies suggesting that these vitamins or mineral improve workout performance in individuals that have normal blood levels of these nutrients, nor does Body Fortress cite any, so we'll consider these ingredients ineffective and unnecessary.
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, and we recommend that consumers avoid supplements that contain added vitamins and minerals. We don't understand why a protein powder would need an "immune support" blend; it seems illogical.
Body Fortress also contains the artificial sweeteners acesulfame potassium and sucralose. A recent clinical trial found sucralose intake to cause negative changes to insulin function in young, healthy adults. We recommend avoiding artificial sweeteners entirely.
This protein powder also contains natural flavor which we recommend avoiding. A medical review published in 2013 documented toxicity concerns with some natural flavoring agents.
Overall we don't recommend this whey protein due to all of the questionable additive ingredients, though we do believe it will be effective for muscle building because it provides an optimal protein dose.
It's also notable that this product currently has a different ingredient list on the brand's website and on Amazon which is a serious consumer safety issue. Individuals may be allergic to certain ingredients, and providing different ingredient information on different channels is unacceptable. We urge Body Fortress to update their ingredient labels to reflect whatever the current accurate information is.
Body Fortress Whey Protein Real User Review
One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Body Fortress Whey Protein is published by a channel called "BarBend" and has achieved nearly 50,000 views at the time of updating this article.
The creator tries Body Fortress chocolate flavor and gives a review of the taste as well as the pros and cons of the product:
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 Protein Customer Reviews
We consider Amazon to be a more objective source of product reviews than a brand's website. Body Fortress Whey Protein chocolate flavor has been reviewed over 15,000 times on Amazon. Its average review rating is 4.6 out of 5 stars, but the product only receives a "C" grade from Fakespot which is a software tool that detects potentially fraudulent Amazon reviews.Â
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "TGoodwin" who claims the product is effective for body builders:
"I use it for the protein as I'm currently working out several times a week at the gym with the goal of bulking up (strictly for vanity, if the reason matters.) It's hard to get enough protein to build that muscle without also consuming too many calories, so making a simple milkshake using this product before working out helps reach the daily protein goal without putting on fat."
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "DriftingSand" who claims the product caused side effects:
"Every time after using it, even just 250 calories worth, it would lead to feeling bloated, as if gas was building up for some reason. Then for a few hours after, it would feel like I was almost about to vomit. I have never had such a problem before with protein powder, which is why I didn't think twice to buy this brand. I have dairy products all the time, I don't have any diet intolerances or medical issues."
Our Clean Protein Powder Recommendation
We recommend Bulletproof Collagen Protein as our top protein powder.
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.
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.
Body Fortress Whey Protein Pros and Cons
Here are our quick takes on this product:
Pros:
- Effective protein dose
- Relatively cheap
- NSF certified
Cons:
- Artificial sweeteners
- Natural flavors
- Likely sourced from conventionally-raised animals
- Awful branding
