Body Fortress vs Six Star vs Nutranelle: Deep Dive Comparison

All three of these protein powders — Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein (Vanilla, 1.74 lb), Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus (Triple Chocolate, 1.8 lb), and Nutranelle Plant-Based Protein Powder (Vanilla, 30 servings) — deliver 30g of protein per serving, cost less than $2.20 a scoop, and come fortified with Vitamins C, D, and Zinc.

If protein per serving were the only thing that mattered, you'd pick the cheapest one and move on.

But what's around the protein is where these products diverge — and for most women, that's the decision that actually matters.

Our pick: Nutranelle Plant-Based Protein Powder. If you want clean plant-based protein with no artificial sweeteners plus functional nutrition — organic greens, digestive enzymes, an antioxidant blend — built into a single daily scoop, Nutranelle is the one product in this comparison built specifically for that.

Quick Reference

Prices captured 10 April 2026. Body Fortress: Amazon US, Vanilla 1.74 lb. Six Star: Amazon US, Triple Chocolate 1.8 lb. Nutranelle: nutranelle.com, 30-serving container. Check current pricing at source before purchasing.

How We Evaluated These Products

We used publicly available label data as the primary source for all three products, transcribed verbatim. Pricing was captured on 30 April 2026 from Amazon US (Body Fortress and Six Star) and nutranelle.com (Nutranelle) — these are point-in-time captures, not guaranteed current.

Community review patterns from verified purchase reviews and Reddit were collected for Body Fortress and Six Star. Where individual ingredients are explained, we link to Examine.com or NIH as the reference. The conclusions are yours to draw.

Who Each Product Is Actually For

Body Fortress is a budget whey protein built for straightforward post-workout use. At $0.05 per gram of protein, it's one of the stronger value options on the market for buyers whose primary objective is hitting a daily protein number without spending much.

If you're comfortable with artificial sweeteners and you're not particularly focused on what else is in the scoop, it does that job.

Six Star occupies the same category as Body Fortress — budget whey, artificial sweeteners, immune-support fortification — but at a lower price per gram ($0.037 vs $0.050).

Its three-source whey blend (concentrate, isolate, and hydrolyzed whey) is slightly more complex than Body Fortress's two-source blend, though in practical terms the difference is marginal at the volume used.

If price per gram is the primary criterion, Six Star wins this comparison on that metric.

Nutranelle is a different kind of product. It's a plant-based protein powder positioned for women who want their protein powder to do more than deliver protein — and are willing to pay for it.

The gap in protein per serving (25g vs 30g) is real, and so is the class of ingredients.Whether the price premium is justified depends entirely on what else you'd otherwise be buying separately.

What's Actually in the Scoop

Body Fortress

Body Fortress leads its ingredient list with Whey Protein Concentrate before Whey Protein Isolate — which matters because concentrate is the less processed, lower-purity form.

Isolate goes through additional filtration to remove more fat and lactose, producing a higher protein-to-weight ratio. Leading with concentrate isn't unusual at this price point, but it means you're getting a blend weighted toward the cheaper input, not the cleaner one.

The second ingredient is Maltodextrin — a processed carbohydrate derived from starch, used here as a bulking and texture agent. It has a high glycaemic index and adds carbohydrates to the serving without adding nutritional value.

Its presence this early in the list (ingredients are ordered by weight) suggests it's not just a trace additive. Beyond protein and maltodextrin, the remaining functional content is a small Immune

Support Blend of Vitamins C and D plus Zinc — legitimate micronutrients, but ones you'd get from a basic multivitamin.

What you're largely paying for with Body Fortress is protein delivery. The supporting cast — artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, maltodextrin, a gum for texture — is functional but unremarkable.

Six Star

Six Star's protein blend is a step up in complexity: Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, and Hydrolyzed Whey.

Hydrolyzed whey is pre-digested — broken into smaller peptides — which theoretically speeds absorption. In practice, whether that difference is meaningful depends on your goals and timing.

What matters more is that, like Body Fortress, concentrate still leads the blend, so the same cost-input logic applies.

Six Star also contains Maltodextrin as its second ingredient, plus a more involved gum system (Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan) that affects texture and mouthfeel.

Carrageenan in particular is worth noting — it's a seaweed-derived thickener that has attracted some scrutiny in nutrition circles, though it remains FDA-approved. Its functional role here is texture, not nutrition.

The immune-support stack (Vitamins C, D, Zinc, Calcium) mirrors Body Fortress closely — identical daily value percentages on C, D, and Zinc.

If you were hoping Six Star's slightly more elaborate protein blend translated into a meaningfully cleaner overall formulation, the rest of the ingredient list doesn't support that conclusion.

Nutranelle

Nutranelle's ingredient picture is structurally different from the other two — not just in what it includes, but in what it doesn't.

