Lactose Free & Dairy Free Protein Powders for Bodybuilding: Updated February 2022
If you are a bodybuilder that is lactose intolerant, there is Good News! There are plenty of lactose free protein powders available for bodybuilders, and there are many that do not contain milk ingredients either. Some of the very best bodybuilding protein powders are lactose & milk free.
Most of the high-quality protein powders on the market these days come from milk. Whey and Casein protein are the most popular proteins supplements and are derived from milk and therefore contain milk sugars, commonly called lactose.
I have also listed some milk free protein powders at the end of the article.
Why would I need Dairy Free or Lactose Free Protein Powders for Bodybuilding?
Unfortunately, there are many bodybuilders that suffer from Lactose Intolerance, and cannot easily tolerate or digest lactose. These people need a high-quality protein powder that is lactose free.
Also see my article on Best Vegan Protein Powders.
Lactose Intolerance is caused by a lack of sufficient lactase, which is the enzyme that digests lactose in the small intestine.
More and more people are taking protein supplements these days and people with lactose intolerance are no exception. Why should you miss out on all the benefits of protein powders supplements just because you don’t digest milk or dairy product very well? You should not miss out and that is what this article is all about. I want to show you there are is a good selection of all types of powders that are lactose free for you to enjoy!
See article Do I Need Protein Powder to Build Muscle?
Lactose-Free Protein Powders for Bodybuilding
I have researched many of the most popular protein powders on the market and have come up with a list of lactose free protein powders for bodybuilding that are pretty high in purity. Purity refers to the actual percentage of protein contain in a product. Some products might be 60% pure, meaning the remaining 40% is made up of fillers, flavorings, other ingredients that are not actual protein. Since protein powder is expensive, you definitely  do not want to pay for a lot of ingredients that are not actually protein.
There will always be some percentage of other ingredients, in order to make the powder taste good, mix well, and resist spoiling there must always be some other ingredients.
Check out this very short explanation from Jim Stoppani, PhD:
What kinds of Protein Powders for bodybuilding are Considered Lactose Free?
There are several types of powders that are lactose free:
- Whey Isolate
- Beef Protein Powder
- Plant based protein powder
Whey Isolate is milk based, but most or all of the lactose is processed out, making it essentially lactose free.
Whey protein comes in three common forms: Whey concentrate, whey isolate and whey hydrolysate. Whey concentrate is the cheaper and less processed protein, and does contain lactose. Whey Protein Isolate is a very pure form of whey protein, and is considered lactose free as is whey hydrolysate.
Whey-based lactose free protein powder is going to have higher purity than most other types of proteins because whey is high in protein to begin with, and processing will increase this percentage even further.
Although a lot of people that suffer from lactose intolerance and can actually consume most whey proteins without issues, you will want to go with protein powders that are made of whey protein isolate.
Least Expensive Lactose Free Protein Powders for Bodybuilding made with Whey Isolate
myProtein Iso:Pro Whey Protein. MyProtein premium whey isolate is packed with 21g of protein, 2g carbs, zero sugar, and only 0.5g fat per serving — for one of the purest lactose-free whey protein shakes available.
This is going to be the least expensive lactose free whey isolate you will find. Using the discount code on the website, you will pay about $10 per pound. This is actually cheaper than a lot of standard whey proteins from many top manufacturers!
Currently on sale with savings codes! Go to the site for savings codes for 2022!
Here are some of the highest quality, best selling lactose free protein powders for bodybuilding made with whey.
Isopure Natural Isopure Vanilla 3 Lbs. – With 25 Grams of Protein from 100% Whey Protein Isolate!
NutraBio 100% Whey Protein Isolate Dutch Chocolate 5 Lbs. – 25 Grams of Protein per Serving with Natural Flavoring and No Artificial Colors
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Milk-Free and Dairy-Free Protein Powders for BodybuildingÂ
Milk is not the only source for quality protein. There are milk free protein powders made from eggs, beef, and plants that avoid dairy altogether.
Lactose & Dairy Free Beef Protein Powder Supplements
Here is a best selling beef protein powder that uses processed beef as the source of protein, and is a dairy free high protein powder that is great for bodybuilding. Made by MuscleMeds from hydrolyzed beef protein and is lactose, sugar, and dairy-free making it easier to digest.
