Protein shakes have become part of most people’s workout schedule.Once the workout session has been completed, it has almost become second nature to down a protein shake as it is known to help feed muscles and to repair microscopic tears in them. The protein shake is now considered one of the most valuable fitness tools available, however as most protein powders are whey based, they are not suitable for vegans. Fortunately there are many options of vegan protein powder in Australia and there are real benefits for choosing vegan protein powder instead of whey protein.

Naturally, not every Australian made protein powder is going to be as equally beneficial and the same principle applies to Australian vegan protein powders. What turns out to be the best plant based vegan protein powder in Australia for you may not necessarily be the same for the next person. There are many variables likely to affect your choice including taste, budget, ingredients and 'mix-ability'..

In this article below, we walk you through everything you need to know about vegan protein powders including what the best vegan protein sources are.

Why isn’t whey protein vegan?

Vegans will not eat any animal sourced products including dairy products and even honey. Whey protein is sourced from milk. As such it may suit many vegetarians but will not meet a vegan’s requirements. This is because whey is essentially still a product derived from the animal. While taking whey protein powder is not the same as drinking a glass of milk it remains the product obtained from the animal. As such it does not meet the requirements of being vegan although a vegetarian would be comfortable consuming whey.

What is vegan protein powder made of?

There are multiple plant based protein powder options available in Australia - which one is the best option for you will depend largely on what is in the powder itself. Plant based protein powder in Australia can be found in the form of rice, soy, pea and hemp. Sometimes these ingredients may be blended. Not all plant based protein powders are equal. Soy protein powder, for example, has the advantage of being a complete protein, but is not suitable for people that have a soy allergy or suffer from a thyroid condition.

Rice and pea proteins contain all of the essential amino acids. Hemp protein has also been found to provide the essential amino acids, and also has an unusually high concentration of the branched-chain amino acid arginine. It is important to know that while all plant protein powders will provide you with all the necessary amino acids, it is highly likely that the amino acid ratio will vary. Therefore, as a general rule, it pays to take a mixture of different protein powders to give you the varying benefits of different protein sources.

Is Vegan Protein Equally Effective as Whey Protein?

Recent studies have confirmed that vegan protein is every bit as effective as whey protein and that the differences in body composition, muscle gain, performance and strength are negligible. However, the precise make up of each protein powder will differ according to the ingredients used. Not all protein powders are alike and each will deliver slightly different results.

Whey is favoured by many athletes because it is considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. However, the best plant based protein powders such as hemp, soy and chia also contain all nine essential amino acids.

How to Select Vegan Protein Powder

To be clear, as good as vegan protein shakes are, you will need to supplement your protein intake with other sources of protein. Most local food stores and supermarkets will have supplies of vegan foods that are rich in protein. Foods to keep an eye out for include tofu, tempeh and seitan. These vegan staples can help you get your appropriate protein intake and help you to build your muscle mass.

While these vegan staples will help you, the vegan protein shake is a great way to get protein into your body particularly after exercise - that makes selecting the right protein powder for you. Here is a brief summary of three of the more common vegan protein powder Australia has to offer consumers.

Pea Protein: Pea protein powder is a supplement obtained by extracting protein from field peas. It makes a great addition to both smoothies and shakes and is suitable for most diets as it is naturally vegan and hypoallergenic.

Pea protein is recognised as a high-quality protein and rich in iron. It is known to assist with weight loss and muscle growth as well as heart health.

The protein has all nine essential amino acids that the human body must obtain from food. Although its levels of the amino acid known as methionine are relatively low. Vegans can compensate for this by including brown rice in their diet.

Pea protein also offers a rich supply of branched-chain amino acids, which are known to help with healthy blood flow, promoting heart health as a result.

While it should be acknowledged that animal proteins are as a rule, more easily digestible than plant based alternatives, pea protein is one of the most easily digestible plant proteins..

Pea protein powders are not just rich in amino acids, they are also a great source of iron. You will find that most pea protein powders contain between 5 and 7.5 mg of iron per serve. That equates to between 28 and 42% of the RDI (Reference daily intake ) for premenopausal women and between 62 and 94% of the RDI for postmenopausal women and men.

