{"id":1119,"date":"2017-12-12T22:07:39","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T22:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ardentvegan.com\/?p=1119"},"modified":"2019-03-16T18:50:40","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T18:50:40","slug":"protein-powder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ardentvegan.com\/protein-powder","title":{"rendered":"Best Vegan Protein Powder: 5 Top Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are living on a plant-based vegan diet, you still have plenty of options to meet your daily nutritionally protein needs. Foods like lentils, beans, quinoa, and tofu pack a lot of protein per mouthful.<\/p>\n

But, sometimes you are looking for a little more than they provide or you might need something you can make on the go.<\/p>\n

If you’re working hard at putting on muscle, or want to have an always ready-to-go vegan protein source, protein powder are a fantastic option.<\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn all about them and find out the best options available.<\/p>\n

Quick Navigation<\/span>Different Types of Protein Powder for Vegans<\/a>Reviews of Our Top Choices<\/a>Additional Considerations<\/a>Conclusion<\/a><\/p>\n

Different Types of Protein Powder for Vegans<\/h2>\n

The biggest problem with find a truly vegan-friendly protein powder is that one of the most common protein powder bases is whey. Whey is of course derived from milk. And, as a vegan, that basically means it is off limits.<\/p>\n

Luckily, there are plenty of plant-based sources that are used to make protein powders that are vegan friendly.<\/p>\n

Here are the most common types.<\/p>\n

Pea Protein<\/h3>\n

Pea protein is derived from…peas of course. Although the pea is quite a small vegetable, it’s actually a very complete protein.<\/p>\n

It’s basically protein extracted from dried mashed up peas. The entire extraction process is a little more complicated than simply smashing dried peas and calling it protein powder, but it’s legitimately vegan and cruelty-free.<\/p>\n

Pea protein is actually just as effective for building muscle as whey protein is: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/25628520<\/a><\/p>\n

Peas aren’t everyone’s cup of tea though, as unflavored powders made with pea protein don’t always pass everyone’s taste test.<\/p>\n

Overall though, it’s a solid choice.<\/p>\n

Brown Rice<\/h3>\n

Another excellent option as a base for vegan-friendly protein powder is brown rice. It’s a true cruelty-free and hypo-allergenic option.<\/p>\n

The protein isolate is created by using certain enzymes to break the brown rice apart. The enzymes separate the protein in the brown rice from the carbohydrates. That protein is then turned into powder.<\/p>\n

Like pea protein, brown rice produces a very good protein powder capable of meal supplementation or muscle growth.<\/p>\n

One of the common knocks on both pea protein and brown rice protein is that while they are fairly complete, neither of them have a full amino acid profile. To counteract that one drawback, you’ll often see the two mixed together in blends.<\/p>\n

Soy<\/h3>\n

Next to whey protein, soy protein is probably the second most popular option. As the name implies, soy isolate comes from soybeans.<\/p>\n

Soy protein has some very polarizing aspects, so depending on your unique situation, it may either be perfect for you, or something you might was to pass on.<\/p>\n

The major pro to soy is the bioavailability of the protein. Bioavailability is the amount of a nutrient that your body actually absorbs, meaning if you use soy isolate, your body absorbs most of it.<\/p>\n

The major con is that soy is believed to raise estrogen levels and lower testosterone levels, but there is some debate<\/a> over the truth of this claim.<\/p>\n

Hemp<\/h3>\n

Hemp is an often misunderstood plant. While it comes from the same family of plants as marijuana, it’s a completely different plant. Modern day hemp is not psychoactive.<\/p>\n

Hemp is a pretty impressive plant. It is used to make paper, clothes, biofuel, and even environmentally friendly plastic. And as a protein powder base, it’s a solid option.<\/p>\n

The amount of protein per serving is a little lower then what you normally get out of the other options listed above. But, the fact the hemp plant is so eco-friendly makes it a great choice for many vegans.<\/p>\n

For those looking to put on muscle, you’ll rarely find a standalone hemp protein powder that’s suitable. But, as with other vegan friendly options, you can usually find a blend that will suit your needs.<\/p>\n

Blends<\/h3>\n

While the four isolates listed above are OK on their own, many of them are used in blends to compliment the pros of one another and erase any missing nutrient gaps caused by using one on its own.<\/p>\n

There’s nothing wrong with using a blend, and as long as you do a little homework to make sure it’s still suitable for a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle, you’ll be good to go.<\/p>\n

Reviews of Our Top Choices<\/h2>\n

There are a ton options out there to sort thorough, and there are plenty of quality products. These are what we feel are five of the best vegan protein powders currently available.<\/p>\n

Vega One All-in-One Shake (Chocolate)<\/h3>\n

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Click the image above to purchase item from Amazon.com<\/em><\/p>\n

Vega is a company that focuses on manufacturing high quality plant-based products.  One of the companies co-founders, Brian Brazier, is a professional triathlete. That means he understands that aside from creating a products that check all the vegan friendly boxes, you need a product that live up to the hype.<\/p>\n

One of those very products is Vega One’s All-in-One Shake.<\/p>\n

Major Features<\/strong><\/p>\n

The main type of protein used in the Vega All-in-Shake shake series is pea protein with flaxseed and hemp. Aside from protein it contains a lot of other essential vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, D, E, and K along with zinc, iron, magnesium and more.<\/p>\n

But, don’t let all the extras fool you. You still get 20 grams of protein with each scoop.<\/p>\n

Features include –<\/p>\n