Chances are, if you're reading this post, you already know the importance of getting enough protein in your diet. There is a lot of conflicting information on exactly how many grams of protein you need per day, but typically we aim for around 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight (1.5 grams for very active individuals). I discussed why you need protein and how you should choose the right protein for your needs in my Clean Protein Powders 101 post, so please check that out for some basic information. Vegan protein powders are another great source of protein and an excellent way to supplement your clean lifestyle.
I've been using vegan proteins more and more lately to avoid potential allergens and reduce my overall reliance on animal products, so I wanted to share my experience and findings for some of the more prevalent products on the market. Also, I feel much more comfortable with the source of vegan proteins (most are organic or GMO-free) than I do with dairy proteins - I don't know how the cow is fed, treated and whether or not she is treated with artificial hormones and/or antibiotics...I've only seen a few brands advertise that it's hormone/antibiotic free, so that leads me to believe the other 98% of milk protein products on the market are not hormone/antibiotic-free. I don't want the comments section to turn into a debate on whether or not those products are harmful to your health, so I'll just say that I'm not an expert in that arena; I just choose not to consume them!
The following chart compares many of the vegan powders I've tried and lists some specific notes on each (please click to chart to enlarge so you can actually read it). I will also point out that I did not compare the price per serving according to the serving size listed on the product label; however, I worked out the price per 15 gram serving so that we're comparing apples-to-apples (or, in this case, veggies-to-veggies!). The prices quoted are based on the current retail price as listed on Amazon. One more thing - all of these products I've reviewed are gluten-free and soy-free!
- Best Value - MRM Veggie Protein, Vanilla (at $0.68 per 15 gram serving) {also available in chocolate}
- Best Taste - Vega Sport, Chocolate
- Cleanest - Sunwarrior (Classic and Warrior Blend)
Below are links to the products listed in the chart:
- Vega ONE Protein
- Vega Sport Performance Protein
- Sunwarrior Warrior Blend
- Sunwarrior Classic
- Garden of Life RAW Protein
- Naturade Pea Protein
- MRM Veggie Protein
- NutriBiotic Brown Rice Protein
Enjoy! Keep it clean!!!
- Scott
*MRM, Vega, and Sunwarrior supplied product for us to review for this post. All opinions are 100% mine.