Protein powder, judged on tolerance.

Most protein powder roundups rank on price per gram and flavor, which is fine if your digestion is bulletproof and you are twenty-five. It is less useful if a scoop of whey concentrate leaves you bloated for the afternoon, or if the sweetener blend is the reason you quietly stopped drinking the shake you paid for. This comparison weights three things that tend to matter more after 40: digestive tolerance, added sugar and sugar alcohols, and independent testing. Tolerance is why the isolate and dairy-free columns exist — lactase activity commonly declines with age, so a concentrate that was fine in your thirties can become the problem without anything else changing. Sugar matters because a shake is often the second or third protein feeding of the day, and three sweetened servings add up. Third-party testing matters because supplements are loosely regulated, and a certification seal is the only practical signal that the label is honest about what is in the tub. Protein per serving is still listed, because the target is total grams per day and a 20-gram scoop makes that arithmetic harder than a 28-gram one. Sort the table by any column to see which trade-off you are actually making.

Strength After 40 provides general fitness information, not medical advice. Supplements are not a substitute for food, and a doctor or registered dietitian is the right person to consult about persistent digestive symptoms or any change in health status.