When you’re trying to abstain from eating meats or meat-based products, it’s a good idea to get your hands on the best plant-based protein powders around. The reason being, it’s tough to prevent suffering from a lack of protein naturally when only consuming plant-based foods.
Refraining from eating meats aside- if you’re looking to get into shape or trying to reach a fitness goal, it doesn’t take long before you begin to chase muscle-building proteins. These days there are several different ways to plan out your diet, and many are opting to choose the best plant-based protein powders over more traditional beef powders.
Plant-based protein powders have been trending in either vegetarian and non-vegetarian camps in recent years due to the quality of protein that is available in current products. There are five brands of organic protein powders that we’re going to be talking about here.
- Orgain Organic Protein Powder
- Garden of Life Organic Vegan Sport Protein Powder
- Truvani Plant-Based Protein Powder
- Sunwarrior Protein- Warrior Blend Vegan Protein Powder
- KOS Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
These 5 protein powders are objectively the best out there at this time, and they all have their strengths. It should be noted upfront that all five of these products are non-dairy protein powders. Here, we’ll be discussing these strengths and pointing out their differences.
Orgain Organic Protein Powder
Note: This product is labeled as a best seller on Amazon at the time of writing this article.
Amazon Price: $19.23
Orgain claims that each serving (which consists of 21 grams of protein and 5 grams of organic fiber) is USDA organic, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, non-GMO, and also soy-free. The major contributors of the protein used in this product are peas, brown rice, and chia seeds. Each serving is about 150 calories total.
The flavor being used in this product is called “creamy chocolate fudge.” Because of its chocolaty flavor, this brand can be used in all sorts of baking recipes, adding a dose of healthy protein into baked foods that otherwise wouldn’t be there.
Some would contend that there’s nothing quite like keeping it simple and using this brand for a great plant-based protein shake.
Garden of Life Organic Vegan Sport Protein Powder
Priced at Amazon: $33.90
This particular all plant protein powder is a concoction of pea protein, navy beans, lentil beans, garbanzo beans, cranberry protein, among other ingredients that aid in flavor. This product contains all-natural, non-GMO, non-dairy, gluten-free, ingredients.
This product boasts to give 30 grams of protein per serving and over 5 grams of BCAA amino acids. The BCAA amino acids that are included help to strengthen and promote a healthy immune system. For those who train hard, this is a help to keep you safe while being physically strained.
Also added are ingredients that carry CFU probiotics. CFU probiotics help to regulate bacteria and promote clean gut health.
Like most protein powders without milk, this product is geared toward being used as a recovery drink (or post-workout drink) rather than a pre-workout supplement. Each serving is 160 calories.
Truvani Plant-Based Protein Powder
Priced at Amazon: $44.90
Truvani Plant-Based Protein Powder is unique in that they boast to only have six total ingredients:
- Pea Protein Concentrate
- Alkalized Cocoa
- Vanilla Powder
- Pumpkin Seed Concentrate
- Monk Fruit Extract
- ‘Chia Seed Protein Concentrate
All of their ingredients are organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, with no gums, soy, or stevia.
One serving (which is one scoop rather than the more common two scoops) packs in 20 grams of protein, with 130 calories. They aren’t shy about being more expensive for less quantity than other brands, but half the amount is required per serving, and boast a more premium ingredient-related product.
Truvani’s plant-based protein powder claims to help weight management through their product combined with other healthy habits. It also helps to support and promote muscle growth and bolster a healthy immune system.
Sunwarrior Protein- Warrior Blend Vegan Protein Powder
Priced at Amazon: $35.99
Warrior Blend Vegan Protein Powder is a culmination of raw pea protein, raw cranberry protein, triglycerides from coconut, and raw organic hemp seed protein. Like the others, this product is free of glucose, soy, dairy, or GMO impacted ingredients.
One thing that separates this product from others is the inclusion of electrolytes. Electrolytes assist in the body operating at its peak performance-wise and give a bit of a metabolic boost while assisting in muscle strain recovery.
This protein powder contains 27 grams of protein per serving, which is about 2.5 scoops of powder. Each serving contains about 150 calories. Their powder comes in a variety of flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, berry, mocha, and unflavored.
KOS Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
Priced at Amazon: $24.99
Note: According to their sales materials, this particular protein powder has been deemed the best-flavored protein powder of 2021 by Popular Science Magazine.
Peanut butter vegan protein powder – KOS Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder comes in a chocolate peanut butter flavor and is a combination of all organic ingredients (just as the other four are). Some of the main protein-based ingredients are pea protein, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed protein, and chia seed.
This product supplies 20 grams of protein and 160 calories per serving. Each serving for this formula is 2 scoops of powder.
Because of its unique flavor, it can be used for other purposes such as cookies and brownies. KOS does provide a recipe for edible cookie dough that’s worth a look for anyone who partakes in this guilty pleasure.
Final Thoughts About Plant-Based Protein Powders
It is widely believed that plant-based protein powder provides what is referred to as a much “cleaner” protein than that which is based on meat or other forms. The term “clean” in this case is regarding the higher quality of protein, as well as including all of the nutritional benefits that come along with the protein’s source.
As the healthier components of plant-based protein powders become more understood, more and more people are switching from meat-based to plant-based powders. Not necessarily due to wanting to ween off of meat or due to any personal convictions.
They’re becoming more popular due to everyone wanting to gain the benefits of this more refined type of protein powder.
It should go without saying, but it will be said anyways…These are recommended for those who suffer from a lack of protein in their plant-based diets as a supplement whether they work out or not.