Whole Wheat Bread vs. Whey Protein Powder

Nutrition comparison of Whole Wheat Bread and Whey Protein Powder


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of whole wheat bread versus whey protein powder (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in whole wheat bread and whey protein powder:

  • Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in calcium, calories, dietary fiber, potassium and protein.
  • Whey protein powder has more thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12, however, whole wheat bread contains more niacin, pantothenic acid and folate.
  • Whole wheat bread is a great source of iron.
Detailed nutritional comparison of whole wheat bread and whey protein powder is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Whole Wheat Bread (Bread, multi-grain (includes whole-grain)) and Whey Protein Powder (Protein powder, whey based, NFS) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Calories and Carbs

calories

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in calories. Whey protein powder has 33% more calories than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 265 calories per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 352 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, whole wheat bread is much lighter in protein, much heavier in carbs and heavier in fat compared to whey protein powder per calorie. Whole wheat bread has a macronutrient ratio of 20:66:14 and for whey protein powder, 89:7:4 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Whole Wheat Bread Whey Protein Powder
Protein 20% 89%
Carbohydrates 66% 7%
Fat 14% 4%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Whole wheat bread is high in carbohydrates and whey protein powder has 86% less carbohydrates than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 43.3g of total carbs per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 6.3g of carbohydrates.

dietary fiber

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in dietary fiber. Whole wheat bread has 139% more dietary fiber than whey protein powder - whole wheat bread has 7.4g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 3.1g of dietary fiber.

sugar

Whey protein powder has less sugar than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 6.4g of sugar per 100 grams and whey protein powder does not contain significant amounts.

Protein

protein

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in protein. Whey protein powder has 485% more protein than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 13.4g of protein per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 78.1g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are low in saturated fat - whole wheat bread has 0.87g of saturated fat per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 0.78g of saturated fat.

cholesterol

Whole wheat bread has less cholesterol than whey protein powder - whey protein powder has 16mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and whole wheat bread does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Whole wheat bread and whey protein powder contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - whole wheat bread has 0.1mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and whey protein powder does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin E

Whole wheat bread has more Vitamin E than whey protein powder - whole wheat bread has 0.37mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and whey protein powder does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin K

Whole wheat bread and whey protein powder contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - whole wheat bread has 1.4ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and whey protein powder does not contain significant amounts.

The B Vitamins

Whey protein powder has more thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12, however, whole wheat bread contains more niacin, pantothenic acid and folate.

Whole Wheat Bread Whey Protein Powder
Thiamin 0.279 MG 0.609 MG
Riboflavin 0.131 MG 2.017 MG
Niacin 4.042 MG 1.136 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.336 MG ~
Vitamin B6 0.263 MG 0.607 MG
Folate 75 UG 33 UG
Vitamin B12 ~ 2.45 UG

Minerals

calcium

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in calcium. Whey protein powder has 355% more calcium than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 103mg of calcium per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 469mg of calcium.

iron

Whole wheat bread is a great source of iron and it has 121% more iron than whey protein powder - whole wheat bread has 2.5mg of iron per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 1.1mg of iron.

potassium

Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in potassium. Whey protein powder has 117% more potassium than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 230mg of potassium per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 500mg of potassium.

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

For omega-3 fatty acids, whole wheat bread has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than whey protein powder per 100 grams.

Whole Wheat Bread Whey Protein Powder
alpha linoleic acid 0.205 G 0.034 G
Total 0.205 G 0.034 G

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, whole wheat bread has more linoleic acid than whey protein powder per 100 grams.

Whole Wheat Bread Whey Protein Powder
other omega 6 0.002 G ~
linoleic acid 1.667 G 0.264 G
Total 1.669 G 0.264 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Whole Wheat Bread or Whey Protein Powder .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Whole Wheat Bread (Bread, multi-grain (includes whole-grain)) and Whey Protein Powder (Protein powder, whey based, NFS) .

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FAQ

Does whole wheat bread or whey protein powder contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in calories. Whey protein powder has 30% more calories than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 265 calories in 100g and whey protein powder has 352 calories.

Is whole wheat bread or whey protein powder better for protein?
Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in protein. Whey protein powder has 490% more protein than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 13.4g of protein per 100 grams and whey protein powder has 78.1g of protein.

Does whole wheat bread or whey protein powder have more carbohydrates?
By weight, whole wheat bread is high in carbohydrates and whey protein powder has 90% fewer carbohydrates than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 43.3g of carbs for 100g and whey protein powder has 6.3g of carbohydrates.

Does whole wheat bread or whey protein powder contain more calcium?
Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in calcium. Whey protein powder has 360% more calcium than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 103mg of calcium in 100 grams and whey protein powder has 469mg of calcium.

Does whole wheat bread or whey protein powder contain more potassium?
Both whole wheat bread and whey protein powder are high in potassium. Whey protein powder has 120% more potassium than whole wheat bread - whole wheat bread has 230mg of potassium in 100 grams and whey protein powder has 500mg of potassium.