Unbiased Z Natural Foods Isolate Review

This Z Natural Foods Isolate Review is a special guest request. A reader, who is also a fitness enthusiast, asked me to review the unflavored and vanilla cream package of Z Natural Foods Protein Isolate. I usually buy my protein powders from Amazon if you’ve been a long-time reader. (Hey, I’m an Amazon Affiliate; it’s listed in the disclaimer below.) Z Natural Foods Protein Isolate always comes up on my suggested purchase page.  

At first glance, how can a budget-priced protein powder offer a minimal ingredient profile and still be high-quality? Can Z Natural Foods Whey Protein be the first protein powder to have quality and budget in the same sentence? Rest assured, Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate is a high-quality product despite its budget-friendly price.

Let’s get into this Z Natural Foods Isolate Review and see if it’s worth your money.

🌟 As a certified expert in strength conditioning (NSCA) and nutrition (CISSN), I provide hands-on, unbiased reviews. My insights are based on personal use, giving you real-world feedback and confidence in the product.

👥 I review products based on your requests and my interest, with no influence from brand sponsorships, ensuring impartiality and relevance.

💼 Transparency is key. I may use affiliate links, but they don’t affect my opinions. I believe in honesty and empowering you to make informed decisions.

🔍 I’m dedicated to clear, straightforward reviews so you can trust the information and feel confident in your choices.

📖 Z Natural Foods Isolate Review Details

Z Natural Foods offers a wide variety of supplements at a budget-priced price. Shall I dare say that they are very similar to Nutricost? If you’re unaware, I’ve written a Nutricost Whey Isolate Review and the notorious Nutricost Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Review. Both didn’t bode well in my review–ANYWAYS.

Z Natural Foods offers a variety of budget-priced supplements. Their niche is for individuals who prefer minimally processed supplements in their near-natural state. Since I review protein powders for fitness-minded individuals, Z Natural Foods offers several sports performance-based supplements. Z Natural Foods has the following claims for its conventional whey protein isolates.

🏋️‍♂️ Is Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate A Meal Replacement or Post Workout Shake?

Z Natural Foods categorizes its Whey Protein Isolate in the “Sports Performance” category. I firmly believe that Z Natural Foods is a high-quality protein powder that can be used and implemented in a weight loss diet. However, due to its fast-digesting nature, whey protein isolate is best used as a post-workout shake, providing the necessary nutrients to aid recovery.

Z Natural Foods highlights its isolate as something that can be mixed in everyday foods like yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese, etc. This versatility can bring many benefits to your fitness journey, giving you the power to incorporate protein into your diet to suit your lifestyle. 

 💪 How Many Scoops of Z Natural Foods Isolate To Build Muscle Post Workout?

Research shows that it stimulates muscle protein synthesis. You need a minimum of 25 grams of protein and up to 3 grams of leucine. Here is what we know about Z Natural Foods Isolate: One serving offers an average of 25 grams of protein and around 2.6 grams of leucine. However, I believe that Z Natural Foods is an amino-spiked protein powder.

Offering 0 grams of carbohydrates for the unflavored version raises a suspicious eyebrow. Unflavored protein isolates should be offering 1 gram of carbohydrates.

If you use Z Natural Foods Isolate as a post-workout shake (and if you have a 30-gram scoop), you must use 7 tablespoons. Have a 30-gram scoop? Aim for less than 1.25 scoops post-workout. 

If you want to make your post-workout shake more flavorful, use high-protein skim milk. High-protein skim milk per serving offers 13 grams of protein with 1.3 grams of leucine. Leucine information shared by the USDA states that one cup of skim milk offers 8 grams of protein with .8 grams of leucine. 

To hit that magic 25 grams of protein and 3 grams of leucine mark using 8 fl oz of high-protein skim milk, you’ll only need a bit more than half a serving scoop of Z Natural Foods Isolate—that’s just shy of 4 tablespoons. It’s the perfect way to round out your post-workout shake without going overboard.

Let’s roll those sleeves up and get dirty in this Z Natural Foods Isolate Review.

🛒 Best Place to Buy Z Natural Foods Whey Protein

As usual, I purchased my Z Natural Foods Whey Protein directly from Amazon. Even though there are more options for buying directly from Z Natural Foods, there wasn’t enough product to help me achieve that free S&H. 

🌿 Z Natural Food

Here is a list of benefits for purchasing directly from Z Natural Foods.

