Getting enough protein into your diet when you’re vegetarian or vegan is essential for good health, not to mention that without protein and proper diet, it is very difficult to build muscle and strength, and high-protein diets can also help with weight loss.
Advertisement:
Some of the best plant-based protein sources for vegans and vegetarians are foods like chickpeas and most varieties of beans, lentils, green peas, quinoa, nuts, and seeds.
Alternative sources are powders, nowadays widely consumed by athletes and people with an athletic lifestyle.
Powders are a convenient way to add more nutrition to a diet and the reason why many people choose plant-based protein to dairy-based proteins isn’t only that they’re vegetarians or vegans.
Plant-based powders are great for when you have lactose intolerance or sensitivity to dairy proteins. Many people are that sensitive to dairies that even adding a bit of milk to their coffee upsets their stomach.
But like with every processed food, you’ll want to choose a protein powder with as little food additives as possible, preferably none at all.
Protein powders, including plant-based take a lot of industrial processing to make, because they need to taste good, otherwise they don’t sell.
And you’ll notice on product labels that some powders contain quite a few sneaky ingredients, added for acceptable taste, especially plant-based proteins that can taste pretty bland.
Look out for bad ingredients such as added sugar or artificial sweeteners, synthetic flavors and color additives, vegetable oils and stabilizers.
You must also take into account medical conditions when choosing protein powders made from plants because it is possible to get unwanted reactions even from healthy ingredients.
For example, if you struggle with bacterial overgrows, which is when the bacteria in your gut gets out of balance and grows to large numbers, consuming a protein powder with inulin or psylium may or may not work well for you.
It all depends on the bacteria that you are carrying and other factors such as resistance and overgrowth level.
Inulin and psylium are water-soluble dietary fibers that help feed bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, and while they do feed the friendly bacteria, they are associated with having a gassy effect on the body, specifically inulin and contributing to side effects when over consumed.
You must also take into account the fact that some ingredients used to make protein powders may be contaminated. Ingredients may have been treated with synthetic chemicals and may have been derived using chemicals.
It can take a very long time to produce protein powders and some producers use chemicals to derive their products, thus it’s important that you be informed about manufacturers.
Choose a responsible manufacturer that is committed to providing you with the most nutrient-dense protein that supports optimal health. Many top brands offer great products without sacrificing flavor while making clean powders.
Garden of Life, for example, are certified USDA organic, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and have no added sugars in their products.
The brand supports the sustainable food movement with purchasing 100% certified renewable energy and meeting rigorous standards of environmental performance. They are the official suppliers of protein powder for the USA Track & Field non-profit organization.
And other brands too are just as responsible.
Advertisement:
You’ll get a lot more satisfaction from your protein powder when choosing ethical manufacturers.