Best Pea Protein Powders for Any Diet
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Zammex HydroPea Pea Protein Powder -
NAKED nutrition Pea Protein Powder -
KOS Coffee Plant Protein -
PlantFusion Complete Pea Protein Powder -
Nutricost Organic Pea Protein Powder -
Buyer's Guide
Pea protein powder makes it possible to get additional protein in your diet if you're vegan or are allergic to milk-based whey protein. They’re also great for adding to smoothies! Pea protein packs high protein, almost zero fat, and low carbohydrates. Here are some of the best pea protein powders in 2022 that provide superior taste and nutrition, making them ideal for everyday use.
Compare The Best Pea Protein Powder Of 2022
Zammex HydroPea Pea Protein Powder - Top Pick
You can't get much cleaner than Zammex HydroPea Protein Powder. Look on the back at the list of ingredients and you'll see one ingredient: Pure Hydrolyzed Pea Protein. If you're looking to eat cleaner and you want to avoid whey proteins, this is it. Each serving contains 27 grams of protein, 1.5g of fat, and 1.3g of carbs. Those are some great macros. There's also 5g of BCAAs to help with recovery. One of the best things about HydroPea is that you don't get any of that chalky, earthy taste. You can mix it in a shaker cup or smoothie and it'll taste great!
NAKED nutrition Pea Protein Powder - Runner Up
Although this is technically the runner up, we'd almost call this a tie. Naked Pea Protein is highly-rated and also offers two additional flavors on top of Unflavored: Vanilla and Chocolate. It adds two more ingredients but you're still consuming something that is much cleaner than your typical protein shake. It has similar macros to HydroPea and makes a great addition to any smoothie or shake. It's GMO, Soy, and Gluten-free. We can't say enough good things about Naked Pea Protein, so you should just try it for yourself.
KOS Coffee Plant Protein - Popular With Consumers
KOS is known for its quality plant-based supplements. We are happy to say this plant protein is another in a long line of excellent products. With a fantastic flavor that combines organic coffee, coconut milk, stevia, monk fruit, and salted caramel, all you need to do is add cold water for a fantastic shake or post-workout supplement. This product contains soluble plan fibers that are beneficial for weight loss diets as you’ll feel fuller for longer. Each serving contains a whipping 20g of protein from pea, quinoa, flaxseed, pumpkin seed, and chia seed sources. Healthier than whey protein powder and enhanced with digestion support, this is a fantastic solution to your protein needs, completely free from dairy, soy, artificial ingredients, hormones, and anything else you wouldn’t really want to put in your body.
PlantFusion Complete Pea Protein Powder - Honorable Mention
The Pea Protein from PlantFusion is a great powder overall. It is similar to the previous picks on our list albeit a little short on protein and higher in fat and carbs. It has a rich, flavorful profile if you really don't want to taste peas at all. They also offer more flavors such as Red Velvet, which is quite tasty and sweet. In addition to peas, artichokes, algae, and other superfoods are added to the ingredients to give you a holistic all-in-one drink.
Nutricost Organic Pea Protein Powder - Contender
Nutricost's Pea Protein Isolate is gluten-free, organic, and packed with plenty of nutrition. This pea protein contains 20g of protein, which is less than the others, but also contains less calories, at 100 per serving. It is also a little cheaper than the others. It is a little more chalky than the others but if you enjoy that taste, you won't mind this one. It comes only as Unflavored so you'll have to look elsewhere if you want Chocolate or Vanilla. Overall, it's a solid choice if you're very conscious about cutting calories.
Buyer's Guide
Pea protein powders are plant-based dietary supplements that add protein and iron to the bloodstream. They are viable alternatives to animal-based protein powders. The review above introduced you to the best pea-based protein powders out there; this guide provides further details about pea protein powders and tips on choosing the best one for you.
What is the Difference Between Pea Protein Powder and Whey Protein Powder?
Many are often tempted to compare pea protein and whey protein side by side when buying. The reason for this comparison is not far-fetched – they simply want the best. The differences between these two forms of protein powders are explained below.
First, the two protein powders are gotten from different sources. Whey protein powder is animal-based because it is derived from animal milk, while pea protein powder is plant-based because it is derived from pea.
