Among the many things I nerd out over, nutrition is pretty high on the list. So when a product claims to have a very clean ingredients list while being effective, it piques my curiosity. Such was the case with Klean Athlete, which builds “clean” right into the brand name.
The line’s premise is optimizing performance and recovery without using any banned or questionable substances. Everything they offer is NSF Certified for Sport (which means it’s also tested for purity and content), and everything’s made in labs where parent company Douglass Laboratories has control over the manufacturing process.
Klean Athlete offers a range of pills and supplements, but I tested two of the more common items found any any endurance athlete’s cupboard: a recovery drink and whey protein isolate. The latter is just that, straight whey isolate. The former mixes carbs, whey protein isolate and -remember how I said there where no questionable ingredients?- hydrolyzed marine protein from salmon…
Klean Recovery only comes in one flavor, Milk Chocolate, which tastes like Nestle Quik. True, chocolate milk has been shown to boost recovery, too, but if you want a faster acting protein and more specific carbohydrate blend to maximize performance (or just minimize lactose), then a scientifically formulated product like this makes more sense. Generally speaking, whey isolate has very low levels of lactose and fat compared to other milk-based proteins, and here it’s combined with that other protein.
Why salmon protein? Klean’s rep replied with this:
In terms of why a fish-based protein is used, Klean Recovery uses a special Norwegian salmon protein isolate that is extracted through a natural process, so that functional and nutritional properties are preserved. It’s then hydrolyzed so that it contains oligopeptides and peptides with a low molecular weight to allow for faster nitrogen assimilation in the body, when compared to whey protein. This allows for greater amounts of amino acids to be absorbed when compared with other protein sources. The hydrolyzed salmon protein has a neutral taste and smell, allowing Klean Recovery to have an awesome milk chocolate flavor.
The first part of that is what separates this recovery drink from anything else on the market. But it’s the last part that could make or break the review.
I’m happy to say that, upon opening the bag and smelling it I was generally aware that fish protein had been used, but it was neither olfactorily offensive nor could I taste it. Like she said, it tasted just like delicious chocolate milk.
Klean Recovery has a 4:1 carb:protein ratio, using non-GMO maltodextrin and fructose for the carbs and Dutch process cocoa for the chocolate flavor. They even opt for sunflower lecithin as a flow agent (prevents clumping) rather than soy lecithin, which I appreciate. In fact, I appreciate the overall simplicity of the ingredients list.
I admit it’s almost completely subjective as to how well a recovery drink works since I have not the budget for blood work. At least if it tastes good (it did), I’m more likely to choose it. I can say it mixes easily, resulted in no fishy burps or gassy/gastric issues, and I felt great on subsequent training rides and workouts. So, if you’re normally one to use recovery drinks, this one’s worth a try.
Each resealable pouch contains 20 servings and retails for $49.00. The Klean Isolate has no added flavors, sweeteners or anything else, making it a great way to add protein to smoothies, oatmeal or just combine with whole milk for an easy pre-bedtime protein boost. It runs $48.00 per 20-serving bag (~ $2.50/serving).
They also offer a Train & Complete bundle that includes both of these products plus their Klean Endurance ribose chewable tablets (instant cellular energy) and Klean Electrolytes (capsules with sodium chloride and chelates of magnesium, potassium and calcium, plus B6). Order all four in any quantities of each that you want and they knock 20% off the purchase price and ship for free.
