Five tips to know before buying vegan protein
When it comes to maintaining lean muscle mass, feeling full between meals, supporting healthy aging, and athletic performance, a vegan protein supplement is an excellent choice. But which vegan protein should you choose? There are so many proteins on store shelves that it can be difficult to decide which ones to pick! Single source, multiple sources, raw, sprouted, fermented… here are five things to look for when buying vegan proteins:
No. 1 FERMENTED! FERMENTED! FERMENTED!
Have you ever felt uncomfortable and bloated after drinking a protein shake? That's because unfermented vegan protein powders are hard for the body to digest… yuck!
By the way, what is fermentation?
Fermentation is a truly interesting process that happens organically in nature and intentionally in controlled environments! We’ve all encountered fermentation before, whether we knew it or not – fermentation is responsible for both a good glass of wine and bizarre “science experiments” left too long at the back of the fridge.
A little chemistry lesson: Fermentation is a natural metabolic practice that converts a carbohydrate (i.e., sugar) into an alcohol or an acid. The fermentation process removes anti-nutritional factors, including phytates and lignans, which act like a metal net around the nutrients in food. During fermentation, this “net” is disarmed, so the nutrients are released and ready to be absorbed.
Plus, the fermentation process creates entirely new nutrients that nourish your gut tissue – raw and sprouted proteins don’t have these new nutrients. Look for fully fermented proteins, like Genuine Health's fermented organic vegan proteins+, which provide you with proteins ready for the body to use – no bloating!
No. 2 PROTEIN SOURCES
Are 99% of your proteins from a single source? Maybe. Some vegan proteins rely heavily on a single protein source (e.g., rice or peas). Look for proteins that contain multiple sources of plant-based ingredients to get a balanced spectrum of essential amino acids. fermented organic vegan proteins+ is made from a blend of 7 organic plant sources: organic spirulina, organic mung bean, organic yellow pea, organic pumpkin, organic flaxseed, organic hemp, and organic brown rice.
Are all sources high in protein? Some proteins contain coconut, which tastes amazing but is not a high-protein ingredient. Check the label to make sure ALL protein sources are actually high in protein!
No. 3 SWEETENER
Some proteins are sweetened with erythritol, a type of sugar alcohol that has been associated with gastrointestinal discomfort. Look for a protein powder that uses natural sweeteners that don’t upset your stomach AND are also good for your health. fermented organic vegan proteins+ is sweetened with stevia, which does not cause gastrointestinal issues and does not raise blood sugar.
No. 4 OTHER INGREDIENTS
Do you use digestive enzymes when you want to fight bloating? Essentially, digestive enzymes help make things that are difficult to digest digestible. Raw and unfermented proteins are harder to digest, so they are fortified with enzymes like protease (an enzyme that specifically breaks down proteins), phytase (an enzyme that breaks down phytic acid – an anti-nutrient found in vegan protein sources), papain (from papaya), and/or bromelain (from pineapple) to increase their digestibility. Look for fully fermented proteins like fermented organic vegan proteins+. They do not contain enzymes since they are easy to digest!
No. 5 HOW DO THEY TASTE?
There are a few things you can’t see on a label that make a big difference, including taste. How do your proteins taste? Do they mix well with water or almond milk? Are they smooth or grainy and chalky? At Genuine Health, we spend a lot of time taste-testing our products to ensure they mix well and taste great. Recently, fermented organic vegan proteins+ was voted “best-tasting vegan protein” by Cansumer! Mix them with water or your favorite nut milk, incorporate them into a shake, use them in energy bites or baking recipes, or try the convenient fermented vegan proteins+ bars!
PREPARE THIS GREEN ENERGY PROTEIN SHAKE
Are you looking for a clean, green energy boost? The Green Smoothie is for you. It has a fresh, tropical taste with a spicy hint of ginger. But behind its great taste (and beautiful appearance), this shake provides a good amount of healthy fats thanks to avocado and coconut milk, while mango and spinach provide a large dose of alkalizing nutrients, rich in vitamins and minerals. A serving of fermented organic vegan proteins+ will keep you energized all morning thanks to its 20 grams of multi-source fermented protein.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup frozen mango
- ½ cup frozen avocado
- 1-2 handfuls fresh spinach
- ½ inch fresh ginger
- 1 serving of fermented organic vegan proteins+ vanilla
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend and serve.