Plant-Based Protein Powder

[BelovedHeather]

My eating is plant-based and clean. I still eat small amounts of clean (organic, free range, grain-fed) animal protein every other day but am keeping that to a minimum. I shared in another thread that I am hoping to drop a size in 4 weeks. If I really want to fit into smaller jeans, I need to eliminate soy. I am sensitive/allergic to it and have a tendency to bloat when I consume it. I have been experimenting with soy protein drinks this week, and I am bloated and feel miserable now. My face is swollen, and I am itching all over. My complexion has been bad for a few weeks, and it just dawned on me that I have been eating more soy this month. Now I remember why I stopped eating soy burgers.

I want to clean up my eating a bit more. The main change I need to make is finding a substitute for my afternoon Clif Bar or Luna Bar. I like Larabars, but the ratios are not as good. I have been pondering the possibility of a smoothie with a scoop of protein powder. What do you recommend? No soy please. I am allergic to seafood, mushrooms, and MSG too. The pea protein blends that I saw have mushrooms in them. No whey protein and no egg protein. As far as I know, that leaves hemp or brown rice protein. Which is better? For my purposes, I need about 10-15 grams of protein.

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[janiejoey]

Hi there Heather,

I bought some Hemp & Flax Protein Powder (12 g. of protein) today. It was suggested to me on the forum. I haven't tried it yet, but I understand, that it's good.

Janie

"If you can't say anything nice about someone, then don't say anything at all."
-My mother, Mary Cooper-

 

[kathryn]

I believe that hemp protein powder is the best. It contains types of protein that are easily assimilable, and all 10 amino acids. From my 'taste tests," Nutiva is the best tasting. They are coming out with some smoothie mixes soon (available May 15 or so?). You can check it out at www.nutiva.com .

One good (but pricey) meal replacment/protein powder is Vega. It contains protein from hemp, flax, chlorella and maca (the latter two are superfoods that have many benefits). The taste takes a bit of getting used to (it did for me), but now I love it. I like the chocolate flavor mixed with rice milk and a small ripe banana. In fact, makes me want to have some right now!

A pea/rice blend is also good, or yellow pea protein.

I've found several types of non-soy protein powders at www.veganessentials.com . Since switching from soy to these, I have greatly reduced some digestive disturbances! I also don't like to eat too much isolated or concentrated soy proteins, as I believe there may be health consequences in eatiing too much of these processed soy foods (vs. soy "foods" like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, edamame, etc.)

 

[kathryn]

> The main change I
>need to make is finding a substitute for my afternoon Clif Bar
>or Luna Bar. I like Larabars, but the ratios are not as good.

I think that would be a good change, since Clif bars and Luna bars are pretty processed, and contain a lot of sugars. I like Larabars as well, but as you say, they may not have the amount of protein you are looking for. Some other choices, which are also raw-food vegan bars, are Vega bars (10 gm. protein per serving), and something called "Vegan Bar"(they sell them at www.veganessentials.com ). I've also seen Cocochia bars (at www.rawveganbooks.com or www.anthonyrobbins.com ), but don't know the nutrient breakdown right offhand.

 

[BelovedHeather]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Janie, what brand did you buy? Have you tried it yet? I could not find any with flax protein in it.

Kathryn, I was hoping that you would chime in here. I had never heard of hemp protein until I started reading your posts here. Thank you for sharing the results of your “taste tests” with me. I went to the Vitamin Shoppe during my lunch hour and bought a container of Nutiva organic hemp protein powder. After work, I found a Hamilton Beach personal blender at the grocery store. It is small enough to keep at the office, so I am all set. I made a smoothie tonight with fresh orange juice, a small organic banana, and a few organic strawberries plus a scoop of the protein powder. A serving is actually 2 scoops, but I just wanted to taste it. Wow! It is really good! I have always had to choke down the soy protein drinks. I am very sensitive to smell and texture, and the soy drinks always evoked a bit of a gag response (not to mention digestive problems). This stuff is really good and stink free! I do not need to hold my nose and choke it down! I love the mini blender too. It will be perfect for my purposes.

I have a Juicelady at home, but it is not practical for me to juice during the workday. I am not hauling my juicer to the office. I recall reading that fresh juice needs to be consumed immediately. Is that right? Would it be okay to use organic orange juice from my local grocery store instead of juicing my own? What are your favorite fruit-based smoothie recipes? I am not carb sensitive at all. My body can handle a lot of fruit and still burn fat.

I am really excited about this discovery. I already eat raw almonds and add natural peanut butter to my steel-cut oatmeal. I have been looking for a plant-based protein source that is low in fat, and this is perfect! I recently switched to the natural peanut butter with no honey or salt added, and this is one more step in the right direction. It is amazing how easy it is to make my eating even cleaner without sacrificing taste or anything.

Kathryn, have you tried the Nutiva bars? I could not find the other ones you suggested, but there are a few more health food stores around here. I actually picked up a bar today that was marketed as whole and natural. It was in the section with all the organic and vegan bars. Thankfully, I read the ingredients. Corn syrup! No thank you! Why do food manufacturers ruin otherwise good food with the addition of junk ingredients? x( I do not get it and especially do not understand why products that are marketed to fitness-minded individuals are that way.

