Protein powders have become an incredibly popular nutritional supplement among athletes, bodybuilders, and ordinary health-conscious individuals. With so many protein brands and products available, it can get confusing trying to determine which offers the highest quality protein and overall value.
In this article, we provide an in-depth feature-by-feature comparison between two top contenders – Ascent Protein and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey.
| Features | Ascent Protein | Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard |
| Protein Source | Grass-fed whey concentrate | Blend of whey isolates, concentrates, and hydrolysates |
| Taste | Natural flavors, but some don’t like aftertaste | Creamy, exceptional taste highly rated |
| Mixability | Mixes easily | Exceptional, smooth texture |
| Nutrition per Serving | 120 cal, 25g protein, 1g carbs, 0g fat | 120 cal, 24g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat |
| Other Ingredients | 100% natural | Contains artificial flavors and sweeteners |
| Price Per Serving | $1.50 | Around $0.75 |
Ascent is a relative newcomer to the protein supplementation market, offering 100% natural whey and plant-based blends. Their whey concentrate is sourced from grass-fed, hormone-free cow’s milk. With no artificial ingredients, Ascent aims to provide clean protein from sustainable family farms.
Comparatively, Optimum Nutrition (ON) has been an industry leader for over 30 years. Its Gold Standard 100% Whey utilizes a blend of whey protein isolates, hydrolysates, and concentrates sourced from quality ingredients. With 24 grams of protein per scoop, Gold Standard aims to help athletes meet demanding nutritional needs.
The type of protein is arguably the most important consideration when comparing supplements. Whey protein comes from dairy and offers optimal amino acid balance for muscle protein synthesis. Meanwhile, plant-based proteins like pea are suitable options for vegans/vegetarians or those with dairy sensitivities.
Ascent uses grass-fed whey concentrate as its primary protein source across its whey products. For its plant-based offering, Ascent utilizes pea and pumpkin protein. The concentrate whey is non-denatured and processed at low temperatures to help preserve nutritional quality.
ON Gold Standard leverages a tri-blend of whey isolate, hydrolysate, and concentrate. This allows for fast, medium, and longer digestion rates to ensure your muscles get a steady supply of amino acids. ON uses quality ingredients from trusted dairy suppliers. Its plant-based solution utilizes pea, potato, and rice proteins.
While nutrition should be the priority, the tastiness and mixability of protein powders shouldn’t be overlooked either. Poorly mixed clumps or bad flavors make consistency a chore.
Ascent offers its whey in natural vanilla and chocolate flavors sweetened with monk fruit and stevia. Users praise the clean flavors and mixability with just a spoon or shaker bottle. However, some report the aftertaste takes adjusting too. Its plant-based options leverage natural cocoa and vanilla flavors as well.
ON Gold Standard is renowned for its exceptional taste and texture. It delivers creamy shakes with flavors like chocolate, cookies and cream, and cinnamon graham crackers. Third-party reviews consistently rank ON Gold Standard as one of the best tasting protein powders. It mixes easily with just a spoon or shaker bottle.
Paying attention to the macros, calories, and ingredients list is key for understanding what you’re consuming. Artificial additives, sugars, and fats can diminish potential health benefits.
Ascent uses all-natural ingredients with no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives. A serving of its whey has 120 calories, 25g protein, 1g carbs, and 0g fat. Their plant-based has 100 calories, 20g protein, 2g carbs, and 1.5g fat per serving. Minimal other ingredients ensure you get high-quality nutrition.
ON Gold Standard also avoids unwanted additives like soy or gluten. However, its whey does contain artificial flavors and sweeteners. One serving provides 120 calories, 24g protein, 3g carbs (1g sugar), and 1g fat. So while not as “clean”, it still offers solid macros. Their vegan solution has similar nutrition but with rice syrup solids.
With the wide range of products and sizes available, evaluating true value means assessing cost per serving. Higher prices don’t necessarily guarantee increased quality either when comparing proteins.
Ascent positions itself as a premium, natural product. But despite being grass-fed concentrate, its $1.50/serving price lands in line with average competitor pricing. When factoring its clean ingredients and ethical sourcing, Ascent offers very good value for money. Their plant-based option costs a bit more at $1.75 per serving.
ON Gold Standard lives up to its name for value, with one of the lowest cost per serving rates around $0.75. Even smaller tub sizes bring this down further through discounts. Factor in the exceptional quality, flavors, and mixability of ON’s whey, and you get phenomenal value at any tier. Their plant alternative is pricier at a $1.25 per serving MSRP.
Both Ascent and ON rate well for quality, but ON Gold Standard edges out Ascent in a few key areas. The blend of fast and slow-digesting whey proteins ensures your body has a steady supply of amino acids. And while Ascent also uses quality whey, supplements aren’t regulated, so third-party testing provides confidence in ON’s quality. Lastly, ON’s exceptional taste, texture, and mixability enhance the experience versus Ascent’s more polarizing user ratings.
With over 30 years of trust in the industry and its flagship whey protein the all-time top seller globally, Optimum Nutrition undoubtedly qualifies as an exceptional, high-quality brand. Its range caters to all needs with not just sports supplements but vitamins, minerals and health products as well. Athletes especially praise the quality and effectiveness of Optimum Nutrition protein powders.
While subjective based on individual factors, Optimum Nutrition consistently ranks near the top as the best protein supplement company among athletes and professionals. As a brand, it offers exceptional quality powders and shakes that deliver on nutrition, taste, and value. ON also has enduring trust and goodwill thanks to quality standards and transparency. Runners up like Ascent offer worthy alternatives.
Optimum Nutrition by many metrics and reviews has the best overall protein supplements, especially for its whey offerings like Gold Standard 100% Whey. With over 15 flavors and counting that taste fantastic, exceptional macros and nutrition, industry-leading quality assurance, and pricing formats to meet any budget, ON checks all the boxes that matter for the ideal protein powder.
Also Read: Diffferences Between Stasis And Thesis.
So in summary, while Ascent offers quality grass-fed concentrate protein, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard edges it out as the top choice for highest quality protein supplement thanks to its blended whey profile, third-party assured quality, sensational taste and texture, and excellent value. But ultimately you can’t go wrong with either brand.
I hope this thorough comparison of Ascent and Optimum Nutrition has helped provide insight to decide which protein powder is right for you! Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.
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