Naked Whey Protein Powder Review: The Taste Could Be Better

Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

As a strength athlete, nutrition coach, and supplement writer for FeastGood.com, I’ve tried 22 different brands of protein. Next up on the docket is Naked Whey. After buying and testing it for the past month, I can now speak to its benefits and drawbacks.

Key Takeaways

Honest Review Guarantee from FeastGood: Our testing team purchases each product 100% independently and uses the product for several weeks up to several months before writing a review. Learn more about our review process here.

• If you value high-quality ingredients like grass-fed whey, natural organic sugar, and products free from cheap additives and artificial ingredients, then naked Whey is worth it.

• However, these benefits come at the cost of taste. Don’t expect to be “wowed” by the flavor. I had a hard time drinking Naked Whey with just water, so plan to mix it with milk, Greek yogurt, or oatmeal, to mask the taste.

• Price-wise, Naked Whey costs $1.60 per serving, above the average $1.34 for whey protein. Naked Whey is still affordable when considering the quality, as other high-quality protein powders can cost $2.00/serving (or more).

What Is Naked Nutrition? 

Naked Nutrition is a supplement company that focuses on creating products with whole food based high-quality ingredients. 

Their company slogan is “nutrition with nothing to hide” which describes them perfectly because they are very transparent about what ingredients they use in their products.

They carry every type of health and fitness supplement that you would need to reach your goals (protein, mass gainers, creatine, pre-workout, hydration products, etc.) and they create them using premium ingredients.

Overview of Naked Nutritions Whey Protein

Naked Nutrition’s Naked Whey is made with 100% grass-fed whey, contains 5.9 grams of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids, and is formulated without the use of additives or artificial sweeteners.

The macronutrient breakdown per serving for Naked Whey is as follows:

• Protein: 25g
• Carbs: 3-8g
• Fat: 2-3g
• Sugar: 2-7g

This nutritional content varies based on the flavor that you choose, with the standard flavor having the least amount of carbs from sugar (2g) and the strawberry having the most (7g).

With 120 (standard whey) to 160 (chocolate whey) calories per serving, Naked Whey allocates 63 to 83% of its calories toward protein. 

For reference, a “reasonable” whey protein has 65-75% protein per serving, a “great” whey protein has 75-85% protein per serving, and an “excellent” one has more than 85% protein per serving.

The standard (unflavored) Naked Whey Protein falls into the “great” category, the vanilla and strawberry flavors are in the “reasonable” category, but the chocolate flavor just misses the mark. 

Of all the protein powders I’ve seen, nothing comes close to Transparent Lab’s Whey Protein Isolate (click to read my review), which has 93% protein per serving and still tastes incredible.

That being said, one thing to consider with Naked Whey is that they use whole food ingredients to sweeten their products (which have calories) rather than artificial sweeteners which are calorie-free. 

Although this causes them to have less protein per calorie, it definitely does make it a higher-quality protein supplement versus others that fall into the same category.

Highlights: What I Liked About Naked Nutrition’s Whey Protein

It Is Made With Minimal Ingredients To Avoid Unnecessary Additives

One of the features that I appreciate the most about Naked Whey is that it’s made with only 3 ingredients, so there are no cheap fillers or unnecessary additives. 

It’s common for supplement companies to cut corners and add fillers and additives to save on cost and then sell it to you for a higher price, but I’m happy that Naked Nutrition isn’t one of those companies.

If you’re purchasing the standard Naked Whey (unflavored) then the only ingredient is grass-fed whey, which is the only ingredient you really need in a protein powder. (Another unflavored protein I tested was Bulk Supplements, which has a higher protein percentage than Naked Whey Protein. Check out my Bulk Supplements Whey Protein Review).

If you’re going for a flavored version, then Naked Whey will have 3 ingredients: grass-fed whey, organic coconut sugar, and natural flavors.

• Related Article: How To Know If Whey Protein Is Safe If It’s Not FDA Approved

It’s Sweetened With Organic Coconut Sugar Instead Of Artificial Sweeteners

Another feature I appreciate about Naked Whey is that it is manufactured without artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors to ensure a high-quality product that is easy to digest.

Artificial sweeteners are known to cause digestive issues, especially for those with food sensitivities. Despite this, most protein powders on the market are manufactured with artificial sweeteners to reduce their calorie content, improve their percentage of protein per serving, and enhance the flavor of the product.

Naked Nutrition didn’t follow suit and instead chose to use organic coconut sugar to sweeten their Naked Whey, knowing that it would decrease their percentage of protein per serving but that it would be worth it to reduce digestive issues caused by artificial sweeteners.

