How to compare sports supplements
Sports supplements serve different purposes, so start with what you are trying to add to your diet. Then compare the ingredients and amounts in a full serving. You cannot compare a scoop of protein powder, a pre-workout and a sachet of algae tablets by weight alone.
How much protein is in the serving?
A large tub can still have a small stated serving. Find the directions and note how many scoops make one serving. Then read the grams of protein listed for that amount.
The scoop measures powder, not protein alone. The ingredient list shows what else makes up the serving. Depending on the product, that may include flavouring, sweeteners or ingredients used for texture. Read the printed figures rather than guessing from the scoop’s size.
Check four places together:
- serving size, shown in grams and scoops
- servings per container
- protein per stated serving
- the full ingredient list, in printed order
Scoop sizes differ because each powder has its own density and serving instructions. You cannot use a level scoop from one tub to measure another. Keep each scoop with its original container.
What should you check in amino acids and pre-workouts?
Amino-acid products may use initials such as BCAA on the front. Turn the pack around and look for the named amino acids and their amounts per serving. If only a blend total is prominent, check whether the label lists the individual amounts.
Pre-workout labels need a different first check. Find the stimulant line, if the formula contains one, and note the amount per serving. Then compare that serving with the directions. Some labels describe one scoop as a serving; others use a fraction or more than one scoop.
For either category, read these details before comparing prices:
- the exact serving measure
- the named ingredients and amounts
- the maximum serving stated on the pack
- the number of servings in the container
Do not transfer a scoop between tubs. Its volume may look similar while the stated gram measure differs.
What does a greens powder contain?
“Greens powder” is a shelf category, not a standard recipe. One pack may list dried plant powders. Another may include extracts, flavouring, sweeteners or several ingredients grouped into a blend. Read the ingredient panel to see which version is in your hand.
Read the serving in grams, then check how many servings the pack contains. If the front highlights a particular ingredient, find it in the ingredient list and look for a stated amount. If the label gives no amount, you cannot calculate one.
Our page Greens powders and whole algae explains the format difference in more detail. You cannot compare a powder mixed into water with a small pressed tablet by scoop count. Compare the ingredients, daily serving and pack quantity.
How do algae tablets compare?
Algae tablets are another supplement format. Compare their full formula and serving amount, and avoid assuming they do the same job as protein powder or a pre-workout.
Vplus contains Chlorella sorokiniana, spirulina and Indigold. A sachet holds twenty 200 mg tablets, weighing 4 g altogether. A box contains thirty-one sachets. These figures describe the pack, not a protein or sports-performance dose.
Product details: Vplus Formula: ingredients, pack details and directions.
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