Best Vegan Protein Powders Reviewed & Rated
There is a misconception that vegan protein powders are only suitable for people with dietary restrictions. However, there are actually many more benefits to consuming one of them; one of the biggest, but often overlooked, benefits is that you’re saving the planet by choosing something that is plant-based. Cultivating plants and using them take up far less space and resources and provides a clean source of energy for our environment. Factories that produce plant-based products create far less waste.
For people that do have food allergies, a vegan protein powder is a perfect alternative. One of the most common allergens in protein powders are whey. Many people suffer from bloating or skin irritation when ingesting it. As technology advances, we are able to decipher that people can also be allergic to gluten. Most vegan protein powders use proteins that are found in vegetables, thus eliminating common allergens.
Featured Recommendations
- ON Gold Standard
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Our rating - Muscle Recovery
- Anti Oxidant
- Price: See Here
- Orgain Organic Plant Based
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Our rating - Meal Replacement
- Builds Muscle
- Price: See Here
- Nutiva Organic Hemp
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Our rating - Dense
- Hemp
- Price: See Here
Many people suffer from not having enough fiber in their diet. When there is a lack of fiber in the body, it can cause a host of problems. The most common is constipation. There are two types of fiber that are needed to keep the body running and both are often found in vegan protein powders. The goal of these products is to provide us with our daily dose of fiber to make up for not physically eating enough foods that are rich in fiber. This way our digestive system can maintain its health and move toxins along.
A common belief for many is that meat and carbohydrates are very important. While they are crucial for a balanced diet, many plants have been shown to have the same proteins as well. The proteins found in both plants and other foods can help kickstart your metabolism. In fact, studies have shown that it is easier to digest plant proteins than proteins gathered from any other source. This is because some of the proteins are water soluble and make for easy absorption. It is especially important for people that are trying to lose weight or lean out their body fat. Getting your metabolism going can help you build muscle mass and burn up the excess fat stored in your body.
10 Best Vegan Protein Powders
1. ON Gold Standard
One of the most important things protein powders can do is help with your muscle recovery. After a tough workout, your muscles are tired and need to be able to replenish its energy. This product works to give your muscles the extra fuel it needs to recover. This will allow you to feel less sore and swollen the next day.
Anti Oxidant
Including an antioxidant fruit into the formula can be very beneficial for your body. This is because there are a lot of needed vitamins and minerals that you can replenish after depleting it during your workout. This particular product contains pomegranate, which can also improve your blood flow and help get rid of byproducts in your body.
Cost and Value
This product is affordable and is a great alternative for people looking to exclude gluten in their diet. It is made from one hundred percent plant protein and pomegranate fruit. It contains no sugars and no added fillers that may be harmful to your body. There are no artificial flavors and or sweeteners, allowing you to drink with a peace of mind.
Affordable
Plant based protein
Amino acids
Pomegranate fruit
Vanilla flavor
Needs mixing every so often
2. Orgain Organic Plant Based
When people are caught up in their work, there is a tendency to miss meals. Too many missed meals can be extremely unhealthy as your stomach will learn to absorb whatever they can when given the change. What this means is regardless of how healthy the food is, your body will absorb every last drop they can from it. Often times this will include the bad things such as sugar, empty carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats. This product can work as a meal replacement allowing you to drink on the go while getting the required nutrients for your diet.
Builds Muscle
Consuming this product after a workout can help you build muscle. Once you stop exercising, your muscles will start to break down. This happens because there is no longer enough fuel to support its high level workload, thus slowing your body down. When your body slows down, your muscles start to become loose. Drinking this beverage will allow you to slow down the rate which your muscles are deteriorating before you hit the gym again.
Cost and Value
This product has a great value as it contains so much benefits while not costing very much. Being able to replace your meal already saves you much valuable time, allowing you to focus on things that are really important. It can also become much more convenient to ensure that your body is still getting the fuel it needs to get you through the day. The best thing this product can do is to help you avoid snacking on unhealthy treats!