• Free S&H with orders of $75+ (contiguous US)
  • $4.99 S&H
• Full selection of Z Natural Food supplements
• Bulk order discounts
• S&S discount of 10%
• Variety of special and custom blend options
• Affirm finance option for order of $50+

Here are the prices and sizing options for purchasing directly from Z Natural Foods. Unflavored protein is going to be cheaper than Z Natural Foods flavored protein. 

🥛 Z Natural Foods Unflavored Whey Isolate

• 1 pound, $15.99, 16 servings, $1.00 per serving (S&S $0.90 per serving)
• 5 pounds, $59.99, 80 servings, $0.75 per serving (S&S $0.68 per serving)
• 44 pounds, $474.99, 712 servings, $0.68 per serving (no S&S discount)

🍦 Z Natural Foods Flavored Whey Isolate

• 1 pound, $16.99, 15 servings, $1.13 per serving (S&S $1.02 per serving)
• 5 pounds, $59.99, 75 servings, $0.80 per serving (S&S $0.72 per serving)
• 55 pounds, $589.99, 831 servings, $0.71 per serving (no S&S discount)

🌱 Amazon: Z Natural Foods Organic Grass-Fed Whey Protein

Here are the advantages of buying directly from Amazon if you are a Prime Member.

• 10% subscribe and save discount (some flavors and sizes)
• 2-day shipping and handling

🥛 Amazon: Z Natural Foods Unflavored Whey Isolate

• 1 pound, $19.99, 16 servings, $1.25 per serving (S&S, $1.13 per serving)
• 5 pounds, $64.99, 80 servings, $0.81 per serving (S&S $0.73 per serving)

🍦 Amazon: Z Natural Foods Flavored Whey Isolate

• 1 pound, $20.99, 15 servings, $1.40 per serving
• 5 pounds, $64.99, 75 servings, $0.87 per serving (S&S $0.78 per serving)

If you are hesitant about bulk purchasing through Z Natural Foods, buy a smaller bag through Amazon. 

⭐️ Amazon Whey Protein Review: Z Natural Foods Reviews Complaints

As of today on Amazon, Z Natural Foods has a 4.4 out of 5 stars based on 500 certified buyers. Regarding the unflavored protein and vanilla cream flavor, reviewers shared the following

• Taste is not appealing for unflavored
• GI issues due to being lactose-sensitive
• Quality issues dealing with smell

However, most buyers raved about the protein powder’s quality, mixability, certified organic ingredients, and affordability, making it a smart choice for those looking for a high-quality protein supplement without breaking the bank.

💸 Does Z Natural Foods Offer A Money-Back Guarantee? 

According to Z Natural Foods’ Return & Refund Policy, the company does not offer refunds for personal taste or perceived batch-to-batch variations. However, it adheres to FDA guidelines on food labeling and offers refunds for products returned in resellable condition. It’s important to be aware of these policies when purchasing. 

Value: 2 out of 10. Z Natural Foods Protein Isolate offers an impressive, budget-priced package. What’s not to like: USA-sourced whey and associated dairy claims. The affordability of Z Natural Foods Whey makes it a smart choice for those seeking a high-quality protein supplement without breaking the bank. I have reservations about Z Natural Foods Isolate, which I’ll discuss in the next section. 

⚛️ Is Z Natural Foods Isolate Amino Spiked?

Upon examining the ingredient list of both protein powders, it appears that Z Natural Foods does not spike its protein with additional amino acids. Both the unflavored and flavored lines offer the same whey protein isolate. However, the rep shared that the amino acid profile is slightly higher with the unflavored version due to the lack of flavoring, providing a more concentrated source of protein.

Unfortunately, the unflavored edition’s bag or website does not list an amino acid profile. However, the amino acid profile is proudly listed with the Vanilla Cream. So that everyone knows, I did request an amino acid profile for unflavored. The rep shared that the flavors’ unflavored amino acid profile will be slightly higher due to additives. 

🔬 What to Look For In A Quality Protein Powder

🔍 Essential Protein Powder Quality Checklist

When looking for a quality protein powder, I examine these criteria.

• Transparent company
• An amino acid profile listed on the product or the website
  • If one can not be found, protein quality may not be the highest
• The amino acid profile shares the amount PER serving
  • Low-quality protein powder will only share per 100g of whey
• The amount of BCAAs and protein per serving
  • A company that does not share the amount of BCAAs per serving offers low-quality protein powder.
  • Sometimes, a company may not share a BCAA per serving. Still, it can be calculated if you have the amino acid profile per serving: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. This reassures you about the quality of the product and your decision to purchase it.

