More than 600,000 Brits are known to be living a vegan lifestyle, with many more vegetarians, flexitarians and curious omnivores enjoying plant-based products. No wonder vegan protein powder is trending right now! But what are vegan protein supplements made from, and what are their benefits? Find out everything you need to know about vegan protein powder here.
What Is Vegan Protein Powder?
Vegan protein powders are plant-based alternatives to whey protein and other animal-derived forms of protein products. Instead of cow’s milk, plant protein powders use protein-packed alternatives like legumes, grains and seeds. These protein sources are often combined to deliver a high-quality dose of all nine essential amino acids needed for muscle growth and repair, making many vegan protein powders a complete source of protein.
Why Use Vegan Protein Powder?
There are so many benefits of plant-based protein supplements. Whether you’re living a vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian lifestyle, vegan protein powders give you an all-natural source of protein that’s as kind to you as it is to the planet and our animal friends. With zero lactose content, vegan protein is easier on the stomach if you’re lactose intolerant. It’s also quite often gluten-free and sugar-free, giving you a cleaner, greener source of protein.
But vegan protein powder isn’t just for vegans! Sure, it’s perfect if you’re living a plant-based lifestyle and need an additional boost of protein on top of all that nourishing fruit, vegetables, legumes and wholegrains you fuel your day with – especially if you love to move your body. But vegan-based protein powder is for everybody. If you want an allergen-free source of protein that boasts 20g of protein per serving, HERMOSA vegan protein is for you.
Is Vegan Protein Powder Better For You?
Are vegan protein supplements better for you? Well, it really depends on your needs. If you’re making a concerted effort to go dairy-free, whether for health or ethical reasons, then vegan protein powder will be the best choice for you. But, if you’re purely basing your decision on performance and protein levels alone, there’s very little to separate vegan and whey protein powder other than what works best for you. The choice is yours, friend!
What Types Of Vegan Protein Powder Are There?
Here are some of the most commonly used plant-based ingredients in vegan protein supplements:
Pea
Peas come from the legume family, which is any type of plant with pods. These spherical seeds can either be eaten as they come or dried to become pulses and contain a whole lot of protein per serving. Yellow split peas are the go-to choice for most pea-based plant protein powders because they pack a bigger protein punch than most. They‘re also rich in the muscle-building branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), leucine, isoleucine and valine.
Hemp
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant grown for its fibre, oil and seeds. The seeds are a great source of protein, zinc, iron, fibre and alpha-linolenic acid (the plant form of Omega-3 fat), which is why they’re often used to make vegan protein powders. Hemp isn’t a complete protein, so you’ll see plenty of protein powders for vegans (including ours!) combining hemp and pea protein to deliver all nine essential amino acids the body needs.
Rice
Rice is the seed of the Oryza sativa (Asian rice) species of grass. Although this global food staple is better known for being a major source of carbohydrates, brown rice also boasts a surprising amount of protein. Not to mention a whole load of vitamins and minerals, like thiamine, niacin, zinc and phosphorus. Like hemp, brown rice is low in the essential amino acid lysine. So it’s usually blended with another plant-based ingredient for completeness.
How Do I Use Vegan Protein Powder?
Vegan protein powder can be used in exactly the same ways as other protein powders. Just drop a scoop into a shaker bottle and add some water or your favourite dairy-free milk alternative. Give it a shake, and… voila! (In fact, we’ve got 4 tasty protein-packed shake recipes here). You can also mix it into your go-to breakfast (we like to stir ours into an energy-boosting bowl of porridge!) or fold it into a pancake batter for a convenient protein pick-me-up; the possibilities really are endless.
Nourish mind, body and soul with HERMOSA
HERMOSA vegan protein powder is bursting at the seams with 20g of non-GMO, ethically sourced, plant-based protein. It’s lactose-free, gluten-free and sweetened using 100% plant-based stevia. Plus, our irresistible flavours come from natural vanilla flavouring sourced in Europe and chocolate from lovingly roasted, finely ground Ghanaian cocoa beans. All of this means our plant protein unleashes a one-two punch of protein and flavour.
Our tried and tested vegan protein powder mixes into a super fine, non-grainy, delicious blend with water or your favourite non-dairy milk. It was voted Runner’s World ‘Best Whey Protein Powder’ at their Sport’s Nutrition Awards 2022 & was named The Telegraph's 'Best Tasting Protein Powder' for 2022. And it’s THE protein of choice for gyms across the world, including: Barry's, Equinox, Rowbots, Kobox.
As well as lip-smacking vegan protein shakes, our Vanilla and Chocolate flavoured plant protein powders will give your tastebuds a workout in everything from overnight oats to protein pancakes. So play around, and have some fun with it! Just be sure to savour the experience; pre-workout, post-workout or on the go.
Get your plant protein fix at the HERMOSA store today!