Now Sports Pea Protein Powder
Price: $
With 24 g of protein and less than 1 g of carbs per serving, this pea protein powder from NOW Sports is a great option for those following a low carb diet.
Its made from yellow pea protein isolate and free of GMOs, dairy, and soy.
Its available in several flavors and an unflavored version, which works well for mixing into smoothies, shakes, and desserts.
Whats more, NOW Sports Pea Protein Powder is Informed Sport Certified, a third-party certification that ensures the product is free of substances banned in competitive sports.
Most Natural Protein Bar: Rise Bar Lemon Cashew
1 bar : 260 calories, 13 g fat , 25 mg sodium, 23 g carbs , 15 g protein
“Most ‘protein’ bars have only 6-12 grams of protein per bar, but Rise are more substantial by providing 15-20 grams of protein per bar,” says Anya Rosen, MS, RD, LD, IFNCP, CPT, a functional medicine dietitian and founder of Birchwell Clinic. “Rise bars also do not use sugar alcohols or other added ingredients that tend to cause bloating (such as corn fiber, chicory root, or inulin, which are found in many other popular bars, and as a result, they are easier to digest and great for individuals with food restrictions and/or sensitivities.”
$27.99 at Rise Bar
Is Vegan Protein Powder Good For Muscle Gain
Increasing overall protein intake has been shown to help improve muscle gain, regardless of whether the protein is plant- or animal-based .
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that products containing a blend of plant-based proteins, such as pea and brown rice, may have higher amounts of leucine and be more effective for muscle building than single-source vegan protein powders .
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Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Protein Powder
Why is plant protein better than animal protein?
Plant-based protein powders deliver the same results as animal proteins, but theyre better for the environment and no cruelty to animals is needed.A recent study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition showed that brown rice had similar results to whey protein when used to promote muscle growth with resistance training.
Is plant protein harder to digest?
Plant proteins are generally hard to digest than animal proteins. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. A longer digestion process may help you to feel fuller for longer, which can aid those trying to lose weight.Digesting protein more slowly can also reduce the absorption time of carbohydrates, which in turn can help to keep blood sugar levels regular.
Why is vegan protein powder more expensive?
Vegan protein is more expensive than whey protein made from real food before its turned into powder. Whey is usually a waste product thats leftover from cheese making and would otherwise be disposed of.Also, because there are still more omnivores than vegans, theres a bigger demand for whey protein powder. It can therefore be made in bulk, which makes it cheaper to manufacture.Many omnivores and vegetarians assume that something marketed as vegan isnt for them. In reality, plant-based protein powder could be the best option for most people.
Can you build muscle with vegan protein powder?Does vegan protein powder make you gain weight?
Dietary Restrictions And Preferences
If you have any food allergies, restrictions, or intolerances, be sure to carefully read ingredient labels and consider opting for products that are certified vegan or allergen-free.
You may want to avoid products that contain high amounts of added sugars or artificial sweeteners, flavors, fillers, and preservatives. If you prefer to eat organic, look for products that are certified organic by the USDA.
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Men’s Health Lab Approved
Over the last year or two, the market has exploded with vegan protein supplements, making shopping tricky. Thats where the Mens Health Lab comes in.
As part of our 2022 Sports Nutrition Awards, werecruited a panel of over 200 fitness fanatics and industry experts and asked them to put a variety of vegan protein powders to the test for four weeks.
They provided in-depth feedback on each products nutritional value, impact on exercise performance, ease of use, texture and, importantly, flavour .
Our winning whey protein powders have the Sports Nutrition Awards badge displayed proudly above their picture below. Those with the MH LabApproved badge have also passed our rigorous tests. The remaining entries on our list have been carefully chosen by our editors, all of whom know a thing or two about what makes a good vegan protein powder too.
Here are the vegan proteins powders which really pack a punch…
Ote Sports Soya Protein Drink
Per 52g serving: 182kcal, 25g protein, 18.6g carbohydrates, 0.5g fat
If youre always on the go, youll love our best plant-based protein powder. It comes in handy single-serve sachets ideal for chucking into your bag and guzzling at your desk or en route to the gym. The texture is smooth, and it tastes good with water alone, but when mixed with milk its *chefs kiss*.
The nutritional breakdown is also impressive, with a decent carb count, electrolytes and vitamins, meaning it contains everything you need for optimal recovery. Win, win.
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What To Look For And What To Avoid When Choosing A Protein Powder For Weight Loss
If youre looking for a protein powder specifically for weight loss, then youll want one that has a very high protein-to-calorie ratio. This means that most of the calories in the protein powder supplement come from protein rather than carbohydrates and fats. In most cases, this means choosing a protein isolate thats been filtered to remove a lot of the carbohydrates and fats. Additionally, whey protein isolate is often preferred by consumers who have difficulty digesting lactose, since a majority of the lactose is removed during processing. Although these isolate protein powders often come with a slightly higher price point, the reduction in the extra calories might be worth it for those following a strict weight loss protocol.
