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 questionable additives? How do real users rate and describe the effects of this product? And which retailer sells Body Fortress Whey for the best price?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Body Fortress Whey based on medical studies to give our take on whether the protein content is effectively dosed for building muscle, and whether the supplement contains any potentially unhealthy additives.
We'll also feature real customer reviews and provide a cost comparison to show what retailer sells Body Fortress Whey for the best price.
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:
But what else is in Body Fortress Whey and do the other ingredients support muscle growth? We'll discuss these questions in the next section.
Ingredient 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.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Body Fortress Whey protein? We'll discuss that in the next section.
Real Users Review Body Fortress
A YouTube video published by the "BarBend" channel includes a taste test of Body Fortress along with the reviewer's pros and cons of the product overall:
A TikTok creator named Jay suggests that the chocolate flavor of Body Fortress tastes terrible:
@foolinjay Worst Protein Powder #bodyfortresswheyprotein #bodyfortress #proteinpowder #wheyprotein #proteinisolate #wheyproteinisolate #pushups #focus #giveup #lockin #neverbecomfortable #stayfocused #workhard #workharder #failure #tillfailure #startnow #wastenotime #dontgiveup #grind #viral #gymtok #dicipline #workout #fakebody #gym ♬ The Sound That Made History. - Gman
Where to Get the Best Price
Body Fortress Whey is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here's a cost comparison for a one-time purchase:
CVS: $29.99
Walmart: $22.98
Amazon: $19.98 (link to official Amazon listing)
At the time of updating this article, Body Fortress Whey is currently 33% cheaper on Amazon compared to CVS.
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.
Real Customers Review Body Fortress
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion. Body Fortress Whey Protein has been reviewed over 28,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "TGoodwin" who claims the product is effective for muscle building and appreciates its convenience:
"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 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 entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Body Fortress Whey Protein Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Body Fortress whey protein in our opinion:
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