There's no maltodextrin, no artificial flavors, and no artificial sweeteners.

The protein itself comes from four plant sources (Fava Bean, Mung Bean, Pea, and Rice), which is a deliberate formulation choice: each source has a different amino acid strength profile, and blending them produces a more complete essential amino acid coverage than any single plant source would deliver alone.

Examine.com has a good overview of why protein source and blending matters here.

Beyond protein, three named functional blends appear in every serving. The Digestive Enzyme Blend (Protease, Amylase, Lactase, Lipase) supports breakdown of protein, carbohydrates, dairy, and fats — relevant if you've experienced digestive discomfort with protein powders before.

The Organic Greens Balance Alkalizing Blend® covers nine greens and plant sources including Spirulina, Chlorella, and Kale. The Betta Berries Antioxidant Blend® draws from ten fruit sources including Pomegranate, Goji, Acai, and Acerola. Hyaluronic Acid and Choline round out the functional additions.

One ingredient worth knowing about: Astragalus Root Extract appears in the Organic Greens Blend. It's an adaptogenic herb with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Research is ongoing — NCCIH has a current summary here and Examine has a research breakdown here.

The net picture across all three products: Body Fortress and Six Star are built around the same core formula — budget whey blend, maltodextrin, artificial sweeteners, a small vitamin stack. The differences between them are marginal.

Nutranelle is built around a different premise entirely: fewer, cleaner ingredients, and a meaningful functional layer that the other two don't attempt.

Sweeteners

Body Fortress and Six Star both use the same two artificial sweeteners: Acesulfame Potassium (also listed as Ace-K or INS 950) and Sucralose.

Acesulfame Potassium is a calorie-free synthetic sweetener approved by the FDA. The FDA's own overview of approved sweeteners, including Ace-K, is available here. Sucralose is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners globally; Examine maintains a deep-dive on sucralose research here.

Both ingredients appear across thousands of protein powders and sports nutrition products. That said, they are the ingredient most consistently flagged in mid-rating community reviews for both Body Fortress and Six Star — more on that in the community section below.

Nutranelle uses Stevia Leaf Extract as its only sweetener. Stevia is a plant-derived sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana; it contains no artificial compounds. Examine has a detailed research breakdown on stevia here.

If sweetener profile matters to your buying decision — whether for personal preference, sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, or a preference for cleaner labels — this is where the three products diverge most clearly.

Protein Quality and What Comes With It

Whey vs Plant-Based: What the Difference Actually Means

Whey protein (Body Fortress and Six Star) is derived from cow's milk and is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. It's fast-digesting, which is why it's commonly associated with post-workout use.

Plant protein blends work differently. A single plant source — pea protein, for example — is typically lower in one or more essential amino acids.

Nutranelle's four-source Veggie Zest™ blend (Fava Bean, Mung Bean, Pea, Rice) is formulated to address this by combining sources with different amino acid strengths. The result is a more complete amino acid profile than a single plant source alone.

Neither is inherently superior, but the right choice depends on whether you consume dairy, how your digestive system responds to whey, and what else you're optimising for in a protein powder.

The Immune Support Positioning of Body Fortress and Six Star

Both Body Fortress and Six Star market Vitamins C, D, and Zinc as immune-support additions.

These are legitimate micronutrients — but they're identical across both products at the same daily value percentages (100% Vitamin C, 125% Vitamin D, 100% Zinc per serving). If you're comparing Body Fortress and Six Star on this criterion, there is no differentiation.

What Nutranelle Includes That the Others Don't

Beyond its protein blend, Nutranelle includes four additional functional components in every serving:

• Digestive Enzyme Blend (Protease, Amylase, Lactase, Lipase) — enzymes that support the breakdown and absorption of protein, carbohydrates, dairy, and fats respectively

• Organic Greens Balance Alkalizing Blend® — nine greens and plant sources including Spirulina, Chlorella, Kale, and Barley Grass

• Betta Berries Antioxidant Blend® — ten fruit and berry sources including Pomegranate, Goji, Acai, and Acerola

• Hyaluronic Acid — a compound naturally present in the body, associated with joint lubrication and skin hydration; an NIH-published study on oral HA supplementation and skin health is available here

Each of these is a product category in its own right. A standalone greens supplement, a digestive enzyme capsule, an antioxidant berry blend — these are things women buy separately.

Whether bundling them into a protein powder at Nutranelle's price point makes financial sense for you depends on what you're already buying.

Value Per Serving

At face value, Six Star wins on price per gram of protein — and it does, decisively. Body Fortress is mid-field. Nutranelle is at the premium end.

The more relevant comparison for Nutranelle's buyer is the all-in cost of getting equivalent nutrition from separate products.

