Protein is a staple for many gymgoers in their quest for muscle and strength, but not all protein powders have the same ingredient lists or nutritional content — today we’re looking specifically at Legion Whey+. Legion sells a variety of supplements, but in terms of protein options, they have a whey isolate protein, casein protein, and a vegan protein powder. Legion Whey+ is their whey isolate formula that boasts 100 percent natural ingredients at clinically effective doses and provides a minimum of 21 grams of protein per serving.
Whey is a classic supplement that can have a positive impact on your ability to make gains and build strength — this whey isolate is a particularly lean whey supplement. It’s made from cows raised on small Irish dairy farms that eat grass for most of the year. Technically, it’s not 100 percent grass-fed, but when these cows do eat feed, it’s non-GMO. The carbs in this formula are between two and six grams, and the fats are between zero and two grams, all while keeping calories lower, from 110 and 130 cals per serving. We found this protein powder to be a rich, effective, and macro-friendly way to consume a high dose of protein while keeping carbs and fats in check.
Main Takeaways
- Legion Whey+ is a protein isolate that contains between 21 and 23 grams of protein per serving depending on which flavor you opt for.
- This formula comes in 14 flavors for the two-pound tub and six flavor options for the five-pound tub.
- Legion Whey+ is an isolate formula boasting carbs between two and six grams, and fats between zero and two grams.
An all natural, non-GMO, fat-free whey that's cheaper than many competitors, Legion Whey Isolate Protein Powder is made from 100 percent grass-fed whey protein isolate from sustainable dairy farms in Ireland. It's also higher in calcium compared to other powders on the market.
Legion Whey+ Video Review
BarBend’s Nick English takes you through a video review of Legion Whey+ protein. He covers all the pros and cons of this protein, and gives his opinion on mixability and the ingredient list.
Legion Whey+ Protein Highlights
Legion Whey+ comes in both two-pound and five-pound buying options. The two-pound tub offers 14 flavors to choose from while the five pound option comes in six different flavors. Each serving consists of between 100 and 130 calories, and 21 and 23 grams of protein, depending on which flavor you choose. You’ll find between zero and three grams of fat, and between two and six grams of carbs per serving. And regardless of flavor, this blend offers an addition of 5.6g of BCAA per serving.
This formula is a whey isolate that’s mixed with some non-GMO maltodextrin, which makes it a little higher in sugar than the average whey isolate. As far as micronutrients go, its biggest win is that each flavor has a calcium and sodium presence above 100mg. Outside of those two, you’ll have to get your micronutrients from other sources.
The flavors offered for this whey isolate in their two pound tub are Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Fruit Cereal, Salted Caramel, Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Cereal, Cocoa Cereal, Honey Cereal, Mint Chocolate, Mocha Cappuccino, Strawberry Banana, Unflavored, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Cookies & Cream. The five-pound tub options include Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Strawberry Banana, Cinnamon Cereal, Cookies & Cream, and Chocolate Peanut Butter. The two-pound tub costs about $1.99 per serving, but if you opt for a flavor that comes in a five-pound tub, you’ll only pay about $1.62 per serving.
[Check out our Best Whey Protein roundup]
Who Should Buy Legion Whey+
- Folks who want a variety of flavors to choose from will like that the two-pound tub has 14 flavor options, and the five-pound tub has six flavor options.
- Those looking for a whey isolate that’s fairly high in protein but comes at a reasonable price point for an isolate.
- Athletes who like to benefit from BCAAs in their protein will appreciate the 5.6g in this formula.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Whey+
- Those who prefer a protein that includes digestive enzymes for potentially better digestion.
- Anyone who is looking for higher carbs and fats for a bulk will be better off with a whey concentrate or a casein protein.
- Folks on a budget can find a cheaper alternative on the market — especially if you aren’t tied to an isolate.
Price
You can pick up a two-pound tub of Legion Whey+ for around $59.99. That means it’s about $1.99 per serving. You also have the option to buy a five-pound tub if you’re buying Dutch Chocolate, Strawberry Banana, Cinnamon Cereal, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream, or French Vanilla, which will save you some cash. The five pound tub costs about $119.99, which equates to around $1.62 per serving. This is fairly inexpensive for a grass-fed whey, and particularly for an isolate — but it’s definitely priced higher than a whey concentrate.
Legion Whey+ Overall
Legion Whey+ is an isolate formula that offers a fairly high protein content between 21 and 23 grams per serving, low carbs between two and six grams, and low fat between zero and two grams per serving. Each ingredient list varies from flavor to flavor, but all the flavors are all-natural, low in sugar, and come from grass-fed cows. We think it’s worth noting that despite the all-natural flavoring, this supp does contain maltodextrin, which is an artificial starch that can be used to replace sugar.
