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In a seemingly endless sea of sports nutrition supplements, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could have a registered dietitian nutritionist create a perfect-for-you protein shake on a dime? Well, I’m here to inform you that that’s exactly what Gainful, the personalized nutrition company, does.
OK, so not exactly—you won’t be doing a live intake session with a registered dietitian—but you will answer a dietitian-developed quiz with questions about your fitness and nutrition history and goals. And, once you buy, you have chat access to Gainful’s staff of dietitians to ask any questions about your supplements or nutrition in general.
It’s probably the closest thing you can get to personalized supplement advice without actually working one-on-one with a nutrition professional. And in this Gainful protein powder review, we’re going to let you know exactly how it works, if it’s worth it, and what to watch out for.
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Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Testing Gainful to Make Gains
Our team of product testers has tested nearly 100 different protein powders at this point in our quest to create the most comprehensive, accurate, and authentic guides to the best protein supplements. Two product testers, myself and GGR senior editor Nicole Davis, have tried Gainful protein powder to bring you this review.
Gainful Personalized Protein
Product Highlights
- Specifically formulated for you
- Choose from a variety of flavor boosts
- Contains all 9 essential amino acids
- Tailored to meet your dietary needs
- Subscription-based service renews each month
- Unlimited access to registered dieticians
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Ability to work with registered dietitians
- Personalized to your needs and goals
- Solid profile of amino acids
- No gluten, soy, artificial sweeteners, or dyes
Cons
- Subscription-based
- Expensive
Gainful protein powder is a subscription-based supplement that is personalized by dietitians to meet your specific needs and health goals.
A Quick Look at Gainful Protein Powder
Gainful is a sports nutrition and supplement company that focuses on personalized nutrition. To do this, buyers begin with a quiz about their fitness history and goals, nutrition habits, and more.
It’s one of few companies that allows the consumer to take control over the formulas of their supplements, accounting for factors like dietary preferences and restrictions, allergies, fitness goals, current fitness habits, weight loss goals, and even general wellness goals like improving sleep quality and managing stress.
The company is best known for its customizable protein powder, but you can also use this service to customize electrolyte drinks and pre-workout. There are other Gainful products that you can buy as one-off supplements, including creatine and collagen powder, when you have a subscription (meaning, you can add them onto your subscription of personalized products).
Before You Buy
- To buy, you have to sign up for a subscription, but you can modify, pause, or cancel it at any time.
- You can take the quiz as many times as you’d like, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different variables. You’re not locked into your initial formula!
- The protein is unflavored, but it comes with flavor packets that you can add. There are several flavor packets available, which means you get a lot more variety with Gainful than you do with a typical tub of protein.
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Is Gainful Protein Powder Worth It?
Gainful protein powder is on the expensive side, but it is not the most expensive protein we’ve seen or tried. The pricing falls in line with higher-end protein powders, and the element of customization would certainly make it worth it for the right buyers.
If you have dietary restrictions or are just laser-focused on reaching specific goals, yes, Gainful protein powder would be a good investment.
Great for:
- People with specific nutritional goals
- Individuals with allergies or other dietary restrictions
- Those who enjoy flavor variety
- Anyone interested in supplements with minimal ingredients
Not recommended for:
- People on a tight budget
- Beginners, who may want to experiment with protein powder before spending the money on a customized option