It Uses Grass-Fed Whey Sourced From Small Farms For A Higher-Quality Product

Naked Whey is made with grass-fed whey sources from small farms in California to produce a higher-quality protein.

Grass-fed whey comes from cows who have been with grass (as the name suggests) rather than corn or grains. 

This is beneficial because research suggests that grass-fed cows produce milk with higher protein content, more omega-3s (anti-inflammatory properties), vitamins, and antioxidants, and reduced omega-6s (inflammatory properties).

Therefore, the whey that is produced from the milk of grass-fed cows is a higher-quality protein with more nutrients.

• I also reviewed the Naked Mass Gainer and Naked Energy Pre-workout (click to check it out)

Drawbacks: What I Didn’t Like About Naked Whey

It Tastes Extremely Healthy (because it is)

The only thing I really didn’t like about Naked Whey is its taste because I had a hard time taking it when it was mixed with water.

I tried the chocolate flavor and it definitely didn’t taste like chocolate. I wouldn’t say the taste was awful, but it also wasn’t pleasant and didn’t leave me wanting more.

I found that the best way to consume this whey was to mix it into other foods that would disguise its flavor, like oatmeal or greek yogurt with other flavor additions (i.e peanut butter).

Naked Whey is the definition of “it tastes really healthy”.

Its Price Doesn’t Reflect Its Percentage Of Protein Per Serving

One more potential drawback to choosing Naked Whey is that its price may not seem fair based on its percentage of protein per serving, especially for the flavored versions.

Naked Whey’s 5lb tub costs $1.60 per serving with 63 to 83% protein, which is close to Transparent Lab’s Grass-Fed Protein at $2 per serving with 93% protein per serving.

It’s also higher than Six Star Protein which is $1 per serving and has up to 66% protein per serving.

However, you are paying for more premium ingredients when you’re buying Naked Whey, and its protein content per serving is skewed by the fact that it doesn’t contain zero-calorie sweeteners as most other protein powders do.

I personally feel that the ingredients are top-notch and I would rather pay a higher price for better ingredients. I genuinely believe that when it comes to whey protein powder, you get what you pay for.

• Naked Whey made our list as one of the Best Unflavored Powders (check out our full review)

Naked Whey Review: My Experience

Although Naked Whey likely won’t be my protein of choice going forward (because of the taste), I was very pleased with the ingredients of this whey protein, along with its mixability, and digestibility.

My first impression of Naked Whey didn’t start off strong because I opened the product to try it for the first time, and realized that the scoop was at the very bottom of the 5lb tub. I actually had to use tongs to dig through and find the scoop.

Some protein powder manufacturers (like Ghost) have thought ahead and attached the scoop to either the safety seal or the top of the tub itself, which is a really nice touch.

Once I finally found the scoop, I tested Naked Nutrition’s Whey Protein by:

• Mixing it with water
• Mixing it with milk
• Mixing it into oatmeal
• Using it to make protein balls

In all of these situations, Naked Whey mixed really well and was virtually clump-free. I was actually very impressed by its mixability and also its digestibility. 

As someone who has a sensitive digestive system when dairy is concerned, I found that Naked Whey didn’t cause me any issues and seemed to digest exceptionally well.

My biggest complaint about Naked Whey is that the taste of this product mixed with water or milk really wasn’t great.

Mixed into oatmeal and used in the protein balls, the taste of the protein was fine because it was well disguised. But now that I know what Naked Whey tastes like, I will only use it when it’s mixed with other ingredients that will elevate its flavor.

However, I drink protein powder mixed with water more often than I mix it into foods that would disguise its flavor, so Naked Whey won’t be my first choice for whey protein going forward.

How Does Naked Whey Stack Up Against Our Criteria For Whey Protein

There are 8 criteria that we take into consideration when evaluating a whey protein, here’s how Naked Nutrition’s Whey Protein performs in each criterion:

1. Nutrition Label Transparency 

Rating: 5/5

Naked Nutrition’s Whey protein is very upfront about the ingredients they use in their products, which is why their slogan includes “nothing to hide”. 

I feel confident that Naked Whey contains exactly what it claims because of the company’s values to providing supplements with the highest quality ingredients and because it is regularly tested for banned substances.

2. Fat Content Transparency

Rating: 5/5

Naked Nutrition is very transparent about the total fat, saturated fat, and trans fat content of their grass-fed whey.