Finally, the conventional protein power leucine content can vary between 9% and 11%, an average of 10%. If you have a grass-fed protein powder, the BCAA content should be higher than that of a conventional whey protein. Let’s compare Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate to the branded Gold Standard multi-blended protein powder. 

⚖️ ON Gold Standard Whey vs Z Natural Foods Isolate

Compare Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate against the recognized industry leader, ON Gold Standard 100% Whey. At first glance, there seems to be a lot of overlap between the two brands.

• Minimal ingredient list
• Similar nutritional profile
• Budget-priced

However, that’s where the similarities end. 

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly protein powder with certified organic ingredients, Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate should be on your list. Despite the slightly lower BCAA count, if we trust the Certificate of Analysis, you are getting a US-sourced isolate with certified organic ingredients at a great price. 

	Z Natural Foods Isolate (Vanilla Cream)	ON Gold Standard(Vanilla Ice Cream)
Leucine	2.6 grams	2.6 grams
Leucine Percent	10.83%	10.83%
Total BCAAs	5.3 grams	5.5 grams
Protein / Serving	24 grams	24 grams
Calories	122	120
Serving Size	30 grams	31 grams
Price	$20.99	$29.99
Number of Servings	15	29
Price per Serving	$1.40	$1.03

📜 Is Z Natural Foods Protein 3rd Party Tested?

My only issue with the Certificate of Analysis is who is conducting the third-party testing. It’s not a third-party test if the company itself is conducting it. It’s nice that Z Natural Foods has a Certificate of Analysis. Still, if it is a first-party CoA, any information is written to correlate with the product’s description. 

Regarding the claims of “organic” found on any of the conventional protein powders sold by Z Natural Foods, an official independent 3rd party, Baystate Organic Certifiers, has an all-inclusive list of certified organic ingredients. 

Amino Spiking: 8 out of 10. The purpose of 3rd party testing is that an independent party can verify the claims made by the 1st party. Yes, it’s impressive that Z Natural Foods can provide a Certificate of Analysis for their isolate. However, the Certificate of Analysis clearly shows that Z Natural Foods is verifying its product. 

Amino Spiking: 5 out of 10. There is concern when examining the amount of carbohydrates found in the unflavored Z Natural Foods Isolate version. Unflavored protein powders offering 0 grams of carbohydrates are eye-raising. Here’s why: most unflavored protein powders offer 1 gram of carbohydrates. The amount of intact protein may be amino-spiked with amino acids.

Plus, pricing for USA-sourced whey is costly. Yet, the price point begs someone to pinch you to ensure you’re not dreaming. Finally, a budget-priced whey with third-party certifying organic ingredients is impressive. I have my reservations.

🥤 How To Mix Z Natural Foods Protein Powder

Z Natural Foods advertises that its protein powder can be made using a shaker bottle, mixer, or spoon. As always, this Z Natural Foods Review will use a shaker bottle. The instructions will be slightly different if you use unflavored or vanilla cream. 

The only difference between the Z Natural Foods Protein Powder and the powder you use is the powder you use. The unflavored shares require six tablespoons, while vanilla cream requires five tablespoons. Still, the amount of liquid is the same.

• Powder
• 8 to 10 ounces of water or your favorite beverage
• Shake, stir, or blend

I did not have to strain for either flavor using a shaker bottle. After shaking, small cake bits remained on the shaker wall, none in the shake or under the shaker lid. Carefree and little effort were necessary for a fantastic post-workout shake. 

⚖️ Does Z Natural Foods Protein Powder Come With A Scoop?

Nope. Z Natural Foods’ pound bag of isolate does not come with a scoop.

Shakability Test: 9 out of 10

📋 Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate Ingredients List

Here is the ingredient list for both vanilla cream and unflavored.

🍦 Z Natural Foods Vanilla Cream Ingredients List

Z Natural Foods Vanilla Cream Ingredients List	Description
Whey Protein Isolate	A high-quality protein source that supports muscle recovery and growth.
Organic Coconut Milk Powder	It adds a creamy texture and natural flavor, enhancing the taste profile.
Organic Vanilla Flavor	It provides a rich, natural vanilla taste, making the protein more enjoyable.
Sunflower Lecithin	It acts as an emulsifier to help mix the protein powder smoothly into liquids.
Organic Stevia Extract (Debittered)	A natural sweetener used to enhance sweetness without added sugars.
Organic Maltodextrin	A carbohydrate that adds texture and helps with mixing is commonly used as a filler.
Organic Acacia	Natural gum is a thickener and stabilizer, improving the powder’s texture.