Thank you both for responding! I greatly appreciate it. Janie, go try that protein powder and report back to us! ;-) If you do not like it, the Nutiva brand is excellent.

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[kathryn]

RE: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Hey, Heather!
Glad you like the Nutiva. As I said, I've tried several brands, and this is the best I've found (and I can't figure out why, unless it's the type of hemp plant they are using? Since they all have the same ingredients.) I can't wait for their new smoothie mixes to come out. They sound really good.

>I have a Juicelady at home, but it is not practical for me to
>juice during the workday. I am not hauling my juicer to the
>office. I recall reading that fresh juice needs to be
>consumed immediately. Is that right? Would it be okay to use
>organic orange juice from my local grocery store instead of
>juicing my own?

According to most I've read, most juice will begin to deteriorate immediately after juicing, because more of the surface of the food is exposed to oxygen (you can see this in carrot juice, for example, as it changes color as it oxidizes). You can slow down oxidization by adding a bit of lemon to the juice. I've also heard that Norwalk juicers, which press the juice out in some way, keep it from oxidizing so much, so it won't start to darken for a few hours. They are pricey juicers, though.

> What are your favorite fruit-based smoothie
>recipes? I am not carb sensitive at all. My body can handle
>a lot of fruit and still burn fat.

I'm pretty boring where that's concerned! I usually just throw some frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and/or dark cherries in my morning protein smoothie. Being even more minimalistic lately, I've been switching up between berry-flavored Vega powder with some pomegranate juice and frozen strawberries, and chocolate-flavored Vega protein powder with a small ripe banana in rice milk.


> It was in the section with all
>the organic and vegan bars. Thankfully, I read the
>ingredients. Corn syrup! No thank you! Why do food
>manufacturers ruin otherwise good food with the addition of
>junk ingredients? x( I do not get it and especially do not
>understand why products that are marketed to fitness-minded
>individuals are that way.
It's all about the money. HFCS is cheap. The "good" bars don't use it (and it's something I avoid like the plague, just like hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated oils, both of which I think are complete non-foods).

I just saw a commercial about Lipton's new white tea. White tea is very healthy, right? Want to bet it's got HFCS in? x(

I've also seen Skippy's new "natural" (HA!) peanut butter. Luckily, I read labels as well, and saw that it contains palm oil and sugar! WTF?

I think it's almost criminal how food manufacturers are trying to make money off of the public's 1/2-knowledge of nutrition ("it's natural? that's good, then!")

 

[BelovedHeather]

Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder

Kathryn:

I am even more impressed with this hemp protein powder now. I just read the label and noticed that each serving has 14 grams of fiber. Wow! I eat a lot of fiber and usually choose bars over shakes for that reason. It is nice to know that I have another option now. This could be a good natural fiber supplement for people who are not getting enough fiber through other plant foods.

I have been drinking organic yogurt smoothies from time to time. It is good to have a plant-based alternative with no added sugars. Were the other hemp powders you tried organic? That might be why this one tastes better.

Thanks for the smoothie ideas. My favorite grocery store sells a variety of frozen organic fruit. I never thought of adding cherries to my protein smoothie! My personal favorite is a mixed berry blend with strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Yummy! :9

I avoid the high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated junk too. I have for a long time. Add carbonated beverages, refined white stuff, and artificial sweeteners to that list. Speaking of which, raw honey is my favorite sweetener. What do you choose since that is technically an animal product?

Have you ever made homemade almond milk? If so, do you have a recipe? I have been buying Almond Breeze, but that has sugar in it.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for answering my questions!

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

 

[kathryn]

RE: Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder

> Were the other hemp powders you tried organic?
>That might be why this one tastes better.

All of them were organic. In fact, I think most, if not all, hemp IS organic, because as a non-hybridized plant, it is very resistant to insects and disease, and doesn't need chemical to help protect it (which is one reason why it would be a great crop to grow in the US, aside from it's MANY uses: fiber for fabric and paper, oil for consumption and for skin, seeds for food.

>Speaking of which, raw honey is my favorite sweetener. What
>do you choose since that is technically an animal product?

I don't use a lot of sweeteners, but when I do, I use stevia or agave nectar or real maple syrup or date sugar (just dried, powdered dates, good in baked goods) or rice or barley malts.

>Have you ever made homemade almond milk? If so, do you have a
>recipe? I have been buying Almond Breeze, but that has sugar
>in it.

I haven't made it, but it's easy to make. Just soak raw almonds overnight (to activate enzymes and help predigest the fats and proteins, it also makes the nuts a bit sweeter) put in a blender with water (more water = thinner milk, less water = thicker milk) and a sweetener of choice if you want (a couple of dates---but it changes the color from white--agave, etc.). Blend until liquified, then strain through cheesecloth. You can use the almond pulp to make nut loaves or burgers (if you don't add sweetener to the mix) or various "cheeses." I just got a recipe book that has lots of raw recipes in like this, though I haven't tried them yet.

>Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for answering my
>questions!

I realized I didn't answer your question about the Nutiva bars. No, I haven't tried them. In fact, I just recently found out they make them when I visited their site.