• Standard Whey: 2g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat.
• Vanilla Whey: 2g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat
• Strawberry Whey: 2g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat
• Chocolate Whey: 3g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

3. Effective Ingredients

Rating: 4/5 

Naked Whey uses 100% grass-fed whey, is free of additives (cheap fillers), contains zero artificial colors and flavors, and is GMO, soy, and gluten-free.

Naked Nutrition said it best: “Don’t let the supplement industry fool you; additives are for their bottom line, not your health.”

There’s no doubt that the ingredients in Naked Whey are top-notch. The only thing that would make the ingredients of this whey protein better is if they used stevia instead of organic coconut sugar. 

Using stevia (a natural sweetener with zero calories) would decrease the amount of sugar in the product and improve its percentage of protein per calorie.

4. Protein Percent of Calories

Rating: 3/5

The standard Naked Whey (flavorless) falls into the “great” category for its percentage of protein per calorie; however, all of the flavored proteins are just “reasonable” or worse.

• Standard Whey: 83% protein per serving (great)
• Vanilla Whey: 67% protein per serving (reasonable)
• Strawberry Whey: 67% protein per serving (reasonable)
• Chocolate Whey: 63% protein per serving (yikes)

That being said, the use of coconut sugar rather than artificial sweeteners or stevia in the flavored products is the main downfall for these percentages.

For example, the strawberry whey has 7 grams of sugar which would be 28 calories of sugar in one serving. If they used stevia instead there would be 0 calories towards sugar, giving it 82% protein per serving (great).

5. Taste/Flavor

Rating: 1/5 

Naked whey has a lot of positive attributes; however, taste certainly isn’t one of them. I don’t feel that they really nailed the flavor component, but to be fair with only 3 all-natural ingredients, it would be quite difficult.

However, I did only try the chocolate flavor of Naked Whey, and getting a great-tasting chocolate flavor is a tall task that many protein manufacturers can’t achieve even with artificial flavors and sweeteners.

Perhaps the vanilla and strawberry flavors of Naked Whey are far better (spoiler alert: amazon reviews claim they’re not).

6. Mixability

Rating: 3/5 

Naked Whey mixed well with a shaker bottle and didn’t clump whatsoever, but it did get quite foamy and the foam didn’t dissipate as a drank the protein shake. Although this didn’t bother me, it could be a turnoff for some people.

Even when added to oatmeal and greek yogurt, I found that Naked Whey mixed in well and I was able to enjoy it without any grittiness.  

7. Texture (Thick or Thin)

Rating: Thin

Naked Whey has a very thin texture and mouthfeel similar to what you would expect from a whey protein isolate which has fewer carbs and fats.

Naked Whey is thinner than most other whey protein concentrates. However, this is likely because it only has 3 ingredients (whey concentrate, coconut sugar, and natural flavors). 

Other whey concentrates like MuscleTech’s Whey Protein typically have more ingredients, including thickeners like Xanthan Gum and Sunflower Lecithin.

8. Satiety

Rating: 3/5

After having this whey mixed with water at 8 am, I found that I got hungry again around 9:30 am but I’m impressed that it was able to keep me satiated for 1 ½ hour even when consumed by itself.

I could have mixed it with yogurt or oatmeal to give it more staying power but I wanted to see how satiating Naked Whey was on its own. 

For reference, if it had kept me full for 3 hours I would have given it a 5/5, but it didn’t quite hold me over long enough.

Who Is Naked Whey Protein For? 

• Those who prefer to avoid artificial flavors and sweeteners

• Those with a gluten allergy

• Those who want a whey protein with premium ingredients

Who Shouldn’t Take Naked Whey?

• Those who want a protein powder that tastes great on its own

• Those who want a higher percentage of protein per serving

• Those who are following a keto diet

Naked Whey Protein Customer Reviews

I was curious about what other customers thought of Naked Whey, so I checked out its reviews on Amazon.

Naked Whey has 4.4/5 stars from 12,937 global ratings, which is surprising because generally people rate protein powders solely based on taste and taste is the only place where this protein powder falls short.

Some common themes among the reviews were how great the ingredients are, how easy it was to digest, and that the unflavored version was the way to go.

Most everyone agreed that the flavored versions were harder to choke down, but this didn’t seem to deter people from leaving a positive review. Instead, they chose to buy the unflavored version or simply mixed the flavored ones with ingredients that would mask the taste.

Reviewers also commented on its price; some thought the price was very reasonable, while others complained that the price was pretty steep. Those who thought the price was reasonable were likely those who valued higher-quality ingredients.

Key Takeaways: Overall, Naked Whey receives glowing reviews from its users despite having a subpar taste because of the quality of its ingredients, digestibility, and mixability.