If you're currently buying a greens powder, a digestive enzyme supplement, and an antioxidant or berry blend alongside your protein powder, the combined monthly spend on those products alongside a budget whey may not be as far from Nutranelle's $64.99 as the protein-only price comparison suggests.

That's a calculation worth running with your own current supplement stack — not one we can run for you here.

What Buyers Say (Body Fortress and Six Star)

Body Fortress

Where the positive signals concentrate: Consistent reviewers cite ease of mixing, good post-workout use, and strong protein-per-dollar value. Extended-use feedback includes satiety (feeling full for several hours) and perceived recovery benefit.

What 3-star reviewers flag: The most consistent mid-rating complaint pattern is excessive sweetness or a cloying aftertaste — which maps directly to the Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose combination.

A secondary pattern involves the serving size feeling oversized for some users' purposes. Reddit communities, particularly r/Supplements, have historically raised concerns about label accuracy and protein spiking in budget whey brands; these are community-level observations and were not independently verified here.

Six Star

Where the positive signals concentrate: Value is the dominant positive across both the Triple Chocolate and Vanilla Cream Amazon pages. Post-workout and recovery use are the most cited applications. Some extended-use reviewers report perceived muscle support benefits over time.

What 3-star reviewers flag: Taste is the most polarising criterion — vanilla reviewers flag a plain or artificial aftertaste, and chocolate reviewers describe the flavour as average with higher carbs than expected.

Mixability is net positive but not unanimous — clumping and foam are recurring complaints on the Vanilla listing specifically. Digestive reactions are also mixed, with a minority reporting nausea or stomach discomfort. Community positioning in r/Supplements consistently characterises Six Star as affordable but not a clean option.

Who Should Buy Each One

Body Fortress is right for you if your primary goal is hitting a daily protein target at a low cost per gram, you prefer whey, and the sweetener profile isn't a deciding factor. It's a functional, no-frills product for buyers who know what they want from protein powder and don't need it to do anything else.

Six Star is right for you if the same profile applies and price per gram is your deciding criterion. At $0.037/g it's the most cost-efficient option in this comparison. The trade-off is a less predictable taste experience based on community feedback, particularly on the Vanilla flavour.

Nutranelle is right for you if you want plant-based protein with no artificial sweeteners, you care about what's in the scoop beyond the macros, and you'd rather get your protein, greens, enzymes, and antioxidants in one place than buy them separately.

The price premium is real — and so is what you're getting for it.

Shop Nutranelle Plant-Based Protein Powder →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much protein do women need per day?

General guidance from sports nutrition research suggests 1.6–2.2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight for women who exercise regularly, with the lower end appropriate for moderate activity and the higher end for strength training or body composition goals.

A 65kg woman doing regular strength work would typically target 104–143g of protein daily from all food sources combined — not just from supplements.

Can you mix protein powder with just water?

Yes, all three products mix with water. Mixing with milk (dairy or plant-based) will add calories, fat, and additional protein to the serving, and typically produces a creamier texture.

If you're tracking macros closely, check your total based on what you're mixing with.

Is plant-based protein as effective as whey for muscle building?

Research increasingly suggests that multi-source plant protein blends, consumed in equivalent quantities, produce comparable muscle protein synthesis to whey.

A 2019 study published in Sports Medicine found no significant difference in muscle gain between groups consuming pea protein versus whey over 12 weeks of resistance training. The key variable is total daily protein intake, not source — provided the plant blend covers the essential amino acid profile.

What's the difference between whey concentrate and whey isolate?

Whey concentrate is the less processed form — it contains more fat and carbohydrates per gram of protein (typically 70–80% protein by weight). Whey isolate undergoes additional filtration, producing a higher protein concentration (typically 90%+) with less fat and fewer carbohydrates.

Hydrolyzed whey (used in Six Star) is pre-digested whey that absorbs faster. Both Body Fortress and Six Star lead with concentrate in their blend, meaning isolate is present but not the dominant source.

Are artificial sweeteners in protein powder safe?

Both Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose are FDA-approved food additives with long regulatory histories.

That said, individual responses vary — some people report sensitivity to the taste or digestive effects of artificial sweeteners, which is consistent with the mid-rating review patterns for both Body Fortress and Six Star.

If you've had reactions to artificial sweeteners in other products, that's worth factoring into your choice here.

Next Steps

Protein per serving is a useful number, but it's not the whole picture. What you should really evaluate is what role your protein powder plays in your overall health and wellbeing.

If it's purely a protein delivery mechanism and cost per gram is the frame, Six Star is the most efficient option in this comparison. If you want something that works harder — clean protein, no artificial sweeteners, and functional nutrition built in — Nutranelle is built for exactly that.

The right choice is the one that matches how you actually think about your supplement stack, not the one with the biggest number on the front of the tub.