Meal replacement
Muscle recovery
Reduce post workout discomfort
Made with plant protein
Affordable
Tastes a bit chalky
3. Nutiva Organic Hemp
There are many products out on the market that claims to have many nutritional benefits. However, a large amount of intake is required before the benefits actually show. This is because they contain ingredients which need to be consumed each day with the proper serving size in order to become useful to your body. This product is what is known as nutritionally dense, meaning that there is much more nutritional value per serving than regular foods. This can be beneficial as you are not required to consume as much before the product starts working.
Hemp
Hemp is a great product for people that are exercising. At its very basic form, hemp is actually a protein that is made of amino acids. These acids are what fuel your muscles and give you the energy to work longer in the gym. Amino acids are essential to one's health and are considered the building blocks that provide nutrients to all the working muscles in your body.
Cost and Value
This product has great nutritional value as you do not need to eat a lot to start noticing a difference. This means you can save money on the amount of product you purchase and each container will last you much longer. It also contains the basic fuel for your body to keep running every day and can work to repair small muscle damage and tears it may find.
Organic
Natural
Hemp seed
High nutritional value
Affordable
Does not taste good
4. VeganSmart Plant Based
One of the biggest concerns when consuming a product like this is how many calories there are. In order to make it nutrient rich while tasting good, many brands will add a lot of sugar to their beverage. This will cause an unnecessary spike in your diet and affect your calorie count. This product does not use sugar to sweeten their drink and utilizes the ingredients within the formula to naturally sweeten the beverage.
Convenient
People tend to miss meals when their lives get busy. When this happens, their health suffers. To prevent completely depleting your vitamin and mineral levels, people may choose to grab something on the go or have a meal replacement. This product is a convenient alternative to the empty carbohydrates you are putting into your system. You can choose to consume it right away or make it and bring it with you to work, either way, will make your life much more convenient. It will also ensure you are getting a proper and balanced diet while leading a busy lifestyle.
Cost and Value
This product is greatly beneficial to your health. It comes with over twenty-two important nutrients to keep your body healthy and going. The product works to replenish the depleting vitamins and minerals throughout the day to ensure that your body continues to function the way it should. Along with the fact that it is really convenient to carry your drink wherever you go, this is a product you do not want to miss!
Nine different fruits
Digestive enzymes
Omega 3
Fibre
Affordable
Very thick
5. Vega One All-In-One
When a beverage has many ingredients, it becomes hard to ensure quality. This particular product has been certified by the American health authorities for being organic. This means that every single ingredient put into this product has been tested for chemicals and pesticides. This product has passed all the necessary testing and promises a clean and organic delivery to your system.
Gluten Free
As humans and technology evolve, we are able to do more testing to find out if someone is unable to tolerate a specific food group. This product is completely made without gluten, which is very beneficial for people with food allergies. It can also be suitable for people that have special dietary restrictions. Because it is a gluten-free product, it can reach a larger audience and have more people take part in consuming their beverages.
Cost and Value
This product is on the more expensive side, but it is worth every single penny invested. The money spent is for your health and this product works to ensure you are maintaining a functioning and healthy body. It comes with more than half your essential vitamins and mineral intake, allowing you to miss meals without doing damage to your body.
Organic
Plant based
Gluten free
Hemp seeds
More than half your daily nutrients
Expensive
6. Amazing Grass Organic
Although the name seems unheard of, alkalizing greens are an essential part to maintaining a healthy body. Over time, the environment within an overworked body will turn acidic. This is because the energy that is used up by your muscles product a by product known as lactic acid. This is what causes the soreness and general discomfort the next day. Alkalizing greens can help regulate the pH balance of your body and prevent it from getting to acidic.
Chia
This product contains chia seeds, which is a superfood that is really beneficial to your body. It can provide you with a large dose of omega 3 and iron. The chia seeds in this product will also work to deliver a dose of calcium to your body. For people that don’t drink enough water, chia seeds is a great ingredient to add to your foods as it contains fiber to help you regulate your digestive system.