Formulation
The first ingredient in all of the flavors is cold-processed whey isolate, followed by maltodextrin. Then, depending on flavor choice, the ingredients list varies in content. Rest assured though that each flavor is 100 percent all-natural and contains natural flavoring.
Protein
This protein powder is a whey isolate formula. Whey isolates are 90 percent protein by weight, are low in lactose, fat and carbs, and go through a fairly extensive filtration process to become an isolate (1). Each flavor that Legion offers has between 21 and 23 grams of protein per serving with 22 grams being the most common. Most proteins on the market hit around 20 grams of protein per serving, but this formula secures an extra gram or three per serving.
Fat
The fat content is fairly low, keeping between zero and three grams of fat per serving, which is ideal for those who prefer to get their fats from food sources, or those who are in a cutting phase and don’t have a lot of fat macros to budget for a protein powder. If you’re looking to keep fats very low, you’ll want to opt for Cookies & Cream, unflavored, Strawberry Banana, French Vanilla, or Dutch Chocolate, which are all fat free flavors.
Carbs
This formula varies between two and six grams of carbs per serving. Compared to other whey isolates, six may be a bit higher, but the flavors that have two or three grams are more common for an isolate. Six may also be a bit higher for those who are looking to cut or need low carbs during lower food periods, in which case it would be best to opt for flavors with lower carb content such as French Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Cereal, Mint Chocolate, Mocha Cappuccino, and Unflavored, which all contain two grams of carbs per serving.
Micronutrients
The micronutrients present in this formula aren’t super impressive. Most protein powders aren’t known for their micronutrient content, and if you’re in need of supplementing for micronutrients, you may want to invest in a greens powder or multivitamin. That being said, each flavor does contain at least 100mg of calcium, as well as between 115mg and 180mg of sodium per serving except for the unflavored option, which only has 65mg per serving.
Sugar and Maltodextrin
Sugars are a bit controversial and are worth noting in any protein blend. This formula contains stevia in every flavor except for the unflavored formula and every flavor contains maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is a starch that performs much like a sugar and is used for a multitude of reasons, one being a replacement for sugars. The use of maltodextrin in place of sugars can have an impact on glycemic index and act as a tool for creating energy (2).
Legion Whey+ Benefits and Effectiveness
This is a pretty low-calorie whey product, and while it’s not a zero-carb, zero-fat grass-fed isolate like some other brands, it’s certainly suitable for folks following a low-carb or low-fat diet. Whey+ provides high quality whey protein and it’s cold processed, which means the protein hasn’t been denatured from heat. Denatured protein isn’t bad for us and it digests and absorbs just fine, but there are nonetheless plenty of people who prefer cold processed protein powder.
But Whey+ contains a few ingredients that you don’t usually find in all-natural wheys, namely soy lecithin and xanthan gum. The gum in particular can cause digestive discomfort and issues such as bloating and gassiness in some people, which is one reason a lot of supplement companies include digestive enzymes with their protein powders. Whey+ doesn’t have digestive enzymes, so if you’re extremely sensitive to soy or gum, it might not be the right product for you.
Note that it’s also made in a facility that “may” also process eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and wheat, so highly allergic consumers may want to steer clear. But for the price, Whey+ is a good compromise between expensive, all-natural, grass-fed wheys and the mainstream wheys that are flush with artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Mixability
Anyone who’s tired of clumpy whey that doesn’t mix well because it was made without lecithin will be glad to learn that the soy lecithin in Legion Whey+ makes it mix and dissolve very easily.
What to Consider Before Buying Legion Whey+
There are many considerations to take into account when adding a new protein to your supplement stack. We go over some of the important ones by touching on them below — these include label accuracy, price, protein content, other macronutrients, micronutrients, and flavors.
Label Accuracy
Reading labels can be tedious, but it is an important part of picking the correct protein powder for your needs. Each flavor of Legion Whey+ has its own ingredient list and nutrition facts — you’ll want to take a look at all of them before you buy to see which one may be best suited to help you reach your goals. For example, all but the unflavored option of this protein contain stevia as a sweetener.