A serving contains 23g protein, 4g carbs, 0g fat and 100 calories!
MuscleMeds Carnivor Chocolate Peanut Butter 28 Servings – More Concentrated Than Steak Or Whey Isolate!
Egg Protein is Lactose Free
Egg protein is another great option for those lactose intolerant bodybuilders! Here are a couple options from excellent, reputable companies. These are offered by bodybuilding.com:
First up is Gaspari Nutrition Proven Egg Protein. This product comes from a long time Protein supplement manufacturer and provides 25g pure egg protein per serving. Dairy & Lactose FREE!
Gaspari Nutrition Proven Egg Chocolate 2 Lbs. – Dairy & lactose free, 25g of protein per serving, no hormones, antibiotics, artificial sweeteners or colors
Plant Based Lactose Free Protein Powder Supplements
There are many plants such as peas, rice, hemp and soy that contain high concentrations of protein and through processing can be converted into a very high-quality protein powder. The percentage of actual protein in each scoop is a bit lower in plant-based protein powders, simply because most plants start with a lower concentration of protein than milk does.
Here are some quality lactose free protein powders that are plant based
These are from some of the biggest names in supplements. Purity calculations unless otherwise noted are based on Vanilla flavor. (The purity percentage will sometimes be very slightly different on other flavors, and the variance is typically a couple percentage points.)
EVLUTION NUTRITION Stacked Plant Protein Natural Chocolate 1.5 Lbs. – With 4g Naturally Occurring BCAAs, 6g Fiber, a Greens Blend, Gluten Free, and Vegan
This next Vegan product is from Optimum Nutrition, one of the best selling Protein supplement companies in the world. Featuring plant protein from Organic Peas, Organic Brown Rice and Organic Sacha Inchi.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Plant Vanilla 1.5 Lbs. – A Complete Profile Of Essential Amino Acids, Glutamine And Vitamin C*
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Lactose free protein powders can be found online and at most health food retailers such as GNC and Vitamin Shoppe as well!
Finally the market is coming around. I used to drink protein powders all the time as was recommended by my doctor. However a few years back I had to stop do to an intolerance to milk I have developed over the years. Do you believe the lactose free are just as good protein wise as the regular? What has been your experience if any?
Cathy, thanks for reading and commenting! I Know that the whey protein isolate versions are quite good as I have been using isolate for some time. I am not lactose intolerant myself, I just prefer the isolate because it is so high in purity. I currently use mocha and chocolate flavored myProtein whey isolate every day for my morning and after-workout protein shakes.
Dave
For a long time, my hubby rely on certain brand of protein powder for his body building regime. Ever since he was diagnosed with lactose intolerance, there were many brands he couldn’t take and we are now sourcing for plant protein based powder. The one sold by MLM companies are quite expensive and they kept pushing us to buy other things as well so we are not so keen about that.Â
I see you have some good recommendation here and GNC is a retailer that’s just nearby my place. So I will definitely check it out. Thanks.Â
Cathy, thank you for reading my article and leaving a comment. Yes, I was happy to find out that there are many protein powders that are lactose free. When I started research for the article, I was not sure that there were going to be a lot of products to choose from.
Dave
My son has actually started working out but not for body-building in the traditional sense. He’s started rock climbing, and boy does that require some muscle. My son has an issue with milk products so I was searching around for some milk-free options for him to get in shape and I’m thrilled I came upon your site. Thank you so much for putting all this together. Great site and awesome info!
Babsie, thanks for reading my Lactose Free Protein Powders article! Protein is essential for any athletic pursuit. I wish your son success in his endeavors!
Dave
You might really like Health Force Warrior Food as well to add to your list. That’s one of my favorite Organic Vegan one’s that has some of the ingredients similar to the Vegan Elite brand you’ve listed as well. Â
I’m not a Vegan or, lactose intolerant but, it works really well for me. I’ve also become a huge fan of beef protein. I get it through a collagen supplement. I noticed this beef protein isolate you listed is chocolate flavored so I guess it won’t have that beef broth flavor like mine does ha!