Also, pea-based protein powders have a raw and earthy flavor, while whey protein powders have a milky and bland flavor. Note that the flavor mentioned is only the natural flavor; it may be altered by the addition of artificial flavors.
Another difference between the two protein powders is that whey protein powders may contain lactose and gluten, while pea protein powders are usually free of lactose and gluten. The absence of lactose in pea protein powders means they are a good source of protein for people with lactose intolerance.
What are the Benefits of Pea Protein Powder?
Protein powder products are generally preferred because they are easy to make. However, considering the array of protein powder options available, there is no harm in knowing what makes pea protein powder stand out among the rest.
Easily Digestible and Bioavailable
A major benefit of pea-based protein powder over other types of protein powder is that it is easily digestible. Research shows that pea powder has a 94% digestibility rate, meaning digestion will not overwork your gut.
Sustainable
Unlike animal-sourced protein powders, pea protein powder is eco-friendly and sustainable. Growing legumes to produce pea protein powder is more environmentally friendly than raising cows to produce milk for whey protein powders. Another point to note here is that no chemical is used during the production of pea protein powders.
Lactose-free
Another benefit of using pea-based protein powder is that it is free of lactose. Despite the fact that breast milk contains lactose and many consume it as babies, people develop an intolerance for lactose and find it hard to digest proteinous dairy products. Thus, pea-based protein powder is a good source of protein for such people. Apart from being free of lactose, it is also free of gluten and other allergens.
Muscle Building Capacity
Another important benefit of pea-based protein powder is the presence of branched-chain amino acids like isoleucine and leucine that aid muscle recovery
What Should I Consider Before Purchasing Pea Protein Powder?
Below are some factors to consider before picking up a pea protein powder:
Your Needs
The most important factor is your needs. Protein powder serves many purposes, including weight loss, muscle development, and post-exercise recovery. Thus, you first need to identify why you need the pea protein powder before proceeding to choose a product that meets the need.
Certification
The next important factor to consider is the product’s certification. You cannot be too careful when vetting the things that you consume. Ensure that the powder meets the standards set by drug and dietary agencies before buying.
Ingredient
You may wonder why you still need to consider the ingredient since its pea content is already a given. However, other minor ingredients can make a difference. For instance, the presence or absence of sugar may be the difference-maker between two individuals. One may want no sugar, and another may want the powder to contain sugar. Even among those that want the powder to contain sugar, they may disagree on the quantity. Therefore, scrutinize the powder’s composition and make sure you are fine with it.
Flavor
As mentioned earlier, pea protein powder has a raw and earthy flavor that is not exactly palatable. Although some can consume the powder in its raw, unflavored form, others prefer flavored pea powders. So, the first question is whether you prefer a flavored or an unflavored pea powder. If you prefer a flavored powder, the next question is, what kind of flavor do you prefer? Flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and cookies are available.
How to Use Pea Protein Powder
There are various ways to use protein powder, giving you the flexibility to stick to the one that works best for you. You can add the pea powder to water or mix it with smoothies or juice. Alternatively, you can stir your pea protein powder into wheat porridge, brown rice cereal or oatmeal. It can as well be added to baked food like brownies and muffins.
How Much do Pea Protein Powders Cost?
The price of pea protein powders depends on the ingredients used, the flavor, and the volume. Typically, they cost between $20 and $100.
Pea-based Protein Powder FAQ
Q – How much pea protein is safe per day?
A – The ideal daily protein intake should be 0.36 grams per pound. You should aim for this quantity with your pea protein powder, too, especially if it is your only source of protein.
Q – What are the side effects of consuming pea protein?
A – When taken in the right proportion, there are hardly any side effects of using protein pea powder. However, you may experience stomach upset if you take too much at a time. Even if you need more protein because of your exercise routine, it is best to spread them out a little.
Q – Does pea protein powder digest fast?
A – Yes, it does. Although animal protein generally digests faster than plant-based protein, pea-protein powders are still among the fastest-digesting plant-based protein, only behind chickpeas and soy protein.
Q – Does pea protein powder cause bloating?
A – By default, people think of bloating at the mention of peas and other legumes. However, pea-based protein powders do not cause bloating because starch and fiber are removed in the process of making pea powders.
