The ULTIMATE Vegan Protein Powder Review
Is there really a “best” protein powder for building muscle? In this article, I’ll teach you exactly what you should be looking for in a protein powder if your #1 goal is to build muscle.
Like most athletes, I’ve often wondered, do I even need to supplement my diet with protein powder? If so, what protein powder should I use? It seems like every week there is a new vegan protein powder introduced, so the sheer number of options can be confusing and overwhelming. In this article, I’ll teach you exactly what type of protein powder if your #1 goal is to build muscle.
So here's the goal: To find the most cost effective plant protein powder for gaining muscle. I’ll be analyzing the cost per serving as well as the palatability, taste, and amino acid profile.
Here's the video and corresponding tables of my analysis.
The results are clear. If your main goal is to build serious muscle and strength, a protein powder high in BCAAs like the two Naked Pea Protein powders is the way to go. If you aren't ready to sacrifice taste, then go with a more expensive protein powder brand like Garden of Life or Vega that also boasts a solid amount of BCAAs.
My Favorite Vegan Protein Powders
After trying a dozen different vegan protein powders, I've fallen in love with Naked Nutrition's line of vegan protein powders: Less Naked Chocolate Pea Protein, Naked Chocolate Rice Protein, and Naked Chocolate Peanut Protein. No, they don't pay me to endorse their products, I love them because of their high quality protein isolation process, complete lack of fillers, preservatives, and additives (hence their name Naked Nutrition), and relatively low cost.
Although more expensive, I also love Orgain protein powders.
Less Naked Pea Protein, Chocolate
Taste rating: 3/10, Health rating: 9/10
Ingredients: Yellow Pea Protein, Raw Cocoa, Organic Coconut Sugar
Nutrition Facts per serving: 160 calories, 4 g fat, 8 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 25 g protein, 5.6 g of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), 230 mg sodium (10% RDV)
Total container cost: $54.99 for 60 servings, Cost per pound: $11.00, Cost per serving: $0.92, Cost per gram of protein: $0.04
I absolutely love this protein powder in my smoothies. It is my favorite protein powder in terms of:
- Ease of digestion
- Purity of ingredients (including no artificial sweeteners!)
- Flavor (definitely more of a dark chocolate flavor than a sweet one)
Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder, Vanilla Bean
Taste rating: 7.5/10, Health rating: 8/10
Ingredients: Orgain Organic Protein Blend (Organic Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Chia Seed, Organic Hemp Protein), Organic Creamer Base (Organic Acacia Gum, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Inulin, Organic Rice Dextrins, Organic Rice Bran Extract, Organic Rosemary Extract), Organic Erythritol, Organic Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Organic Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Organic Acacia Gum, Organic Stevia, Monkfruit Extract
Nutrition Facts per serving (46 grams): 150 calories, 3.5 g fat, 15 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 1 g sugar (and 5 g sugar alcohol), 21 g protein, 180 mg sodium (8% RDV)
Total container cost: $23.77 for 20 servings, Cost per pound: $11.71, Cost per serving: $1.19, Cost per gram of protein: $0.06