Cost and Value
This is a great product that has so many benefits it is hard to list them on. Because this product contains a high dose of chia seeds, that alone is going to make up for all the money you invest in this product. This is a product that can not only keep your body healthy, but also provide your digestive system with enough support to ensure that you are removing the toxins from your body.
Neutralizes acid
Daily serving of protein
Chia seeds
Improves digestive track
Affordable
Quickly used up
7. Garden of Life Sport
Amino acids are the building blocks for fueling our body. They are the most basic form of protein, thus the quickest to break down and absorb into your body. This product contains branched amino acids that work hard to provide your muscles with the extra energy it needs to last through the day. This can be especially beneficial if you are going to be exercising lots throughout the day.
Faster Recovery
This product can help to enhance the recovery of a person who has just exercised. The ingredients in the drink work to relieve your sore and tired muscles. It also replenishes the minerals and vitamins that you had depleted during your training. The amino acids in this product will also work to hydrate your muscles and keep them functional. In particular one of the amino acids can also go through your muscles and repair any small damage and tears throughout your body.
Cost and Value
This product is worth its weight in gold. While it works great for people as a meal replacement, as it can also be a great recovery drink for athletes. It provides you with a daily dose of amino acids that you can only get through eating food, but for busy people that sometimes skip meals it may become a problem. This product will ensure that you your daily intake of nutrients and maintain a healthy body.
For athletes
Soothes sore muscles
Increases endurance
Muscle building
Meal replacement
Expensive
8. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend
This product is great if you are looking to slim down and build some muscle. The ingredients in the formula work to give your system an extra boost, allowing you to stay in the gym longer. This directly translates to being able to spend more time working on your muscle groups, this building muscle. The extra workload will also help you burn off excess fat, allowing you to easily gain lean muscle mass.
Goji Berries
It is a great thing that this product contains Goji Berries. These berries contain a lot of antioxidants that are beneficial to your health. They are often referred to as a super fruit as they contain much more nutritional value in one serving compared to other fruits. This product is a great source of Vitamin C and iron, which are both minerals that need to be replenished on a daily basis. The Goji berries in the product will also help boost your immune system, fighting off germs and bacteria.
Cost and Value
This is a product that really provides for your body with each serving consumed. It is jammed packed with essential nutrients that can help you get through your day. All the ingredients in this formula are safe for consumption and there are no banned substances or hidden ingredients. Whether you are using it as a pre-workout supplement or simply something to boost your nutritional intake each day, this beverage does it all!
Goji berries
Build muscles
Burn fat
Boosts immune system
Meal replacement
Costly
9. KOS Organic Plant Based
Every person has a different degree of absorption within their digestive system, meaning that they are able to absorb some ingredients better than others. To ensure that you are able to absorb something, this product contains five different types of proteins. Peas, flax seed, Quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seed all have properties to help maintain a healthy diet. They are an important source nutrient for your body.
Digestion
A common side effect of protein powder is constipation. This product contains digestive enzymes that will help to soothe your digestive system. This will directly translate to easier bowel movements, allowing you to release the toxins. The digestive enzymes in this product will also work to make the nutrients in the beverage easier to absorb.
Cost and Value
This product has a host of benefits that are worth the money you will invest in it. The product itself is completely vegan, ensuring that people with the strictest dietary restrictions can still partake in using this beverage. They have reinvented the taste to make it much more realistic, making it easier to consume.
Versatile
Easy to ingest
Natural ingredients
Helps digestive tract
Five proteins
Too gritty
10. BN Labs Organic
This product will help greatly to burn off the excess fat when you exercise. By ingesting this product prior to hitting the gym, it will wake up your metabolism. It is your metabolism that regulates how much body fat is burned. As you work your muscles out, the stored body fat will break down to provide energy to your muscles.
Increase Endurance
Endurance and stamina are key components to help you reach your fitness goals. If your body runs out of endurance during your training session, you will feel fatigued and tired out. To prevent that, this product contains the necessary ingredients to give your body an extra boost to prolong your workout. Because you are spending more time exercising, it will give your muscles an opportunity to grow and gain power.
