Do your protein shakes upset your stomach, too? I was so sick of finishing a tough workout, downing my protein shake, and immediately looking 5 months pregnant because the ingredients in my protein shake were making me look bloated as frick (I’m lookin’ at you, whey). If you can relate to the post-protein shake bloat or stomach ache, keep reading. I’m sharing my honest Equip protein powder review with you, so you can decide if this clean ingredient beef protein is a good fit for you, too.
The story of a sad, bloated gym girlie
Let me tell you, friend — the struggle was real. Tummy aches, wearing oversized shirts because my stomach poofed out so much, and staying in stretchy pants because my jeans were just too uncomfortable… all because I drank a protein shake after my workout.
It was incredibly frustrating, but at the same time, I loved knowing I was getting a big dose of protein after a workout – after all, I was putting all the effort into gaining muscle, and I knew I needed more protein to hit my daily goal.
So, I started looking for a good, clean protein that wouldn’t hurt my stomach or make me bloated. Enter: Equip Foods prime protein. Equip has everything I’m looking for in a protein powder: clean ingredients, collagen and gelatin (which repairs joint and soft tissues), zero artificial colors/fillers/sketchy stuff, insaaaanely good taste. And the best part? It never makes me bloated because it’s made with beef protein, instead of whey. Okay, I’ll stop drooling now, but keep reading to get the full scoop on my Equip protein powder review.
Try Equip prime protein at a discount
Disclaimer: I often use affiliate links in my blog posts! That means if you make a purchase through one of my links, I might earn some money (which I will use to buy the coffee that fuels me to write even MORE content for you —superduperfast), at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support!
Already know you’re ready to try Equip Foods prime protein? Well, I’ve got a little something for you! Just click here to buy your first bag of protein (and don’t forget to check out their other products!), and when you use my link you’ll get 15% off your first order.
You can also just use code SAVDUFFY at checkout 🙂
And just to be clear: I’ve been using Equip protein for a lot longer than I have been an affiliate with them. I just genuinely became so obsessed with their protein that I applied to join their program. That means you get a discount, I get a small commission, and everybody gets to make mad protein gains.
Let’s start with the flavors, ’cause no matter what the health benefits are of using a beef protein powder, the taste is what makes or breaks a protein shake.
What does Equip prime protein taste like?
I’ll be honest – I was mildly concerned this protein would taste like beef, since it’s made with beef protein instead of whey (more on that later!). But it turns out, Equip prime protein tastes like literal dessert, instead.
My two favorite flavors are chocolate (obvi) and iced coffee (also obvi). I’m telling you right now, the chocolate tastes like a brownie, and the iced coffee tastes like a little coffee treat.
And while I’m not usually a fan of stevia as a sweetener, the Prime protein power has ZERO of that fakey, stevia taste to it. Truly, it tastes amazing and you don’t taste the stevia at all; it just tastes delish.
(In recent news, Equip is experimenting with swapping stevia for monk fruit and coconut sugar as sweeteners! More on that to come as they keep rolling out new products, so keep an eye open for my next Equip protein powder review!)
Does Equip prime protein blend well?
Yes! I’ve found that a regular protein shaker with the little whisk/spiral/agitator ball that all protein shakers come with is all that’s needed to make sure the protein blends properly with milk or water.
Just give your protein a solid, vigorous round of shaking in the protein shaker and it will be well blended, with no little powder chunkies.
You can mix Prime protein with hot or cold liquids, so feel free to get creative with it! I prefer shaking mine up with some milk, but it tastes shockingly good with just water, too.
You can even throw some into your morning coffee for an added protein boost in the mernin’.
Alrighty, let’s dive into some common questions about protein, protein powder, and what all the fuss is about with this beef isolate protein shtuff.
How much protein should I eat a day?
The recommendation is to eat at least .75 grams of protein per pound of body weight. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should aim to consume 115 grams or protein every day.
Which is, indeed, a lot of protein and takes a good deal of effort to eat that much every day – hence many health and fitness lifestyle people adding a protein supplement into their daily routine.
Why do protein shakes upset my stomach and make me bloated/gassy?
One of the most frequently asked questions I see in the fitness community is, “Does anyone have a recommendation for a protein powder that won’t hurt my stomach?”
Because protein causing stomach aches, bloat, and an upset stomach is such a common (and super annoying) issue.
The reason for the post-protein stomach upset is that most protein powders on the market contain allergens like whey, dairy, egg, soy, or gluten.
Those ingredients are the most likely culprits of dealing with stomach discomfort, gassiness, or bloat after downing a protein shake. For many people, whey protein is the main reason their protein shakes don’t agree with them.
What are most protein powders made of?
Most protein powders are made with whey protein (which comes from milk and therefore contains lactose), or plant-based protein (usually from a blend of plants like peas and various seeds like sunflower or pumpkin, etc.).
Unfortunately, whey is so hard on the stomach because it’s derived from dairy milk, which is obviously an issue for people who struggle to digest lactose.
