Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Micellar Casein Protein Powder, Slow Digesting, Helps Keep You Full, Overnight Muscle Recovery, Creamy Vanilla, 4 Pound (Packaging May Vary)

Casein has been a critical part of my diet since I started training on an empty stomach, usually after not eating for 16+ hours. "How is that possible?" you might ask. The answer: Casein. When milk is digested, it breaks down into curds (casein) and whey. Whey is the go-to source of protein before and after working out because it's fast acting. Casein, on the other hand, takes a long time to digest, making it a great source of late night protein leading up to hours of fasting. Why go with Gold Standard? - I personally think it's delicious, but that's just my taste. It's pretty sweet, so I would recommend just mixing with water (plenty of water, because this stuff is thick). - It doesn't have a thousand ingredients like a lot of other supplements out there. - Price Personal use: - I usually only eat within an eight hour window between 1:00 PM and 9:00 PM, and work out sometime between 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. As my last meal of the day, I either drink some Casein or eat some cottage cheese (which is essentially the same thing as casein, but can be more expensive and more of a hassle to buy). Because it is more slowly digested, Casein keeps me full and ready to lift as I hit the gym the following afternoon. Bottom line: - Great tasting, cheap, and essential part of my diet. Highly recommended.

I bought this to take at night about 45 minutes before I go to bed. The protein powder arrived on time and it is definitely fresh. It has a really good flavor and mixes really well and quickly. Since this Casein protein the powder is a lot finer. Since the powder is finer it tends get all over of you are not careful when scooping. I got the vanilla so I could mix it with fruit or anything else if I wanted and the vanilla flavor is really rich. The first night I used it I woke with a stomach ache bit I have a sensitive stomach to new foods. So if you are sensitive to protein or other foods I would recommend taking smaller scoops at first until you get used to it. I would definitely recommend this protein because the quality is excellent. I will be buying this again.

Nice taste and dissolves well. I use this after late night workouts and the overnight recover is great!

Great stuff, this is my first time using Casein instead of whey, taste is the same as whey, only difference is texture, Casein is thicker than whey, almost "milk shake" consistency when mixed with a half glass or less or water or milk. That said, stay away from the chocolate peanut butter, it's kinda nasty tasting especially in water, I like the Vanilla much better. As far as gains go, I have noticed all kinds of muscle improvements over the last month using this, Casein breaks down over a longer term than whey, about 3-6 hours so it's wonderful to take right before bed since that is when our bodies do the most protein synthesis/recovery, I noticed the improvements when I starting doing this. I actually did a custom blend of protein with this, I ordered a 1lbs tub of Whey at the same time then mixed it with the 4lbs tub of Casein, that way I get a little bit of fast acting protein when I use it for post workout.

I realize that ON is the "gold standard", but I was hooked on Cytosport for years that I purchased at Costco. For whatever reason Costco phased it out. I mix in Casein for my night time smoothie (i.e. a cup of Kale or Spinach or Broccolli, 3-Berry Mix from Costco, 1/4 cup steel cut oats - and a scoop and 1/2 of ON Casein, lime, and almond milk or water). The marketers say Casein is slow digesting, which is why I take this at night. Only been using it for a month. Made some amazing gains at 49 years. Will continue to use it. Pros: Reportedly a high quality protein, Mixes up in a bender well. Tastes good. Cons: Doesn't mix as quite as well as Cytosport in a shaker, but with a little more effort it does. A tad on the expensive side.

I'm typically a hard gainer, so building lean muscle mass quickly doesn't come easy. I've tried standard Whey Protein for years and it seems like a single serving of 24g is only sufficient at maintaining the muscle I already have. In order to put on weight, I've had to double the dose because of my high metabolism and ectomorphic body type. So I decided to try Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein Protein in hopes that it's slower rate of digestion will keep my body from expelling it so rapidly and allow more time for my muscle fibers to absorb the amino acids before my next meal, especially when starving myself while sleeping at night. So far this product has been great. It has a thicker consistency than standard Whey Protein Concentrate/Isolate and the vanilla flavor is delicious! I also take a high quality weight gainer during the day and so far I've put on 6 lbs. in one month, which for me is significant. I highly recommend this product to anyone who lives off of TV dinners and works out at least twice per week. You have nothing to lose by trying this product...except more muscle!

excellent

A lot of protein powders I’ve tried don’t digest well and I experience painful bloating. This one is really tasty and I don’t feel that uncomfortable full feeling, just satiated. I don’t mix a bunch of other stuff in it. Just frozen blueberries, maybe half a frozen banana. Sometimes while milk, but mostly just water. I even baked muffins with it and they were very good!