Finding the right protein powder can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. Fortunately, I've been able to take a lot of protein powders over my years, so I have a pretty good understanding of what's good and what's not.
In this article, we're going to compare and contrast JOCKO MOLK vs. Gold Standard Whey Protein by Optimum Nutrition. These are two power players in the whey protein powder market and cost about the same.
So, which one should you get? Well, a lot of that depends on your goals and which brand you vibe with.
Let's get started!
BIG Takeaways of JOCKO Molk vs. Gold Standard
Overview of JOCKO MÖLK Protein
Jocko Molk protein is made using whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, casein, and egg protein. Unlike other proteins that use artificial sweeteners (Gold Standard is one of them), this protein is sweetened using natural monk fruit. The Jocko Molk brand has designed this protein to be a time-released formula, meaning the proteins in the formula will break down at different rates. Your muscles will experience ongoing nutrition over the course of a few hours. Whether you need energy during your workout or afterwards for recovery purposes, Jocko Molk protein is effective.
A lot of people experience digestive upset when they consume protein powder, especially if it is based on dairy or whey. Jocko Molk has added probiotics and digestive enzymes to their protein formula to make it easier to digest. It’s low in carbohydrates and fat, with approximately 2.5 grams of fat in each serving and just one gram of carbs.
The Formula
Jocko Molk is made using a time-release blend of whey concentrate, whey isolate, micellar casein and egg. It has a very diverse amino acid profile, which are the building blocks of protein. Without amino acids, you would have trouble building muscle. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can help your GI system feel more comfortable when you use this protein. Not to mention, you might feel like your gut is healthier and more balanced overall. Jocko Molk is free of soy and artificial sweeteners. No artificial colors or flavors have been added.
Who Is Jocko Molk Good For?
Generally speaking, very active adults and fitness enthusiasts can benefit from the regular use of Jocko Molk. It is designed to help fuel your body so you can work out and perform harder and longer. The brand also advertises that it can help speed up the recovery process, so you’re ready to get moving again in a shorter period of time. This is a very clean protein formula that has been made by a brand that gives a lot of consideration to people often have trouble tolerating protein supplements. The added probiotics and digestive enzymes can help your body digest Jocko Molk while promoting optimal GI health.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase Jocko Molk on the company’s website. It retails for $44.95 for a one-time purchase of a 31-serving container. You can subscribe for deliveries every four weeks, which drops the price down 10% to $40.45.
Overview of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein
Using a protein blend of whey protein isolates, whey protein concentrates and hydrolyzed whey protein, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein provides 24 grams of protein in each scoop with just three grams of carbohydrates and one gram of fat. There’s only one gram of sugar in each serving, but that’s because the brand uses artificial sweeteners.
The Formula
Of the three protein forms that are used in this product, whey protein isolate tends to provide the highest protein content of the three. Protein concentrate is likely used because it’s a really affordable production method. This is where some of the fat comes from, as well as important components such as conjugated linoleic acid and phospholipids.
In general, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein has a very simple and basic formula that consists of their customized protein blend along with natural and artificial flavors, lecithin, aminogen, lactase and acesulfame potassium.
Who Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Good For?
The Optimum Nutrition brand advertises that you can use their protein powder to help you build and maintain muscle while also supporting endurance and recovery. It provides 24 grams of protein per serving, and you’ll be hard pressed to find supplements that offer more than that. This is a beneficial product that you can use to increase your protein intake, as long as you don’t mind some of the additional ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners and artificial flavors.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein off the Optimum Nutrition website.
The cost of their products varies depending on how many servings you choose, and the flavor you pick will determine what is available. As an example, we chose Vanilla Ice cream as our flavor option. After selecting 22 servings, the cost comes to $33.99. There doesn’t appear to be an option to sign up for a subscription in order to save money, but you can secure free shipping by spending over $75. You also get 15% off your first order through Optimum Nutrition if you sign up for the Optimum Nutrition newsletter.
Comparison Section of Gold Standard Vs. JOCKO MOLK
Let’s break down how Jocko Molk and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein compare to one another.
Vs. | JOCKO MOLK | Gold Standard |
---|---|---|
Protein Type | Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder | Whey Protein Powder |
Protein Per Serving | 22g | 24g |
Calories | 110 | 120 |
Amino Acids | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Taste Rating | 4.3/5 | 3.9/5 |
Mixing Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Price | $44.95 | $44.99 |
Shop | official website, or amazon |
Comparing Formulas
The formula of Jocko Molk is a bit purer and more versatile than you’ll find in Gold Standard Whey Protein. Its mixture of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, casein and egg provide ample protein, but we love that the brand has also taken their formula a step further to ensure that you feel comfortable while you’re digesting it. The digestive enzymes and probiotics can go a long way towards reducing discomfort if that’s something you’re prone to when using protein supplements.
We don’t love that Optimum Nutrition uses artificial ingredients in their protein. They are also big on reducing the sugar content of their formulas, but they do so with the use of artificial sweeteners.
Comparing Taste
While Optimum Nutrition has a lot of flavor choices available, you might find that many of them taste somewhat artificial or have an aftertaste because of the artificial sweeteners used. Sucralose is something that a lot of people can pick out when they’re consuming something that contains it.
Jocko Molk has six different flavors available, including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate peanut butter, mint chocolate and banana cream. Thankfully, the brand uses monk fruit as a natural and safe sweetener. The flavors of their protein seem to be very pleasant, according to product reviews that we’ve looked at.
Comparing Mixability
If you’ve ever used protein powder before, then you know how important it is to find a product that mixes well. Jocko Molk explains on their website that you can mix their protein powder with water, milk or any other liquid that you choose. For best results, you should use a mixer bottle or blender to prepare your beverage. We didn’t come across any reviews that complained about a gritty texture, clumps or difficulty mixing.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard protein appears to mix well with plain water, but reviews claim that it has a much creamier and smoother consistency when it is mixed with milk.
Of course, either product will mix rather well if you combine it into a smoothie and use a blender for the process.
Comparing Cost and Overall Value
Jocko Molk and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein are very similar in regards to price. The cost of 29 servings of Gold Standard is approximately $44.99. A container of Jocko Molk comes with 30 servings and costs approximately $44.95. However, we feel that Jocko Molk’s protein comes with higher-quality ingredients. The probiotics and digestive enzymes aren’t something that you’ll find in Optimum Nutrition’s protein. Also, we mentioned the increased quality thanks to the grass-fed cow’s milk in Jocko Molk. It appears you’re getting much better value from Jocko Molk protein.
Main Differences Between Gold Standard Whey and Jocko Molk
The formula differences between Gold Standard Whey and Jocko Molk are what stand out the most for us. We love that Jocko Molk makes a more digestible product that can actually help you feel better from a GI standpoint. We can’t guarantee that you’ll experience the same effects with Gold Standard Whey.
While the price is similar between these two products, we feel the quality of Jocko Molk is far better. They skip the artificial sweeteners that are being used in so many supplements these days. They have also sourced their protein from grass-fed cows, which makes a substantial difference in product quality.
While Gold Standard Whey may have a little more protein per serving, those few extra grams are pretty negligible.
Which Protein Powder Is Better: Jocko Molk or Gold Standard?
We’re convinced that Jocko Molk is the better protein by a substantial margin. We love the quality that this brand brings to the table, and they do so at a really affordable price point. You’re getting far more quality for your money when you use Jocko Molk regularly. It’s a well rounded formula that offers plenty of protein, not a lot of carbs or fat, and can potentially help you build muscle, improve your endurance and speed up your recovery time.
JOCKO MOLK
$
44.95
Gold Standard
$
44.99