Orgain Protein Shake Review: Creamy Chocolate Fudge

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. I get a small percentage of purchases made through these links without any increase in cost for you. Opinions and thoughts are all my own.

It can be so difficult to find a protein shake that actually tastes good, isn’t packed with chemicals, and has the nutrients we need. I saw some ads online about Orgain protein drinks and decided to try it out and see if it fit the bill. These are the questions I like to ask when choosing a good protein drink:

What is the Quality of the Ingredients?

Almost all the ingredients are organic. The sweetener used is monk fruit and organic stevia. These natural sweeteners are a little better than sucralose, which is used in a lot of other protein drinks. Sucralose can cause bowel problems, interfere with medications, and reduce normal flora (good gut bacteria), to name a few issues.

Orgain is not only certified organic by the USDA. It also claims to be grass-fed, gluten-free, soy-free, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free. Not many protein drinks can say as much.

What is the Nutrient Breakdown?

I always look at both micronutrients and macronutrients, but mostly macronutrients, because it’s pretty much a given that a protein drink will be fortified with vitamins and minerals.

In the creamy chocolate fudge flavor, Orgain has a total of 140 calories. There are 2 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbohydrates, and 20 grams of protein. According to this book of guidelines on page 15, the USDA recommends that for adults, each meal should be composed of 45-65% carbohydrates, 20-35% fats, and 10-35% proteins.

Therefore, this would not be a good option for a meal replacement on its own, due to the higher proportion of protein (more than 50%). However, it could be easily incorporated into a meal by adding fats and carbs. Or if you are an athlete or someone with higher protein needs, it could be consumed on its own as a snack.

It is important to note that even though the protein is plant based, the amino acid profile is complete, meaning you are consuming complete proteins that can be fully utilized by the body. Incomplete plant-based proteins would otherwise need to be combined with other complimentory amino acids to form a complete protein.

Another perk in the nutrient list is the fiber content; there are three grams of fiber per bottle, or 12% of your daily value. This was big seller for me! It’s hard to find protein drinks that actually have fiber in them. Without adequate fiber, all that protein would just make you constipated…

How Does it Taste?

• Flavor

Orgain basicially tastes like chocoloate milk, but there is a certain fruity aftertaste– I’m guessing it’s due to the monk fruit– that some may not like. It’s not extremely noticeable and I still give the flavor an eight out of ten.

• Texture

The texture is not grainy at all. It could be creamier, though.

Will it Keep Me Full?

No.

This drink is 140 calories, people. I don’t care how much protein or fat something has; if it only has 140 calories, you will be lucky if it keeps you full for longer than an hour. I will say that for such a low calorie item, it can take off the edge for up to two hours.

Does It Digest Well?

By this, I mean, “Will it make me bloated or give me a stomach ache?” Many protein drinks have been known to give me digestive issues, probably due to the sugar substitutes, preservatives and other additives. Sucralose is especially known to cause gastrointestinal distress, so I avoid consuming products with high amounts of sucralose.

I can’t claim to have the same digestive system as everyone else, but for me, Orgain is easy on the tummy. I have not noticed any issues with gassiness, bloating, stomach cramps or constipation. Since this is the kind of thing that you consume “on-the-go”, I think it’s a big deal that it settles well. Let’s be honest, no one wants to hold in protein farts in the office or at the grocery store.

Is it Expensive?

If you buy only four at a time, the cost runs about $2.50 a bottle. If you buy in bulk (12 or more), the cost can fall under $2 per bottle. This price is comparable to other popular protein drinks and is even less expensive than some. For the high quality of ingredients, I think this price is very reasonable.

I have not bought the powdered version, but of course you can find that for much cheaper per serving. With a busy lifestyle, I need something I can grab and go!

On the bottle, it lists that this drink is for: strength training, busy professionals, athletes, weight management, and moms on-the-go. I do agree that the drink could be a good fit for any of these people.

Orgain’s Back Story

On each bottle, there is an explanation of how Orgain came about. Dr. Andrew Abraham, an M.D. and cancer survivor, created Orgain because he had a goal to “create the purest, most nutritious products in the world.”

I personally find it inspiring as well as reassuring that a doctor was the creator of this product. Overall, Orgain is at the top of my list for protein drinks.

My Overall Rating

I have been drinking Orgain for almost a year now, so I am a loyal fan! Orgain gets a nine out of ten from me (the flavor and texture are not perfect). I love that I’m not putting chemicals and other harsh ingredients into my body every time I drink it. Also, since I’m a chocolate addict, this is great for when I have chocolate cravings. Much better than binging on brownies!