If you have ever heard of Russel Westbrook, Rob Gronkowski, or Giancarlo Stanton, there’s a chance you have heard of Six Stars 100% whey protein.
If not, allow me to explain.
Russel Westbrook is the six-foot three point guard for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. In the 2016-17 season, he was granted the MVP award.
Rob Gronkowski, whom you might know better as ‘Gronk’ is the former tight-end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Giancarlo Stanton is the outfielder and designated hitter for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.
You might be wondering what these three athletes have to do with a protein powder company. All three have publicly endorsed Six Stars 100% whey protein.
Now, this doesn’t mean that it is automatically the best option out there. A lot of things go into these athlete-endorsements, one of those is money. Yet still, it is worth noting that these highly professional athletes utilize this powder to perform at their best.
Regardless of sponsorships or endorsements, the thing to take away from here, is that Six Stars is a professionally used and professionally regarded protein powder.
If it’s good enough for the likes of Russel Westbrook, Gronk, and Giancarlo Stanton, it is likely good enough for you.
If you don’t really care what they think about this protein powder, that’s fair; let’s get into the powder itself.
Six Stars 100% Whey Protein contains 30 grams of protein, 150 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of sugar per serving. The protein used is, obviously, 100% whey protein.
However, they use several forms of whey, including whey protein peptides, whey protein isolate, and whey protein concentrate.
The benefit of using all three types of whey involves a variety of added nutrients; whey protein isolate is stripped of just about everything except the protein, giving it the highest percentage of protein.
Whey protein concentrate has a lower percentage of protein, but a higher percentage of other miscellaneous nutrients – the concentrate gives you a greater variety of benefits.
And Whey peptides are a more isolated version of whey protein isolate. The result is a protein content that will energize you in addition to synthesizing muscle growth.
The calorie and carb content is also relatively low, making this a good option for athletes who are trying to lose weight.
However, for those athletes that are trying to gain weight, this might not be the best choice – an imperative aspect to the weight-gaining process is high calorie and carb content. The sugar content is also relatively low, which is, of course, generally seen as a good thing.
However, included in the ingredients are Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium. Both of these are artificial sweeteners. While studies have not yet concluded positively that these sweeteners are bad for you, there is some evidence to suggest that they are not good for you, and should be avoided.
This is a relatively major drawback to a protein powder that is, otherwise, shaping up pretty strongly.
Six Stars also contains high levels of BCAAs (branched Chain Amino Acids) as well as Glutamine. Both of these molecules are incredibly vital in the protein synthesis process. It’s definitely good to see that these amino acids are included in the formula
Another drawback of Six Stars is that it is not Carrageenan-free. Carrageenan is an additive that may result in intestinal or digestive problems. You might be perfectly fine, but this is worth a little skepticism.
Additionally, Six Stars has a relatively high sodium content, at 230 milligrams per serving. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but, if you have high cholesterol or cardiovascular problems, this may pose an issue.
In terms of price, Six Stars is a great option and has an edge on the competition.
Let’s talk about taste. Many protein powders struggle largely in this area. There is a relatively well-supported stereotype surrounding protein powders that they just taste awful. In a lot of cases, this may be true.
There are, of course, ways to doctor and blend your shakes to improve or mask the flavor, but that’s not a problem with Six Stars.
Six Stars 100% Whey Protein won the Gold Medal for superior taste, awarded by the American Masters of Taste, which is a panel of chefs and experts. Especially in this field, this a significant award that Six Stars can boast.
Their powder comes in two flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here.
Many brands sell protein powder in a massive variety of flavors. Certain well-known brands like Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard have around 20 options.
By having only two, Six Stars is keeping it simple, and also showing the confidence they have in their two flavors. They don’t need additional flavors, they know the ones they have are solid.
There is a slight caveat that this protein powder is not meant for use by those under 18 years old, or those who are pregnant or nursing mothers.
The athletes best suited for this product are athletes who are looking for a cheap way to incorporate high levels of protein into their diets. If you are an athlete who values overall nutritional content, or if you are pregnant or nursing mom, you might want to look elsewhere.
This is a well-liked product that offers supreme mixability, taste, and affordability. Still, it is not without its drawbacks.
The presence of Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Carrageenan, as well as high levels of sodium, make it less than ideal for certain people in certain situations.
Article by:
Daniel DeMoss
I’m a personal trainer based in Denver (Matrix Gym) and a true fitness nerd. If I’m not training clients or working out at my home gym, I’m probably skiing, cycling or hiking with my dog Rufus.
Get in touch: daniel@dumbbellsreview.com