If stevia doesn’t sit well on your palette or in your stomach, this may not be the protein for you unless you opt for the unflavored option. These labels are easy to read, present proper dosages, and even online, give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Price
Considering that whey isolates tend to lean on the more expensive side, this whey isolate is well priced at around $2.00 per serving. We like that Legion has easy-to-read labeling, no artificial ingredients, and no added sugars. At about $2.00 per serving, you can find a cheaper option on the market if you aren’t tied to an isolate, but if you’re looking for an isolate, Whey+ is fairly priced for a high-quality and high-protein supplement.
Protein Content
This product contains between 21 and 23 grams of protein per serving, depending on which flavor you opt for. Most proteins on the market hit around 20 grams of protein per serving, so this product gives you a few extra grams of protein per scoop compared to the average.
Whey isolates tend to be lower in carbs and fats as we see with this formula, so this is a great product for those who like to consume fats and carbs via food sources, or those who are prepping for bodybuilding shows and have to keep other macros lower. If you’re getting really close to the stage, you may want a protein with even lower carbs and fats, but if you have the flexibility, this product has sweet macros and it tastes delicious.
Other Macronutrients
The other macros in this product vary flavor to flavor, but the fats are between zero and three grams, and the carbs are between two and six grams. Whey isolates go through a process that rids the formula of most of its lactose, meaning an isolate formula may be better for those who suffer from digestive issues. If you’re lactose intolerant you may still want to opt for a different plant-based protein powder.
Micronutrients
This formula isn’t super notable when it comes to micronutrient content. Each flavor contains sodium and calcium, but otherwise, the micronutrient content is underwhelming. Protein isn’t always known for being high in micronutrients, so it isn’t wise to depend on your protein supplementation for micronutrient content, as well.
Flavors
The variety of flavors here is a standout point for this supplement. The two-pound tubs come in 14 flavor options and the five-pound tubs have six flavors to choose from. Each flavor varies in its ingredient list and nutritional value breakdown, but all are flavored naturally. Each flavor except for the unflavored option is sweetened with stevia, so if stevia isn’t your favorite, it may be best to opt for the unflavored formula. But if you’re looking to avoid artificial flavors and sweeteners altogether, these formulas may be for you.
Final Word
Legion Whey+ is a lean protein powder that comes in two tub sizes — two pounds and five pounds with 14 and six flavor options respectively. It’s not totally paleo or grass-fed, but it’s still made without artificial flavors or sweeteners, and it’s cheaper than most all-natural whey isolate proteins at about $2.00 per serving. If you’re wary of artificial sweeteners and like the idea of free roaming Irish cows supplying your whey, this is a great pick.
With a protein count between 21 and 23 grams of protein per serving, low carbs and fats, and tasty flavors to choose from, Legion Whey+ may be a great option for those looking for a high dose of protein while maintaining lower fats and carbs. With a transparent ingredient list and an all-natural formula, this protein supplement is well worth the $2.00 per serving price tag in our books and may be your new favorite supplement in your stack.
FAQs
What is the main reason to take Legion Whey+?
Protein is a super important macronutrient to hit if you’re hoping to gain muscle or strength. Legion Whey+ supplementation may lead to multiple benefits, but one of the biggest is that the 21 to 23 grams of protein per scoop delivers a solid hit of protein while maintaining lower carbs and fats in each serving.
Who is Legion Whey+ best for?
There is no target audience for Legion’s protein — it’s a great all-natural whey protein for those looking to get a solid dose of protein from grass-fed cows. It’s ideal for those who care where their dairy is derived from, anyone who cares about high-quality ingredients that don’t include artificial flavors or sweeteners, and folks looking for a variety of flavor options.
Can Legion Whey+ help me reach my strength and mass goals?
Heavy resistance training, proper nutrition, and the addition of supplementation can be the key to unlocking strength gains and mass. Although you can achieve muscle mass and strength without supplementation, it can be a really helpful tool to make sure you’re consuming enough protein to hit your goals — but supplementation on its own won’t get you there. You need to make sure you’re properly training for muscle mass and strength, as well as consuming enough food to properly repair broken down muscle fibers and help them to grow and strengthen.
References:
- Pogored. (2021, August 2). Whey protein: Health benefits and potential side effects. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-whey-protein-good-for-you/
- Hofman DL, van Buul VJ, Brouns FJ. Nutrition, Health, and Regulatory Aspects of Digestible Maltodextrins. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Sep 9;56(12):2091-100. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2014.940415. PMID: 25674937; PMCID: PMC4940893.
Legion Whey+
Per Serving: $1.33
Pros
- No artificial ingredients
- No fat and low in calories
- Non-GMO
Cons
- Contains soy
- No digestive enzymes
- Isn't 100% grass-fed
