Plant Based Protein Powder

Overview

The popularity of vegan, vegetarian and plant-based diets are more popular than ever, so it is no surprise that vegan protein powders have surged massively in popularity in the last few years. Despite these plant protein powders becoming more and more prominent, customers still have a tonne of questions when it comes to vegan protein powders. Most commonly, people want to know what the difference is between whey and vegan protein and they want to know which is better. People also want to know what is the difference between vegan proteins and which will be better for their goals. If this sounds like you, keep reading and let this blog article explain the most important things that you need to know about plant based protein!

What is Vegan Protein Powder?

Vegan protein powder is protein powder that contains no dairy products, and therefore utilises plant-based protein sources to make the product. The most common types of plant-based protein powder include organic pea protein (including pea protein isolate), brown rice protein, hemp protein, monk fruit protein and soy protein. If you want to optimise muscle growth and muscle repair, it is a good idea to use a vegan protein that combines multiple plant-based sources. The best plant based protein is one that uses a blend of sources as this gives the user a more diverse range of essential amino acids which is crucial for muscle recovery and growth.

Shop vegan protein powder by diet

Have specific dietary requirements? We have you covered. Check out our different ranges of vegan protein below.

• Diabetic vegan protein
• Gluten free vegan protein
• Keto vegan protein
• Lactose free vegan protein
• Low carb vegan protein
• Pea vegan protein
• Rice vegan protein

Shop vegan protein by flavour

Check out of huge range of vegan protein flavours.

• Banana vegan protein
• Caramel vegan protein
• Chocolate honeycomb vegan protein
• Chocolate vegan protein
• Cinnamon vegan protein
• Coffee vegan protein
• Cookies and cream vegan protein
• Peanut butter vegan protein
• Strawberry vegan protein
• Unflavoured vegan protein
• Vanilla vegan protein

Whey Protein vs. Plant-Based Protein

There is an age old debate about whether or not vegan protein or plant based protein is better than traditional whey protein. Whey protein powder us made from milk and because this is an animal protein, it has a more favourable amino acid profile. Isolated vegan protein sources have a less favourable amino acid panel howe ver if you use a combination like rice and pea protein, this gives a profile that is more similar to whey isolate. For muscle growth, total protein intake is the most important variable when it comes to protein, and the source of protein is less important. On paper, whey protein is better but if you use a high-quality vegan protein, you can mitigate these slight differences.

Benefits of Plant-Based Proteins

• A perfect option if you are lactose intolerant
• Often contain digestive enzymes which allow you to absorb all the nutrients
• Usually contain less artificial sweeteners than whey proteins and use natural sweeteners
• A great protein source with no trace of animal products
• Some sources like hemp protein contain essential fatty acids for added benefits
• A dairy free product will be better for some peoples’ gut health

Do Plant Proteins Taste Good?

Plant based proteins used to taste very gritty and bland, because it took a lot of ingredients to create complete proteins. In todays day and age, the manufacturing methods for vegan proteins are more sophisticated, so less ingredients are needed, which assists with flavouring. Plant protein powder comes in a range of delicious flavours these days, so you don’t need to worry about not enjoying the plant based powders. If you still aren’t sure, certain brands of plant based proteins sell trial packs where you can try one of each flavour and these are available from Power Supps!

Our Top 5 Plant-Based Protein Powders

Prana ON Power Plant

Prana ON Power Plant is one of the best vegan protein powder products on the market at the moment. This product uses a blend of pea protein and rice protein to product a high-quality blend which is packed with essential amino acids. Vegan protein powders have long been thought to taste gritty and bland, but not with Prana. Flavours that Prana ON have include; Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana, Strawberry, Coconut, Himalayan Salted Caramel and unflavoured.

