ISO HD is a decent, low calorie protein powder created by one of the most widely known names in sports nutrition, BPI Sports. The protein blend consists of whey isolates, hydrolysates and concentrates. Read this ISO HD protein powder review to learn why it does not rank amongst our top 10 Best Protein Supplements.
Iso HD Benefits
Here are the key benefits of Iso HD…
- Stimulates lean muscle growth
- Speeds up muscle recovery
- Rapid digestion and absorption
- Improves strength and endurance
- Helps build muscle quickly
- Ideal for men AND women
What Is ISO HD?
ISO HD is an ideal protein powder for both men and women because of the fact that it is simply pure, fast-digesting, clean protein powder. The reason it is an ideal post-workout protein powder is because it has a high dose of protein that helps muscles recover within minutes after consumption due to the fast absorbing blend.
While the idea of an anabolic window may be a myth, the fact that you want to drink your protein shake as soon after your workout as possible still holds true. Basically, the idea is that you want to give your muscles the protein they are hungry for immediately after you work them out.
“FEED ME!” This is what your muscles begin to scream right after your workout is completed, and they wont be satisfied until they get their protein. Working out and lifting weights breaks your muscles down, and they need protein to be built back up. The protein will allow them to recover and grow effectively and quickly.
However, some protein powders are able to deliver the nutrients to your muscles faster than others. The secret to quick absorption lies in the protein blend itself. In this next section, we’ll examine how ISO HD is able to deliver nutrients to your muscles faster than most other protein powders.
ISO HD Ingredients
The primary Iso HD ingredients are:
- Whey protein isolate
- Whey protein concentrate
- Branched chain amino acids
Protein Blend
The ISO HD protein blend consists of concentrates, isolates and hydrolysates, which means it id digested and absorbed by the body very rapidly. There are many different kinds of whey protein, but ideally, you want to be using only isolate and hydrolysate.
Whey protein isolate is actually the purest form of protein in existence, and when it’s hydrolyzed, it becomes hydrolysate, which simply means it absorbs even faster. Therefore, when a blend consists of only isolates and hydrolysates such as this one does, you can be sure your muscles will grow and recover at a rapid rate.
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a vital aspect of any protein powder because without them, it can be difficult for muscles to function properly. The three major ones are Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine, all if which you will find in ISO HD.
Most protein powders either do not have enough naturally occurring BCAAs or failed to include enough added BCAAs. It’s important to make sure your protein powder has a high enough BCAA count as they have been proven to speed up the process of muscle growth.
Note: BCAAs have also been proven to boost both strength and endurance, which is why taking a BCAA supplement before and/or during your workout can also be really beneficial. Check out some of our favorite BCAA Supplements.
Nutrition Facts
Before buying a protein powder, you need to carefully examine the nutrition facts and make sure it does not contain anything that could inhibit lean muscle growth or cause you to gain fat such as high sugar, high fat, or too many calories.
ISO HD only has 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of sugar, which is pretty low. It’s near impossible to create a protein powder with 0 grams of fat or sugar, so 1 gram is essentially ideal when it comes to protein.
It additionally only contains 120 calories per serving, which is one of the lowest we have ever seen. If you choose a protein powder with too much fat, sugar, or calories, you could end up gaining fat or muscle that isn’t lean enough, which can cause your body to just look flabby. You want to ensure that LEAN muscle mass is being built.
The Pros
- Promotes lean muscle production
- Uses isolates and hydrolysates
- Digests and absorbs very quickly
- High BCAA count means faster growth and recovery
- Low fat, low sugar, low calories
- Uses 0 fillers
- Ideal for both men and women
The Cons
- Should not serve as a meal replacement more than once per day because there simply is not enough calories in it to replace a meal
Is ISO HD Worth It? Our Conclusion
ISO HD hits most of the marks: decent protein blend, high BCAA count, low calories, low sugar, and less than 1 gram of fat. It can be used effectively by both men AND women because it doesn’t contain any added BS. It’s an average product. We would strongly recommend looking at our Top Protein Powders List.
I’m not just a supplement analyst. I’m an extremely qualified one! I am a Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) and actually received my certification directly from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I am also a Nutrition & Wellness Consultant, certified by the American Fitness Professionals Association (AFPA).