I know it sounds crazy but, maybe they should make the beef one actually beef flavored! I swear it makes me feel like I’m eating a good meal or, at the least …a healthy cup of soup!Â
fyre, thanks for reading my article and leaving a comment! That is a good point regarding the flavor of the beef protein. I have not tried that but I am a big chocolate fan!
I will definitely take a look at the Health Force Warrior Food as you suggest and maybe add it to the post.Â
Thanks!
Dave
Before reading this article today I did not know about Lactose and Milk Protein Powder. Now I know a lot about them and that there are lactose free powders available. The only thing that bothers me is the price. It is a bit pricey for me other than they sounds so nutritious. Thank you so much for sharing this article with us.
Sujandar, Thanks for commenting! Lactose free protein powder is necessary for those that are lactose intolerant or have sensitivities to dairy products.
Dave
You know, I had always heard of people being lactose and tolerate; never understood how. Though I am blessed t not have that issue; this article has truly helped me in reading into labels and ingredients. Finding out where protein comes from or what one can use to make nutritious drinks as well.Â
Linda, Â thank you for reading my article on lactose free protein powder and leaving a comment. Â Reading ingredients is critically important especially if you have some kind of an allergy or sensitivity to certain ingredients. Fortunately, protein powders are made for just about anyone if you look around and find the right one.
I am also lactose intolerance. I have been searching for a reasonably priced protein power. Thank you for the list and the discount code. It is sad that protien powder that is supposed to be healthy for you is filled with fillers. I read the content on most it surprised me, has a lot of sugar and a lot of other ingredients on it as well. Also, have you heard that soy in the powder is bad for you as well? My friend who is a health fanatic told me that a lot of whey protien are filled with some soy as well to cut the cost. Soy itself is good but because of all the chemicals that has been processed in soy have ruined the perfectly healthy food. Anyway, thank you for the list and review.
Nuttanee, Thanks for reading and commenting on my Lactose free protein powder article. I have heard good and bad things about soy and soy protein. most of the bad stuff has been debunked over the years. Way back in the 80’s, soy was thought to cause an increase in Estrogen, but that has since been shown to be false.
Dave
Hello Dave,
Whey isolate is definitely the way to go. I was wondering which of these products do you use personally? It is tough to make a choice among all of the different ones available. I know that some are priced cheaper, but the ingredients are what really matter. It needs to be as all-natural as possible so that the body absorbs it quicker into the bloodstream.
I still do a lot of cardio in my workout now, but I don’t lift as heavily as I did in my 20’s. It’s tough to maintain the high strength level now that I’m going into my late 30’s. I wish I had the endurance or made fitness my career choice as I feel that I would have been a lot happier.
I like to review supplements and find out how they can benefit the average athlete who isn’t super ripped or crushing it every week at the gym. I go work out every now and then, so I need to eat alot healthier now and watch my carbs. I appreciate the time you have dedicated to research and provide the information on whey isolate. I look forward to your future content.Â
Daniel, thanks for reading and commenting on my Lactose free protein powder article. I personally use myProtein brand of whey protein isolate. I just bought some optimum nutrition isolate for my wife as she likes that better. Both are excellent!
Good luck with your fitness goals!
Dave
Well this is good news for me as I’ve developed a stomach situation with dairy over the last decade or so, and because of it I have been staying away from these powders (milk seems to be the worst for me!).Â
I’m wondering if there is any info out there on this new lactose free powder regarding stomach/bowel problems – have you heard any such complaints?
Chris, thanks for reading my article on Lactose Free protein powders. Yes, I also know some people that have dairy issues. I would recommend the plant-based protein supplements to alleviate any gastro-intestinal issues regarding dairy products. I am working on an article that deals with Vegan protein powders, and even though you did not say you were in this category, vegan powders may work well for you.
Dave
Lactose intolerance has risen this past few years, due to insufficient lactase. I’m not lactose intolerant but I kinda have people around me who are and it’s kinda hard for them to find milk that is lactose free here in my country but with this I guess it will guide them on how to get it. Thank you.Â
Dhayours, thanks for reading my article on Lactose free protein powders and leaving a comment! I’m sorry that it is hard to find lactose free milk in your country. Do you have access to any of the plant proteins I mention in the article?
Dave