EAS vs Optimum Nutrition: Head to Head

Both Optimum Nutrition and EAS are two of the oldest and most respected players on the nutritional supplement market. In this article, we put the most popular products that each company supplies up against each other to see which one deserves your business. We’ll consider the top selling protein powders, pre and post workout formulas that EAS and ON offer.

Protein Powders

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard vs EAS 100% Whey

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey

Optimum Nutrition is known for keeping their products simple. Gold Standardis a blend of whey protein isolates, whey protein concentrates and whey protein peptides. It also includes some artificial colors, flavors, lecithin, and the digestive enzymes, Amino Gen and Lactase, to help you to absorb the product more efficiently. The digestive enzymes give your body a boost in breaking down the protein in its free form so it can get into your bloodstream faster.

Ingredients

The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey combines three forms of whey. These are, in effect, three separate stages in the whey processing procedure. The first of these is whey isolate, which is simply the whey taken from the cheese making process with the lactose and fat taken out. Then there is whey concentrate, which has the fat and lactose left in. The final form of whey in this product is whey peptides, in which the whey protein molecules had been broken down into small peptides of amino acids to facilitate faster digestion.

Within the protein blend make-up are contained 5 grams of the naturally occurring branch chain amino acids valine, leucine and iso-leucine and 4 grams of glutamine and glutamic acid.

The flavorings used to provide the amazing array of flavors that Gold Standard offers are Ace-K and Sucralose. Previous versions of this product contained aspartame, but this has now been removed in favor of these more natural sweeteners.

Amino Gen is Optimum Nutrition’s own brand of enzymes to help break down the proteins. Lactase is designed to help break down the lactose contained in the whey protein concentrate. This is included to help people who have problems in breaking down lactose.

Effectiveness 

Gold Standard is a lean protein powder. A key consideration with these products is digestibility. Many products produce stomach upset within 15 minutes of taking them, including gas and bloating. However, in all of my years of using and recommending Gold Standard I have never had a customer come back and complain about digestive issues. That is very rare in this industry!

Dosage

You want to get about a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. With Gold Standard offering 24 grams of protein per scoop, it should be used as a supplement to your whole food protein sources. So, if you are 200 pounds and are getting about 150 grams of protein per day through your meals, you will want to have one Gold Standard shake per day with two scoops of powder in it.

Take Gold Standard within 20 minutes of completing your workout. This will infuse amino acids into your muscles cells just when your body needs them to prevent catabolic breakdown of muscle tissue.

Taste

Quite simply, this product tastes amazing. It comes in an impressive 21 flavors, each one more exotic than the last. With offerings such as Rocky Road and Cookies and Crème, each mouthful feels like you’re cheating on your diet, when in fact you’re getting the cleanest, purest protein source available. It just happens to taste delicious. In trying to figure out why Gold Standard is consistently the most popular whey protein on the market, I’ve concluded that taste is the number one reason.

Mixability 

Gold Standard mixes really well. This is another feature that sets it apart from the competition, many of which products carry a similar nutritional profile, but end up a clumpy mess when you put them through the blender. Gold Standard mixes so well that you don’t even need a blender. You can get a perfectly good result with your shaker bottle. In fact, you don’t even need that. Put a couple of scoops in a glass and whisk it up with a spoon and you’re good to go!

Pros

• 24 grams of protein per scoop
• Contains Whey Protein Isolate
• 4 Grams of Glutamine per serve
• 5 Grams of BCAA’s per serve
• Delicious taste in 21 flavors
• Great mixability
• Does not cause digestive issue
• Cost effective

Cons

•  Contains lactose

 

EAS 100% Whey

Ingredients

EAS 100% Whey delivers 30 grams of whey protein in every 39 gram scoop. Unlike Optimum Nutrition, the protein source is 100% whey concentrate, which leaves the fat and lactose in the product. This makes the product problematic for people who are lactose intolerant. It also does not digest as quickly as the whey peptide form that is a component of ON’s whey product.

