7 Reasons Why Our Recommended Protein is a Better Protein Powder

Updated August 2026 By Carl & Suzanne LaFlamme, independent Shaklee Ambassadors at All’s Well Health. Note: This post contains our product recommendations and links. We earn a commission on purchases but at no extra cost to you.

Not all protein is created equal — and once you see how ours is made, it’s hard to look at the supplement aisle the same way.

It goes back to Dr. Shaklee, founder of the Shaklee Corporation and one of the earliest soy researchers in the United States. Years ago, he formulated the first soy protein isolate to capture the goodness of the soybean in a form the body could actually use. He called it Instant Protein — because, unlike animal protein, it was readily available to your body.

Plant Protein vs. Animal Protein: Why It Matters

Animal protein is much harder to digest than vegetable protein, and a protein that isn’t thoroughly digested asks more of your body. Protein itself isn’t the enemy — it’s essential for life. (It is true that excessive protein — more than about two grams per pound of body weight a day, without enough carbohydrate alongside it — can be hard on the kidneys.) A clean, plant-based protein in a predigested-style form is one of the gentlest, most usable sources you can choose.

Our recommended Shaklee Protein is a complete protein — all nine essential amino acids your body needs every day to make hormones, digestive juices, antibodies, and enzymes. And it’s not really the protein that matters most; it’s the amino acid content. Animal protein often doesn’t deliver all the essential amino acids in a single serving — the levels can be too low, and they take too long to digest.

There’s one more piece most people miss: your body can’t fully use protein without the right partners — B3, B6, potassium, phosphates, and carbohydrates. Most meals don’t include them in the right balance. Shaklee soy protein is formulated with the right levels for full utilization.

If you’ve heard concerns about soy along the way — thyroid issues, hormone effects, that kind of thing — it’s a fair question, and worth separating from what the current research actually shows. We dug into it here.

The 7 Quality Controls That Set It Apart

Before you trust any soy powder, it’s worth knowing whether the maker meets these seven essential quality controls. Our recommended protein meets all seven — here’s what each one means for you.

1. Organic-grown soybeans: Cleaner from the ground up

It starts in the soil. Studies have shown chemically fertilized crops can carry lower nutrient levels and higher nitrate levels than their organic counterparts — so organic sourcing isn’t a buzzword, it’s the foundation of a cleaner protein. These soybeans are grown organically, with no pesticides or fungicides. And it goes beyond organic. Shaklee tests the beans afterward for chemicals that might have drifted in — car exhaust from nearby roads, sprays from neighboring non-organic fields. It’s a level of care most brands never bother with.

2. Non-GMO soybeans – no shortcuts

Most companies look for ways to cut costs, and genetically engineered soybeans are cheaper — which is why they’re so common. Shaklee doesn’t leave it to chance or scrimp on quality: only non-GMO soybeans. A simple standard, and real peace of mind for the families who care about it.

3. All nine essential amino acids – guaranteed, batch by batch

One of the soybean’s most valuable qualities is that it’s a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. Your body uses these daily to produce hormones, digestive juices, antibodies, and enzymes — and to support a healthy immune response But not all soybeans are equal; amino acid content varies with soil, growing, and harvest conditions. That’s why Shaklee tests every batch for amino acid content — so you can count on a guaranteed supply of all nine. Curious how soy stacks up against other protein sources like meat, eggs, and beans? We compared them here.

4. Cold Water Washed. Protecting the good stuff

Here’s where a lot of brands cut corners: many protein makers wash their soy with alcohol — but alcohol washing can destroy up to 88% of the soy’s isoflavone content. Isoflavones and other phytochemicals are among the plant compounds people value most in soy, and only a water wash preserves them. Shaklee uses a cold-water wash to process its soybeans, keeping those natural compounds intact.

5. Naturally occurring anti-nutrients removed – a step tradition taught us

Cultures that have eaten soy for centuries learned long ago that raw soy contains naturally occurring “anti-nutrient” compounds (sometimes called “anti-growth” or “anti-tyrosine” substances) — which is why traditional soy foods are always lightly cooked before eating. Dr. Shaklee understood this early: his process separates the protein from the raw soybean and leaves those compounds behind, so more of what you drink is actually usable.