If the ingredient list shares “organic,” there is a paper trail to provide evidence that the ingredient used in Z Natural Foods Whey Protein. Here is the extensive list of certified organic ingredients used in Z Natural Foods Whey Isolate (and other Z Natural Foods supplements).

🍦 Z Natural Foods Unflavored Ingredients List

The ingredients list found in Z Natural Foods unflavored protein is as short as the flavoring sounds, short.

Z Natural Foods Unflavored Ingredients List	Description
Whey Protein Isolate	A high-quality protein source that supports muscle recovery and growth.
<1% Lecithin (derived from non-GMO sunflower)	It acts as an emulsifier to help mix the protein powder smoothly into liquids.

🌍 Does Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Import Their Protein Powder?

No. Z Natural Foods does not import its protein powder. Various statements on Z Natural Foods Protein product description pages state, “Raised and processed in the USA. Packaged with care in Florida, USA.” 

I contacted Z Natural Foods for a Certificate of Analysis for the unflavored and vanilla cream flavors. The rep was happy to share that information, but I have reservations about Z Natural Foods’s Whey Protein Isolate. 

If you want to purchase USA-sourced whey, read these protein reviews to become a more informed buyer.

• Pure Choice Farms Protein Review
• Dymatize ISO 100 Hydrolyzed Protein Review
• Raw Organic Whey Protein Review

Ingredients List: 8 out of 10. The Certificate of Analysis states that Z Natural Foods is sourced from USA dairy farmers. However, the CoA doesn’t state who certifies whey. I wouldn’t be surprised if the protein is sourced internationally.

If you want a truly certified USA-sourced whey, get the certified USDA Organic version of Z Natural Foods Isolate and Z Natural Foods Concentrate. 

🥗  Z Natural Foods Protein Nutrition Facts

Here are the nutritional facts for both vanilla cream and unflavored cream.

🥛 Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate Nutrition Facts

	Unflavored	Vanilla Cream
Serving Size	28 grams	30 grams
Calories	110	122
Total Fat	0 grams	2 grams
Sodium	40 milligrams	38 milligrams
Total Carbohydrates	0 grams	2 grams
Dietary Fiber	0 grams	0 grams
Total Sugars	0 grams	0 grams
Protein	25 grams of muscle-building protein	24 grams of muscle-building protein

🍗 What Percent Protein Does Z Natural Foods Whey Protein Isolate Have?

Z Natural Foods only offers three different flavor options. However, always go unflavored if you aim to pack on muscle and have the fewest fillers. If you want flavor, Z Natural Foods offers certified organic ingredients. The list of certified organic ingredients can be found here. 

Unflavored: 25 grams of protein / 28 gram serving = 89% Protein per Serving
Vanilla Cream: 24 grams of protein / 30 gram serving = 80% Protein per Serving
Dark Chocolate: 21 grams of protein / 30 gram serving = 70% Protein per Serving

The average amount of protein per serving is 80%.

🍨 Is Z Natural Foods Protein Isolate Lactose-Free

Z Natural Foods Protein Isolate is not lactose-free. The Certificate of Analysis shows less than 2% lactose per serving. Using Z Natural Foods Isolate, I did not have any horrible gas or GI issues. I only experienced bloating. 

If you’re wondering if Z Natural Foods is gluten-free, the rep told me, “Both protein products are indeed gluten-free. They are formulated to be gluten-free and are produced in facilities that adhere to strict protocols to prevent cross-contamination with gluten-containing ingredients.”

Nutrition Facts: 8 out of 10. Z Natural Foods stacks well against ON Gold Standard Whey, especially considering its clean, single-source protein. I’m a fan of the transparency here—knowing exactly how much lactose is in each serving is a big plus. 

While I didn’t have any major GI issues, the slight bloating I experienced is worth noting. And let’s not forget, it’s gluten-free and produced with strict cross-contamination protocols, which is a win for anyone with sensitivities. It’s a solid option, but the minor drawbacks keep it from scoring higher.

👌 Does Z Natural Foods Protein Taste Good?

The flavor profile for Z Natural Foods Protein Isolates is very limited. When examining this review’s flavor profile, I thought Mocha Whey was a flavor; it isn’t. Mocha Whey is a coffee protein enricher. 

You have three possible selections in total, two of which are flavored: unflavored, vanilla cream, and chocolate. 

❓Can You Taste Unflavored Protein Powder?

In years past, I would always avoid selecting the unflavored protein. I thought it would just taste like water. Boy, was I wrong!