EAS includes branch chain amino acids in the form of leucine, iso-leucine and valine. These short chain amino acids can be digested very quickly.

In terms of protein makeup, then, Optimum Nutrition provides you with a better range of diversity than does EAS. However, it does deliver a higher overall protein yield, at 30 grams per serve compared with 24 grams for ON.

Effectiveness

Because this product is 100% whey concentrate, it may cause stomach upset for people who have difficulty processing lactose (and that is a lot of people). Beyond that issue, it does deliver quality protein to your muscles for post workout rebuilding and recovery, but not as quickly as ON 100% Whey.

The product does include the artificial sweetener sucralose, which can also cause stomach issues.

For people who are looking to increase lean body mass, EAS 100% whey provides you with just 170 calories. However, the amount of carbs and fats in this product are a little higher than many competitors. The addition of BCAA’s also enhance the post workout rebuilding effect.

Dosage

EAS 100% Whey protein should be taken post workout to provide an amino acid infusion to rebuild muscle cells that have been broken down by your training.

Taste / Mixability

The taste of EAS 100% Whey is what you expect from the classic old school type of protein powder. It does not deliver any of the originality of the new style of flavors that you get from such competitors as ON. The taste is not awful, but neither is it exciting.

EAS 100% Whey does not mix very well. If you are trying to do it with a spoon or fork, you will not have much success. Unless you want a chunky chug down, you will need a shaker bottle and a good deal of shaking.

Pros

• 30 grams of protein per serve
• 3 grams BCAAs per serve
• Well priced

Cons 

•  A little too much fat and carbs
• Only uses whey concentrate
• Includes sucralose

The Winner: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100%

Pre Workouts

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout

The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout product delivers 10 calories, 2 gams of carbs and 175 grams of caffeine. The power base of this formula consists of three blends. The first of these is called the ‘Energy & Focus Complex’ providing carnitine, tyrosine and citrus bioflavonoids.

The second blend is the ‘Muscle Matrix’ complex, which contains 3 grams of creatine, along with a proprietary blend of astragalus root and ginseng root. Finally, there is the ‘Performance Composite’ bend, consisting of 1.5 grams of beta-alanine and 750 mg of citrulline.

These elements combine to provide you with an effective energy surge. Some of the ingredients, such as caffeine, are conservatively dosed which limits the energy potential. It also contains a couple of artificial flavor enhancers. Overall, though, this is an effective mild stimulatory pre-workout formula.

EAS does not currently provide a dedicated pre-workout product. However, they will soon be releasing a range of pre-workout gummies.

Winner: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Post Workouts

Optimum Nutrition After Max Post-Workout Maximum Recovery

Optimum Nutrition After Max Recovery infuses high-quality carbs and protein into your system post workout to restore lost energy and start the building process. It includes both creatine and glutamine to recharge glycogen and ATP levels within the cell. Protein is in the form of hydrolized whey protein isolates, allowing the aminos to get to the cell faster and more completely.

Creapure Creatine provides you with the best source of this proven strength enhancer and ATP replenisher. You get a 1 to 1 carbohydrate to protein ratio with this product, which equates to an impressive 40 grams of each one. Optimum Nutrition After Max Recovery mixes easily and provides a very pleasant, smooth taste.

EAS Myoplex Muscle Armor

The EAS Myoplex Muscle Armor is a post-workout recovery formula that delivers seven grams of l-arginine and seven grams of glutamine. These are among the highest levels of these two essential post-workout ingredients that you will find in any product. This product is also a rich source of calcium. The fourth key ingredient is taurine, another proven muscle repair booster.

The high level of l-arginine will help to enhance the blood flow of nutrients through your veins. As well as giving you a great pump during your workout, this will help to fast-track amino acids and other nutrients to the muscles which desperately need them post workout.

EAS Myoplex Muscle armor is a simple, yet effective post-workout recovery formula. Unfortunately, it does include artificial flavor enhancers such as sucralose and FD&C Yellow No. 6. Despite this, it is still one of the best post workouts we have come across.

Winner: EAS Myoplex Muscle Armor