Other factors to consider are artificial ingredients such as sweeteners, flavors and colors. To keep the calorie count to a minimum in these types of products, its common to find zero calorie artificial sweeteners and flavors instead of sugar and natural flavors. If you prefer to stay away from artificial ingredients, then you can definitely find all-natural protein powders to suit your personal preferences.
Comparison Of Organic Vegan Protein Powder & Whey Protein
Some critics believe that organic vegan protein powder is not a complete protein as it lags behind the protein quantity derived from dairy animal products. Whey protein is a gold-standard protein diet to build up protein deficiency.
The debate is that the organic vegan protein source lacks nine essential amino acids. Therefore, plant protein powder is not considered effective as the conventional raw organic protein sources. However, researchers have found out after experimentations that if you are consistent in intaking organic protein powders, you will eventually get the effect of complete protein.
Therefore, this vegan protein powder is a perfect meal replacement shake to cover up the requirements of minimum protein intake.
Read Also: Where Can I Buy Premier Protein
Maximuscle Plant Max Protein Powder
Each serving of Maximuscle’s vegan Plant Max protein powder has 20g of blended plant protein made up from a combination of pea protein isolate and brown rice. Gluten-free, low in sugar and fat, and high in vitamin B12, it ticks pretty much all the boxes. It’s only available in two flavours, mind, but given that they’re chocolate or banana fudge, they should cover most taste buds’ bases.
Now read
Best Flavored: Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Chocolate
Courtesy of Amazon
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6 mg iron per scoop
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Not third-party tested
Prefer a flavored protein powder? We love the certified organic Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein powder in chocolate flavor. Made from a vegan protein blend that includes organic fermented pea protein and organic hemp protein, this powder is a complete protein source with all nine essential amino acids, containing 17 grams of protein per scoop.
The chocolate flavor comes from organic Dutch cocoa and organic chocolate flavor, and it is sweetened with organic stevia extract. It provides 6 milligrams of iron per scoop, which is more than 30 percent of your daily needs. Additionally, Sunwarriors Warrior Blend is soy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Price at time of publication: $61
Main Protein Sources: Fermented pea protein, hemp protein | Serving Size: 1 scoop | Protein Per Serving: 17 grams | Additives: Stevia extract, chocolate flavor, guar gum
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Improve Lung Health And Aid Detoxification
The amino acid profile in rice protein powders can help improve lung health, especially with high levels of cysteine.
This important amino acid has shown tremendous antioxidant powder and its ability to help stop free radicals from creating any damage, as well as boost your immune system by successfully flushing out toxins from your body.
The Line Up At A Glance
Editors Choice
- Free of GMO, gluten, dairy, soy, and corn
- Contains guar gum which might cause some digestive problems
Popular for its delicious taste and praised for clean and high-quality ingredients, Growing Naturals Organic Rice Protein Powder is 100% organic, and free of any artificial ingredients or common allergens. Its also verified as non-GMO, kosher, and suitable for those following a ketogenic diet.
With only 80 calories per serving and 15 grams of protein, this low-carb protein powder is a great option for anyone who is looking to increase their protein intake while keeping their overall caloric intake on the lower side.
Does Vega Protein Powder Cause Bloat
While whole-food plant proteins like soy, beans and lentils can be major gas-producers due to high fiber content, plant-based protein powders like these rice and pea powders are unlikely to cause gas or bloating, since most of the starch and fiber content has been removed, making them a better choice if you want to .
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Battle Ready Fuel Vegan Warrior Clear
Per 17g serving: 57kcal, 11g protein, 2.5g carbohydrates, 0.1g fat
Why: Heres another clear mix, and again, the protein content is relatively low at 11g. With just 57 calories and 0.1g fat per serving, though, its a good option if your main goal is fat loss. It also tastes good the tropical punch flavour went down well with our testers. They found it smooth and surprisingly tasty with water.
Light, refreshing and easy to drink, Battle Ready Fuel makes getting your protein fix easy. If you’re keen to up the carb content for a more nutritionally dense shake, we recommend blending it with frozen fruit or juice.
Anthonys Premium Pea Protein
Price: $
Anthonys Premium Pea Protein is one of the best pea protein powders on the market because its made with just one simple ingredient: vegetable pea protein isolate. Its also non-GMO verified and gluten-free.
Each tablespoon of this unflavored protein powder contains 8 g of protein and just 35 calories. Its a great way to add smaller amounts of protein throughout your day.
Keep in mind that while the company claims to test each batch in-house for purity and potency, it is unclear whether the product is third-party tested.