The best way to describe unflavored protein powder is to get a dairy-whipped aerosol container and remove all the sugar. You will still have a slight nutty flavor. However, you know it’s a dairy-based product.

Selecting unflavored protein powder is the best option if you’re looking for minimal fillers and additives. Unflavored protein powder usually has the highest percent protein per serving, so you’ll get your money’s worth.   

🍦 Does Z Natural Foods Vanilla Protein Taste Good?

If there’s a picture of the flavor you are drinking, it tastes better than the picture. The picture being advertised with Vanilla Cream is a coconut and vanilla. Simple enough, right? One last word before getting into the flavor profile. Stevia is a listed ingredient in vanilla cream. 

Here’s what Z Natural Foods did with the Stevia: They “debittered” it. What does that mean? You know, the strong medicinal aftertaste is commonly shared by many stevia-sensitive individuals who say it is “too sweet. ” The Stevia used in this protein powder doesn’t affect my taste buds. 

🏁 Z Natural Foods Isolate Review – Final Thoughts

If you’ve been watching my YouTube Unbiased Protein Reviews, I have a running tagline about budget-priced protein powders: “Budget and quality never go hand-in-hand.” In any case, we have another budget-priced protein powder with lofty claims.

• USA-sourced whey
• Certified organic ingredients
• Undenatured
• GMO-free
• rBGH & rBST free
• No additives, fillers, artificial sweeteners, flavors, coloring, or preservatives

Mostly, Z Natural Foods Isolate hits the ball out of the park. However, the biggest claims listed, GMO-free, rBGH & rBST-free, and USA-sourced, still leave much to be desired. Why? It’s not certified as USDA Organic. 

Does it need to be certified as USDA Organic for those claims to be valid? Not necessarily, because an independent third party can verify those claims in the Certificate of Analysis. Unfortunately, the CoA provided by Z Natural Foods is verified by Z Natural Foods, which is not necessarily a ringing endorsement of quality.

🔍 Is Z Natural Foods Legit?

Yes, Z Natural Foods has the potential to be legit. My biggest issue is the need for third-party verification of the claims made about its protein powder. On the flip side, Z Natural Foods does provide an extensive list of certified organic ingredients used in their products by an independent 3rd party. 

Is Z Natural Foods Legit? The needle pushes forward to “yes.” As stated previously, being certified as USDA Organic will help elevate any concerns of the following claims: GMO-free, rBGH & rBST-free, and USA-sourced. If you want a certified USDA protein, check out Z Natural Foods Organic Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder.

I plan to review both concentrate and isolate USDA Organic products in the future, comparing them against other certified USDA Organic protein powders. Early disclaimer: The concentrate is worth purchasing. The isolate might carry a “Buyer Beware” tag. 

✅ Is Z Natural Foods Protein Good?

For all that, that little voice in my head is telling me, “This protein powder may be internationally sourced. You never see USA-sourced whey this cheap.” This isn’t a buyer beware. It is more important to be aware of claims made on a label. If you want a truly sourced USA-whey, buy the USDA Organic Concentrate. 

What are your thoughts on this Z Natural Foods Isolate Review? Do you think that Z Natural Foods may be importing their protein powder? Comment below, and let me know in this Z Natural Foods Isolate Review.

Are you looking for more protein reviews? Here are all of JKremmer Fitness’s unbiased protein powder reviews. Are you looking for a protein review that I haven’t done yet? Email me at my ‘Contact Me’ page, and I’ll do my best to get an unbiased review out in 4 weeks. 

🧐 Z Natural Foods Isolate Review Round-Up

Value: 2 out of 10
Amino Spiking: 5 out of 10
Shakability Test: 9 out of 10
Ingredients List: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 7 out of 10

Overall Score 31/50, 62%, Serviceable

📑 Sources

Baystate Organic Certifiers. (2023). Organic certificate. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/1134/4521/files/Z_Natural_Foods_-_Organic_Certificate_-_2-22-2024_-_For_Website.pdf

Cintineo, H. P., Arent, M. A., Antonio, J., & Arent, S. M. (2018). Effects of protein supplementation on performance and recovery in resistance and endurance training. Frontiers in Nutrition, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00083

Stark, M., Lukaszuk, J., Prawitz, A., & Salacinski, A. (2012). Protein timing and its effects on muscular hypertrophy and strength in individuals engaged in weight-training. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-9-54

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Legacy. (2018). Nutrient content in household measure. https://www.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/files/page-files/leucine.pdf