What is Equip prime protein powder made of?
Equip Prime protein is made of premium 100% grass-fed beef isolate protein.
The rest of the ingredients are incredibly simple with just 1-6 ingredients, depending on the flavor you choose.
All of their flavored protein powders are sweetened with stevia that is pesticide-free and processed with ZERO chemicals.
That said, if stevia isn’t your thing, you can always go with the Unflavored Prime Protein, with just 1 ingredient (100% grass fed beef protein).
You can try Equip Prime protein powder here and get your first purchase 15% off 🙂
But does it taste like beef?
Nope, just to really reiterate this point, I’ll say it again: it literally tastes like dessert. No fakey taste, no weird aftertaste, no holding your nose while you drink it.
This is honestly the. best. tasting. protein I’ve ever used.
Like I mentioned earlier, my absolute favorite flavor is chocolate (tastes like a brownie), followed super closely by the iced coffee flavor.
Why not just use plant-based protein instead of whey? Why drink beef protein?
While choosing a plant protein might seem like the obvious alternative to whey protein for those with lactose sensitivity, there is a drawback:
Plant protein doesn’t have the collagen and gelatin that helps repair joints and soft tissue like beef protein does.
The beef in Equip prime protein powder is cooked the same way bone broth is: with low and slow heating to preserve nutrition and ensure a highly bioavailable product – no chemical processing is involved.
What are the health benefits of drinking beef protein vs. whey protein?
With beef protein, you get more protein per gram with beef than with whey, and it’s also a higher source of creatine, iron, and vitamin B12.
A single serving of Equip protein is the equivalent of 4 oz of beef.
And to recap what I’ve mentioned before, beef protein comes from beef (obvi), while whey protein comes from milk. That means beef protein is much easier on the stomach to digest.
I’ve never once been bloated or had an upset stomach after drinking Equip prime protein shakes, and it’s been such a game changer. Nothing’s worse than hitting a solid workout, feeling lean and mean, and then drinking a protein shake that makes you feel heavy and bloated.
While this Equip protein powder review dives into a lot of information, this is my main point: that Equip won’t irritate your stomach or make you bloated.
Pricing question: If beef protein is so great, is it super expensive?
While Equip prime protein is more expensive than some other typical protein powders you’ll find at the grocery store, it’s actually not as crazily priced as you’d expect.
Purchasing a one-time bag of Equip prime protein costs $63.99, which comes out to $2.13/serving.
But, if you choose the subscription option, it costs just $54.39, or $1.81/serving.
Not just that, but if you use my link or apply code SAVDUFFY at checkout, you’ll get 15% off your first order. And yes, that discount can be layered on top of your subscription price, meaning your first bag will just be $46.23.
For me, the lack of bloat and stomach aches, the super-clean ingredients, and the added health benefits of collagen, gelatin, and amino acids in Equip prime protein makes the price easily worth it for me.
Why choose Equip foods prime protein?
Let’s hit the highlights again rapid-fire, just for fun:
- Keto, Paleo, and Carnivore approved
- It’s safe and easy to digest (this protein literally never causes gas or bloating for me)
- Made with only whole food ingredients (no junk, fillers, or artificial crap)
- 1 scoop has 21 grams of protein (the equivalent of 4 oz of grass-fed beef)
- Each bag provides complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids, crucial for building muscle and repairing tissue
- Prime contains zero allergens (like soy, dairy, egg, or whey) that can make gut issues and inflammation worse
- Each flavor only has 1-6 ingredients
- Unflavored option contains ONLY 100% grass-fed beef isolate. That’s it.
- The beef protein is made the same way that bone broth is made, with low and slow heating to preserve the nutrition. No chemical processing.
- Easily the best tasting protein I’ve ever had (I highly recommend the chocolate and iced coffee flavors)
- Blends super well in a regular protein shaker and can be added to cold or hot beverages
You can watch my Instagram story of me using Equip Prime protein in real life here.
Last thoughts on my Equip prime protein powder review
I hope this Equip protein powder review was helpful to you as you choose from all the different protein supplements out there! Everyone has their own preferences, but if your biggest frustration with your protein powder is 1) that it makes you bloated or gives you a stomach ache or 2) contains artificial flavors, fillers, and sweeteners, then Equip prime protein is probably a great fit for you.
If you’re ready for bloat-free, delicious tasting protein powder with none of the sketchy ingredients, you can try Equip prime protein here and get 15% off your first order, or just use code SAVDUFFY at checkout 🙂
Remember, you can apply my discount on top of the subscription price to get the biggest discount! After your first order, your price will go back to the regular subscription price.
You can set your delivery to happen every 30, 45, 60, or 90 days so you’re in total control!
If you found this review helpful, I’d super appreciate if you passed it along to another fellow gym girlie, weightlifter, or protein-lover. Every share is noticed and deeply appreciated by this one-woman show 🙂
Sending you all the good vibes,
xo Sav
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