PUCHONG, June 25 -- Those of us who hit the gym regularly inevitably join the cult of People Who Drink Protein Shakes.

It's part and parcel of strength training and muscle protein synthesis with the ultimate dream of looking ripped like Hugh Jackman. Which seems like a sweet deal until you actually taste one of these protein shakes.

More often than not, protein drinks taste overly sweet or chalky thanks to sugar or artificial flavouring used to sweeten the whey protein powder.

Unflavoured, the taste of raw whey protein powder has been likened by some to drinking cardboard. Worse, neither sugar nor artificial sweeteners in excessive amounts are likely to be healthy choices in the long run.

But if you want to build muscle, you got to do...