6. Processed without high heat so nutrition kept intact

Enzymes are essential for putting protein to work in your body — but heat destroys them. Around 110°, those enzymes begin to break down. There’s also a well-known process called the Maillard reaction: cook a food and you denature it, turning it into something different. (It’s why traditional tofu — a water extract of soy curd — is cooked and eaten fresh, before it degrades.) Some studies suggest cooking can destroy up to 50% of certain essential amino acids. That’s why Shaklee doesn’t exceed 56° of heat when producing its soy protein — an extraction process that keeps the soy in a raw form to preserve the highest possible levels of amino acids and isoflavones.

7. Calcium added to keep the balance right

Here’s a concern you may have read about: soy protein powders can be acidic, and an acidic powder may draw calcium from the bones over time. The raw soybean is actually neutral — but removing the soybean oil (necessary so the powder doesn’t go rancid) makes it acidic. The fix is simple: add enough calcium, which is alkaline, to bring the powder back to neutral. Shaklee adds the calcium it needs — where many other makers add little or none.

Meet Shaklee Life Shake: Delicious and Built On All of This

Our go-to breakfast is Shaklee Life Shake a complete-meal soy protein shake. Each serving brings 20 grams of energizing, ultra-pure non-GMO protein with precise ratios of all nine essential amino acids — starting at just 130 calories.

Fuller, longer. 20 grams of protein plus a proprietary prebiotic from an ancient-grains blend and added digestive enzymes — for easy digestion and digestive comfort.
Supports your healthy-weight goals. Powered by leucine to support lean muscle and a healthy metabolism. In a Biofortis Research clinical pilot study, Life Shake was shown to increase GLP-1 levels by 20% within 30 minutes and sustain that response for at least two hours — supporting a feeling of fullness similar to a balanced meal, with fewer calories.*
25 essential vitamins and minerals, formulated to support heart, brain, vision, bone, immune, and overall health — including 200 mg of calcium plus ALA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid.
Low glycemic. Zero added sugar, naturally sweetened and with monk fruit and Reb M.
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, Kosher, and Keto-friendly. Mix with your choice of milk or water and your favorite fruit, vegetables, or nut butter.
Available in Plant and Soy versions.

How It Compares

When we stacked Life Shake up against other plant-protein shakes on the market, a few things stood out. It ties for the highest vitamin and mineral count of the bunch — 25 in every serving — and carries zero added sugar. It’s also the only one of the shakes we compared with no flagged ingredients of concern: no artificial sweeteners, no vague ‘natural flavor’ blends, no gums that can leave you bloated. That’s not an accident, it’s the same quality-control mindset behind everything above.

And it taste great! Genuinely. Life Shake is not just a “good for you protein shake.”

We really are what we eat. The quality of the protein you choose shapes how you feel — and soy is one of the highest-quality proteins nature offers. Our recommended protein is made, step by careful step, to give you the best of it.

Shaklee Protein Product Lineup:

Shaklee Life Shake – a complete, balanced meal. Available in Soy Protein and Plant Protein (pea-based) formulas — the latter for those allergic to soy or who prefer plant protein.

Shaklee Energizing Protein – 14 g of heart-healthy soy protein and just 1 g of fat. Available in Vanilla and Cocoa.

Performance Advanced Physique 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein — an intelligent-release blend of 100% grass-fed whey, made with a proprietary cold-filtration process to preserve the essential bioactives.

Shaklee Meal Shakes — a non-soy option for children, with 19 essential vitamins and minerals, a rich source of calcium and an excellent source of protein for growing kids and teens. Available in Bavarian Chocolate and French Vanilla.

Not everyone can manage a full meal. If you are eating very little after bariatric surgery, we wrote a separate and deliberately honest guide to where a protein shake fits after surgery, including what it will not do.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Is plant protein easier to digest than animal protein?

A: Vegetable protein is generally easier to digest than animal protein, and a clean, complete soy protein is one of the gentlest, most usable sources you can choose.

Q: Is soy protein a complete protein?

A: Yes. High-quality soy protein provides all nine essential amino acids, the building blocks your body cannot produce on its own.

Q: Why does how soy protein is processed matter?

A: Organic, non-GMO sourcing, cold-water washing, low-heat processing (under 56 degrees), removal of naturally occurring anti-nutrients, and added calcium all help preserve nutrition and quality in the finished protein.

* Clinical pilot study results by Biofortis Research. Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results may vary from person to person.