Cost and Value
This product comes with a guarantee of safety. As more manufacturers are creating products similar to this one, it becomes very hard to ensure that all of them are using the proper procedures to create their items. This product, in particular, is tested by a third party to ensure all their dosages are correct and that their ingredients are pure. Coupled with the fact that this beverage has great health benefits, this is not a product you want to miss out on!
Increase endurance
Starts metabolism
Promotes weight loss
Burns fat
Great tasting
Slightly expensive
Using a vegan protein powder has a host of benefits, however, it is important to realize that like everything else in life, there are also disadvantages. One of them being that protein powders often tend to be high in sodium. A large intake of sodium on a daily basis can wreak havoc in your body. It can cause a host of long-term problems and in some severe cases, kidney failure. For people with a soy allergy, it is also important to be careful as many vegan protein powders use soy as an alternative to milk. The key is to understand your body and know which ingredients work best with it prior to purchasing one of these beverages.
Criteria Used to Evaluate the Best Vegan Protein Powders
Alkaline Greens
When choosing a vegan protein powder, try to find one that has a lot of alkaline greens. These are greens such as cucumbers, kale, and garlic. This is important because these greens will help to balance the pH levels in your body. Throughout your day, the acidity in your body rises as you use your energy. These greens will aim to restore your levels to the ideal area and maintain the levels there.
There are also other benefits to ingesting alkaline greens, one of them being that it helps your bone density. These greens often have a lot of minerals and vitamins in it. These ingredients will work to help maintain both your muscle mass and the density of your bones. This directly translates to the strength and power within your muscles. Eating these sort of greens will help prevent your muscles from deteriorating as fast.
They also lower the chance of a stroke or heart attack. The greens work to reduce the amount of inflammation within your muscles. For people that have chronic pain, consuming alkaline vegetable can decrease your discomfort. The alkaline environment of your body will work to push out the toxins that are causing your soreness and pain.
These greens can also help with absorption. There is only a certain amount of minerals and vitamins a person can absorb each while. However, it is often that minerals and vitamins are what keep the body moving. They are in charge of bringing oxygen and food to the different parts within the body to keep it functioning. Consuming these greens can improve the rate and amount of minerals your body can absorb and even help relieve the symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
Amino Acids
It is recommended that you select a vegan protein powder that includes amino acids, as they are extremely important to your health. Amino acids are the most basic form of proteins and it takes our body twenty-two different ones to function. Some of these your body will naturally regenerate while others can only be gained by eating food. These amino acids are what give power to your body and keep it physically functioning. As your muscles move and your day progresses, your body burns up a lot of fuel. Purchasing a product with amino acid will allow for quicker and easier absorption. Many foods that contain protein require your body to first break down the protein into amino acids, then convert it into usable energy. Selecting a product that includes branched chain amino acids can eliminate a step and bring support to your body faster.
Some of the recommended amino acids to look for are isoleucine, valine, and leucine. These amino acids can help you in your daily life or when you are working out at the gym. They bring important nutrients to your muscles to keep them moving and going. During your resting period, these amino acids will travel through your muscles and repair any light wear and tear they find. This directly translates to a faster recovery process, allowing you to feel energized and rejuvenated the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is whey not considered vegan?
A. The majority of whey is made up of cow’s milk, which is an animal byproduct, which is why it cannot be considered vegan. It is also an ingredient that is often used to make cheese.
Q. Can my child have vegan protein powder?
A. Ensure you read the packaging before giving it to a child to drink. If the product contains any stimulants, it is not recommended. Stimulants can have negative effects on growing children and cause problems in the long term.
Q. Where can I purchase vegan protein powder?
A. Many nutritional stores or large-sized supermarkets will carry them. However, if you want to explore your options, it is recommended you go online. Many brick and mortar stores have a limited amount of shelf space to stock items, where online you can look for one that is exactly what you wanted prior to purchasing it.