BLG Whey Shot: A No-Brainer – or a Waste of Money?

Elite BLG Whey Shot is first and foremost a practical way to get 20 grams of protein when a large shake or a meal does not fit in.

• One bottle provides 20 grams of protein in 100 ml.
• The shot contains 81 kcal, 0 grams of fat and 0 grams of carbohydrate.
• It requires no powder, water, shaker or preparation.
• It is a practical protein source – not a replacement for a good diet, fluids and sleep.

A 100 ml protein shot sounds, at first, like a pretty smart idea. Twenty grams of protein, down it, and get on with your day.

But it can also sound like yet another product that has taken something familiar, poured it into a smaller bottle and given it a more technical name.

So what is it? A no-brainer or a waste of money?

The short answer is that it depends on what problem you are trying to solve. If you already get enough protein through food or have no trouble remembering your regular shake, you do not necessarily need a BLG shot. If, on the other hand, you often skip protein because you cannot be bothered with a large drink, do not have a shaker with you or simply lack appetite after training, the small format starts to make sense.

Because that is really what the shot sells: Not a shortcut around a good diet, but a very easy way to get 20 grams of protein.

Let us start with the obvious objection

You can get protein elsewhere. From regular food, from protein powder, from a ready-to-drink product or from a bar. BLG did not invent protein, and the body does not hand out bonus points just because it comes from a small bottle.

That is why the shot is not automatically worth the money for everyone.

If you are about to go home and eat a protein-rich meal, the need is limited. The same applies if your shaker is already ready in your bag and you are perfectly happy with that solution. In those situations, you are primarily paying for convenience, and that may not have any particular value to you.

But everyday life is rarely as well organised as the training plan makes it look. You need to shower, pick up children, make a meeting or just get home. The shake you intended to make quickly becomes something you will do later. And later sometimes becomes never.

Here, a product can be useful even though there are cheaper or more traditional ways to get the same nutrient. The best solution on paper does not help much if it stays in the cupboard.

What is BLG really?

BLG stands for beta-lactoglobulin. It is a natural part of the whey protein in cow's milk. In Elite BLG Whey Shot, this part of the whey protein has been isolated and concentrated, allowing a relatively large amount of protein in a small, clear drink.[1]

One bottle contains 20 grams of protein in 100 ml. It also contains 81 kcal, 0 grams of fat and 0 grams of carbohydrate.[2]

It is this combination that makes the product interesting. Not just the amount of protein, but how little liquid and how few other macronutrients come with it.

So how lean is it?

The word lean is used about all kinds of things. Here we use it very specifically: How much protein do you get in relation to calories, fat and volume?

Protein counts as 4 kcal per gram in a nutrition declaration.[7] Twenty grams of protein therefore corresponds in itself to around 80 kcal. When the entire shot contains 81 kcal, practically all the energy comes from the protein itself.[2]

It is difficult to make the macros much cleaner than that.

To make the comparison fair, the categories below have been converted to the same amount: 20 grams of protein.

The figures for the other categories are broad, indicative industry ranges. Products and flavours can be both below and above them, so the table should be read as a picture of the categories – not as a definitive answer for every single product. The Danish Consumer Council Tænk also points out that protein bars can generally have a relatively high calorie content.[8]

A shake mixed with water can easily have a sensible nutritional profile, but it takes up more space and requires powder, water and a shaker. A creamy, ready-to-drink protein drink offers a different taste experience and more volume, but typically also contains more energy in addition to the protein. A protein bar is both a protein source and a snack, and that can be seen in its calorie and fat content.

In other words, these products solve different tasks. But if the task is 20 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat and a very compact format, the BLG shot stands strong.

What does the high leucine content mean?

BLG naturally has a high leucine content. Leucine is an essential amino acid that, together with the other essential amino acids, plays a role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis.[3]

In EFSA's assessment, isolated BLG had a higher leucine content per 100 grams of protein than the commercial whey protein isolate used as a comparison. The total content of essential amino acids was also described as comparable to whey protein isolate.[1]

That is worth noting, but it should not be made more mysterious than it is. Leucine is interesting, but total protein intake over the course of the day also matters. A high leucine content cannot rescue a diet that is generally lacking in protein.

For active adults, 20–40 grams of protein is often mentioned as a common serving size, depending among other things on body weight, age and training.[3] At 20 grams, the shot is at the lower end of that range.

Should you drink it with a stopwatch in your hand?

No.

It can be practical to get protein after training, but there is no magical window that slams shut after 30 minutes. Total intake and the distribution of protein throughout the day are more important, and protein can be relevant both before and after training.[3]

A newer systematic review also found no significant difference in the development of fat-free mass based solely on whether protein was consumed before or after training. However, the researchers emphasised that the data basis was limited.[4]

After training is still an obvious time for many, because it is easy to connect to a fixed habit. If you know it will be several hours before you get a meal, a shot can be a simple solution. If you are going home to eat shortly, the situation is different.

When is it a no-brainer?

It is especially so when you want protein, but normally fall short on the practical side.

It might be after training, when your appetite is low. On the way between work and training. On competition day, when you do not feel like a large, milky drink. Or in your bag as a solution that does not require water, a shaker and washing up afterwards.

It can also be interesting if you are keeping an eye on calories and want as little fat and carbohydrate as possible alongside the protein. The combination of 20 grams of protein, 81 kcal and 0 grams of fat is very easy to fit into the rest of the day.[2]

For competitive athletes, it is also relevant that Elite BLG Whey Shot is certified by Informed Sport. In the public database, you can see the certification date and the batches that have been tested. This reduces the risk of content of substances on WADA's prohibited list, but athletes should still check the batch number on their own bottle.5

When is it closer to a waste of money?

It is when the product does not solve a real problem for you.

If you already get enough protein through the day's meals, an extra shot is not necessarily an advantage. If you like protein powder and use it consistently, there is also no reason to switch just to get something new. And if you buy the shot hoping it can replace sleep, proper food and a sensible training plan, you will probably be disappointed.

After a long or hard endurance session, the body may also need carbohydrate, fluids and overall energy. Here, a pure protein shot is not a complete recovery solution. It can be the protein part, but not necessarily the whole solution.[3]

The shot also contains protein from cow's milk and is therefore not suitable for people with a milk protein allergy.1

So what is the verdict?

Elite BLG Whey Shot is a no-brainer if the small format makes the difference between getting your protein and skipping it. You get 20 grams of protein in 100 ml, with no fat and 81 kcal. It is quick, easy to bring along and requires no preparation.[2]

It is closer to a waste of money if you already have your needs covered and do not need the convenience. Because then you are buying a solution to a problem you do not have.

That may also be the most honest way to look at the product. The shot does not do the basic work for you. It does not train, sleep or eat dinner on your behalf. It just makes one small thing very easy: getting 20 grams of protein when everyday life does not quite go according to plan.

Shake the bottle before use. One bottle is one 100 ml serving, and it can be consumed after training or at other times when you need extra protein.[2]

Read more about Elite BLG Whey Shot

References

1. EFSA – Safety of Beta-lactoglobulin as a Novel food
2. PurePower – Elite BLG Whey Shot
3. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise
4. Does Protein Ingestion Timing Affect Exercise-Induced Adaptations?
5. Team Danmark – PurePower and Team Danmark launch sports products for athletes
6. Informed Sport – BLG Whey Shot
7. EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex XIV – Conversion factors for energy
8. The Danish Consumer Council Tænk – What you need to know about protein