JD Nutraceuticals Vegan Vibe

Vegan Vibe is a great option for anyone trying to lose weight, support muscle growth or just generally trying to maintain a healthy diet. This blend contains pea, faba bean and rice proteins which are common protein sources within a vegan diet. The best vegan protein powders are blends as this creates a high quality protein whilst being dairy free. Build muscle on a vegan diet with Vegan Vibe! Vegan Vibe comes in Vanilla Bean, Choco Bomb and Cookie Smash.

Macro Mike Vegan Protein

Macro Mike identified that vegan protein sources sometimes lack amino acids but they mitigated this by ensuring their protein is boosted with leucine with is crucial for creating a complete protein. Animal proteins are always complete protein sources however as a vegan, you have to pay a bit more attention as to how much protein is in your meals if you want to build lean muscle. Macro Mike is also one of the tastiest vegan protein powders on the market. Macro Mike has a huge range of flavours which includes options like; Banofee Pie, Hawaiian Salted Vanilla, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Hazelnut, Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Snickerdoodle to just name a few!

Ghost Vegan Protein

Ghost is a brand that nails it with both plant-based and whey protein powders. Their vegan protein powder is one of the tastiest protein powders in the game, coming in a range of amazing flavours. Whether your goal is building muscle or weight management, protein consumption is absolutely imperative. The combination of pea, pumpkin and watermelon seeds produces a diverse range of essential amino acids. Ghost Vegan comes in a range of flavours including; Banana Pancake Batter, Original Pancake Batter and Peanut Butter Cereal Milk.

Gen-Tec Complete Vegan Protein

Vegan protein powders don’t come much more thought out than Complete Vegan Protein from Gen-Tec. This product contains added glutamine and a super greens formula which both support the vegan lifestyle and are appropriate for a plant-based diet. The protein content of this plant based powder is one of the highest on the market. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to build lean muscle or achieve weight loss, this product is a great option. Take you pick between Chocolate and Vanilla Bean!

Directions of Use

Mix 1 scoop of your desired vegan protein powder with 300-400ml of water, milk or milk alternative (e.g. almond milk) and shake well before consuming. You may notice that the overall consistency of plant protein is slightly thicker than a regular whey protein however this can be mitigated by simply adding more fluid. Vegan protein powder can also be added to smoothies or yogurt and often create a lovely texture! Get creative with vegan smoothies by adding ingredients like chia seeds and monk fruit!

Plant-Based Protein Powders FAQS

Why is it important to have a range of amino acids? – Amino acids are the building blocks of protein which are of course crucial for building muscle and maximising recovery. Isolated plant based sources in vegan protein powder often lack all the essential amino acids which is not ideal for muscle building. It is therefore important to buy a blend if you can.

Is vegan protein powder worse for fat loss? – Most plant-based proteins are great for weight management just like a whey protein. They are generally low in carbohydrates and fat whilst being high in protein. This is ideal for weight loss.

Are all vegan proteins gluten free? – It is true that a lot of the best vegan protein powders are free from dairy and gluten, it is always important to check the back of the container if you have an allergy. Protein powder is often made in facilities that also make products containing gluten and nuts, so be sure to always check the allergy advice on the package.

Are there plant-based mass gainers? – Yes! If you are looking for a supplement that does not just contain protein but will also provide you with some additional calories to support weight gain, there is a great option available at Power Supps. This product by Prana ON is called Natural Mass. It contains a stack of protein whilst also possessing a healthy dose of carbohydrates and a hint of healthy fats. This product is perfect for someone trying to gain weight or it can also be used as a meal replacement if you are short on time!

Plant Protein Summary

Vegan proteins are not the gritty, flavourless products that they used to be. These days the formulas are carefully crafted to ensure they are complete proteins and to make things even better, they taste amazing! Plant protein can be indicated for a range of people such as if you are vegan, vegetarian or just in the market for a great protein. This blog article has shown that plant proteins can be just as effective as whey proteins regardless of what your goal is. There are an endless selection of plant based proteins available at Power Supps from many brands, so there is bound to be one that will be perfect for your next protein shake. Find one for yourself at Power Supps today!