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Gainful Personalized Protein Powder At A Glance
- Protein source: organic pea, organic brown rice, organic oat
- Available flavors: unflavored with optional flavor boosts: Strawberry Cream, Madagascar Vanilla, Rich Chocolate, Caffè Mocha, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Matcha Green Tea, Cinnamon Toast, Sea Salt Caramel
- Pros: personalized blend, flavor boosts for ease of changing flavors day to day, access to a registered dietitian included with subscription
- Cons: expensive, requires a subscription, not third-party tested
- Nutrition stats: customized, but products generally contain 1927 g of protein
Price: $$
KOS Organic Plant-Based Chocolate Protein Powder is our pick for the best-tasting protein powder.
The powder has a smooth, chocolaty flavor thanks to ingredients like organic cacao, organic coconut milk, and monk fruit.
Each serving contains 20 g of protein, which is sourced from a blend of pea protein, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds.
Healthline testers found KOS Organic Plant-Based Chocolate Protein Powder to have a pleasant taste, though they did note that its definitely on the sweeter side.
The powder also has more than 7,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, with customers raving about the smooth texture, delicious flavor, and lack of an artificial aftertaste.
KOS does not include any third-party testing information on its website.
Best Meat Protein Bar: Epic Provisions Venison Sea Salt + Pepper
1 bar : 130 calories, 9 g fat , 750 mg sodium, 1 g carbs , 12 g protein
“Made with the lean venison meat, these bars are a natural source of protein,” says Manaker. “With only 1 gram of added sugar and made with minimal ingredients, this bar can help people sneak in 12 grams of protein when on the go.”
$31.99 at EPIC Provisions
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The Best Vegan Protein Powders: Tried & Tested
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want to find the best vegan protein powder in the UK without committing to buying a huge bag? Im here for you!
Ive tried and tested all of the most popular vegan protein powders. I paid close attention not just to the taste and texture, but to the ingredients in each vegan protein shake.
Short on time and want to skip straight to my recommendation? Here it is. Otherwise, read on for a review of each vegan protein brand.
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Potential Side Effects Of Vegan Protein Powders
Vegan protein powders are generally well tolerated and are not known to have serious negative side effects.
However, there is an increasing concern that heavy metals found in protein powders, especially plant-based powders, may pose health risks.
Plant-based protein powders may contain more heavy metals than other protein powders because plants take in heavy metals from the soil, air, and water .
However, recent research has found that the amounts of heavy metals found in protein powders are not large enough to cause any adverse effects at typical intakes of 13 servings per day .
As a general rule, its a good idea to opt for products that have been third-party tested for the presence of heavy metals and other contaminants.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about vegan protein powders.
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Best Vegan Pea Protein: Sprout Living Organic Pea Protein Powder
Amazon
Pea protein is a high-quality, complete vegan protein source, and we love Sprout Livings Simple Pea Protein powder made with just one ingredientorganic yellow peas, providing 20 grams of protein per serving.
Sprout Livings Organic Pea Protein Powder is certified vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and non-GMO. Yellow peas naturally contain iron, and this protein powder provides 5 milligrams of iron per serving, which is nearly 30 percent of your daily needs.
Price at time of publication: $25
Protein Source: Pea protein | Serving Size: 2 scoops | Protein Per Serving: 20 grams | Additives: None
Which Vega Protein Is Best
Vega Sport This protein is designed to help you build muscle and achieve optimal performance. It is also high in essential amino acids and has been shown to help improve energy levels and endurance.
Vega Performance This protein is designed to help you achieve optimal performance during physical activity, including workouts at the gym or during sports events. It is also high in essential amino acids and has been shown to help build muscle mass.
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Does Protein Powder Help You Lose Belly Fat
Its very hardif not impossibleto spot reduce fat in a particular area of the body like the belly however, once youre in a caloric deficit and begin losing weight, youll lose fat across the body, including the mid-section. Interestingly, 20-30 percent of the calories ingested from protein go into digesting it, so when you eat 100 calories from protein, 20-30 calories are used to both digest and absorb it. In other words, increasing your daily activity levels and eating a protein rich diet are a recipe for success for any weight loss journeyincluding those targeting belly fat.
Best Vegan Protein Powder For Athletes
Pros: Higher protein content, tastes great, smooth texture, third-party tested
Cons: Expensive
With 30 grams of protein per serving and a complete BCAA profile, Vega Sport protein powder is formulated to help athletes and active folks recover from tough workouts. When I tested, it tasted great and gave me the protein I needed to hit my 200-gram daily goal.
The ingredients are premium, too. The protein blend is made up of four sources pea, pumpkin seed, organic sunflower seed, and alfalfa protein and it contains ingredients such as tart cherries to potentially aid recovery and probiotics for enhanced gut health.
When I followed the instructions to combine the powder with 12 oz water or milk, I found this protein to be a little too watery for my liking. Of course, you can add less water, but even then, it didn’t have the same frothy and creamy texture of the TB12 or Aloha protein.
However, we love that Vega Sport protein powder is NSF certified, meaning it’s independently tested for quality and safety. This way, you know the company is confident in its product and you’re not ingesting any BS fillers or dangerous chemicals.
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