@rickyrixon84 Whatever you do, anything but casein. Casein is known to feed cancer cells in mice. It isn't carcinogenic in the sense that it
causes cancer, but rather it is cancer-promoting in that if you have ever been exposed to carcinogens (and who hasn't) casein will increase the chance of those precancerous cells growing into cancer. This has been demonstrated through multiple peer-reviewed studies in mice/rats.
If you are going to go with animal-based, choose whey over casein. It has been used in humans extensively for a long time so there is some trackrecord to say that it is safe for this use.
Don't listen to other posters saying that whey and casein > plant-based proteins, this has been demonstrated by scientific peer-reviewed studies that there is no difference in muscle gain between animal and plant based proteins. You will have the same results with plant-based.
Honestly the type of protein you are using probably doens't matter all that much beyond that, but I definitely would go with a brand that tests for cadmium and other heavy metals in their products. All protein powders (animal and plant based both) have some heavy metals in them, the heavy metals come from cars and other pollutants that settle in the soil. The plants then pick up those pollutants, and since cattle are the main consumers of soy and corn all of the protein powders are the market have some level of heavy metals in them. Since some soils are less polluted than others it is advisable to find a company that tests for these levels in their products to ensure they are relatively low.
Also make sure the macros are reasonable, obviously. I wouldn't eat anything that has less than 20g of protein and more than 200 calories. If you are cutting or trying to lose weight I might even try to find something even leaner than that.
Edit to add: the protein powder I use is Kos, it is made from a blend of peas and quinoa and other plants, it also has probiotics and tastes great, the macros are good as well, 160 calories and 20g of protein. I have been using it for a while. They also have a recipe book for free, you can make pancakes out of it and brownies, the brownies taste great, even my boyfriend who doesn't even lift likes them. I like that all of the ingredients are just normal food stuff like quinoa and peas, no weird artifical ingredients. Fair disclosure, I am vegan, so I am partial to plant-based options, but I have used whey in the past and it is safe and fine, often it is the cheapest option and you can probably find some in the bulk section of your grocery store for less than a buck a pound and make your own protein drinks. Just don't drink casein, please. Even whey protein powders have a small amount of casein in them but nothing is worse than drinking just straight casein, casein is what is in foods like cheese and cottage cheese, it is what gives cheese the clumpy thickness. Drinking casein is like drinking cheese (but without the fat so it won't even taste good).
Good luck OP.