Naked Whey Promotions & Discounts

There are two different options for discounts available for Naked Whey. 

Amazon offers 5-10% off when you subscribe for multiple deliveries, and Naked Nutrition itself offers 20% on your first order and 10% off on all future orders when you subscribe on their website.

With Amazon, you can save 5% when you first subscribe to their delivery service, but after 5 deliveries you can save 10% off your order. You also have the option to have deliveries once every 2 weeks to once every 6 months.

With Naked Nutirion’s subscription, you have 1, 2, or 3-month delivery options.

Where To Buy Naked Whey? 

You can purchase Naked Whey from Naked Nutrition’s Website or you can purchase it from Amazon.

Both retailers have 1lb tubs and 5lb tubs of Naked Whey in every flavor available (unflavored, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry). 

The price from both retailers is also identical before discounts; however, keep in mind that with Amazon Prime you can get free shipping.

Naked Whey Protein Alternatives

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

The best alternative for Naked Whey is Transparent Lab’s Whey Protein Isolate which is comparable to Naked Whey because it uses grass-fed whey, sweetened with stevia, and is free from artificial colors and flavors.

However, Transparent Labs Whey Isolate has a higher percentage of protein per serving at a whopping 93%, and it tastes great.

If you’re someone who wants a better-tasting protein that maximizes its percentage of protein per serving then Transparent Labs is the better option.

Perfect Sports Diesel Protein

Another great grass-fed whey is Diesel Protein by Perfect Sports which is sweetened with stevia, costs only $1 per serving for its 5lb tub, and has 87% protein per serving.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a cost-effective whey protein that has minimal ingredients, natural sweeteners, and a great taste then Diesel Protein is the best option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Naked Whey Made?

Naked Whey is made in the United States and sources its grass-fed whey from small farms in California.

What Is Naked Whey’s Shipping Policy?

According to Naked Nutrition’s website, there are 2 different shipping options for Naked Whey: standard (5-7 business days) or expedited (2-3 business days).

What Is Naked Whey’s Return Policy?

Naked Nutrition’s website claims that all unopened and unused items can be returned for a full refund within 14 days, less any shipping charges. You can contact customer service to discuss your return at questions@nakednutrition.com, calling 855-964-0970, or using the e-chat feature on their website.

Is Naked Whey Third Party Tested?

Naked whey is manufactured in a third-party tested lab and is part of a monitoring program called “Informed Choice Trusted by Sport” that certifies that supplements will be tested at least on a monthly basis to ensure ingredients quality and label accuracy. tested regularly for banned substances; however, it doesn’t appear to be Third-Party Tested.

Is Naked Whey Good For Weight Loss?

Naked whey can help support weight loss because its high protein content can help keep you satiated for longer periods to avoid unnecessary snacking between meals and help you to retain muscle mass while dieting.

Is Naked Whey Keto Friendly?

The unflavored version of Naked Whey is keto-friendly because the only ingredient is grass-fed whey; however, the flavored version of Naked whey is not keto-friendly because they contain organic coconut sugar which is not keto-friendly.

Is Naked Whey Gluten-Free?

Naked Whey is certified gluten-free, which means that it has less than 20ppm of gluten for those with a gluten sensitivity or allergy.

What Are The Best Way To Mix Naked Whey?

Naked Whey can be mixed with water or milk using a shaker bottle, added to oatmeal or greek yogurt, and used for baking.

What Flavors Are Available For Naked Whey?

Naked Whey is available in 4 different flavors: unflavored, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

Does Naked Whey Make You Gain Weight?

Naked Whey could help support weight gain by contributing 120 to 160 calories to your daily intake; however, naked whey by itself would not cause weight gain as this can only occur if you’re eating more calories than you need to maintain your weight. 

Can You Use Naked Whey As A Meal Replacement?

Naked Whey is not a suitable meal replacement because it lacks the necessary carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals to be considered a meal replacement.

When Is The Best Time To Take Naked Whey?

The best time to take Naked Whey is before or after a workout because whey protein digests at a faster rate than other proteins and delivers amino acids to your muscles more quickly. However, whey protein can be consumed at any time.

How To Contact Naked Nutrition

You can contact Naked Nutrition by going to their website and clicking “Contact Us”.

References

Thiel, R.J. (2000). Natural vitamins may be superior to synthetic ones. Medical Hypotheses, 55(6), 461-469. https://doi.org/10.1054/mehy.2000.1090

Mensink RP, Zock PL, Kester AD, Katan MB. Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 May;77(5):1146-55. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/77.5.1146. PMID: 12716665.