While iron contained in plants is not as easily absorbed as iron contained in animals, the absorption can be improved by mixing pea protein powder with foods containing Vitamin C. A good choice are citrus fruits — which help to increase iron absorption rates by as much as 67%.

Besides being vegan, organic pea protein powder is gluten and dairy free and contains none of the most prevalent food allergens, namely peanuts, fish, cow’s milk, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, soy or wheat. This makes it the near perfect addition to any diet. Of course, while most people will find that pea protein works really well for them, it is not recommended for people who are intolerant, sensitive or allergic to peas.

Soy Protein: has enormous nutritional value

As well as being a source of amino acids and protein that help with building muscle. It has the following properties -:

• Contains calcium for strong bones
• Contains iron for better haemoglobin.
• Cholesterol and
• Has low saturated fat and high omega 3 fatty acids helping to improve heart health and reduce the rate of hypertension.
• Contains a healthy amount of antioxidants which help to contain the growth of free radicals. Free radicals are a major contributor to such conditions as cancer and heart diseases

These properties help to provide the following dietary benefits -:

• Acts to boost energy: Amino acids are readily converted into energy. Our bodies effectively help this energy to build muscle and help us to lose weight.
• Lowers LDL cholesterol: LDL (Low density lipid) is commonly known as the bad cholesterol. Regular use of soy protein will help to lower bad cholesterol levels by as much as 10%.
• Helps to regenerate and grow cells.

Excellent meat substitute

Hemp Protein Powder: is a fine powder obtained by grinding pressed hemp seeds.. The powder has a nutty, somewhat earthy flavour and is a popular choice as an additive to protein shakes and smoothies.

Critically hemp contains all of the essential amino acids that the human body must obtain from food. Hemp protein powder is a less processed protein powder than soy or protein and as such the protein content is not as concentrated. However, a typical quarter cup of hemp protein powder will still deliver somewhere in the region of fifteen grams of protein (about 50%)

Being a more naturally produced powder may contribute to the fact that it is easier to digest than some other plant based protein powders. Research has shown that over ninety percent of the protein in hemp powder (ground hemp) can be digested by the body making it comparable to animal proteins. While other plant based protein powders may contain more protein, not nearly as much is digested by the body.

Recent research has consistently shown that cold pressed hemp protein powders are more easily digested than those that have been heat processed

In addition to being easily digestible hemp protein powder has the following benefits

• Good fibre source. The benefits of a high fibre diet are well documented Most western diets are fibre deficient and hemp protein powder can assist in bridging the gap. The exact amount of fibre contained in a hemp protein powder will depend on what seeds they were made from. Typically hemp protein powders contain about 8 grams of fiber per regular quarter cup serve. This compares more than favourably to other plant protein powders.
• Contains Unsaturated Fats including Omega-6 and omega-3 fats in what is seen as a near perfect ratio of 3:1. This ratio is known to promote heart health. It is worth remembering that hemp protein powder should be refrigerated as it contains fat. Refrigeration will preserve it for some time and delay spoiling..
• High minerals and antioxidant content. Hemp seeds contain a veritable grocery list of essential minerals, particularly magnesium and iron as well as compounds which have powerful antioxidant properties.
• Unique Earthy Taste which is variously described as earthy, grassy or even nutty. It is a unique taste that some will love and others find hard to take.

While many people will find the flavour of hemp protein powder to be enjoyable, the taste may be a little overpowering for others . For that reason, it may be a good idea to try a small quantity of hemp protein before buying any bulk quantities.

Potential benefits of choosing vegan protein powder

Regardless of whether you are vegan or not there are solid reasons why you should at least consider switching to vegan protein powder. Today there is a range of vegan protein powders that will meet all your protein needs and perhaps even deliver you some benefits that whey protein powder is not doing. Consider these points.

• Vegan Protein may help you to clear up some skin blemishes. It stands to reason that if you care enough about your body to be going to the gym and using protein shakes to maximise your activities there that you have some regard for your appearance.Ironically all that care and attention could be causing issues with your skin. Whey protein is known to have some adverse effects particularly where -
• Whey protein may be causing acne as it is known to stimulate production of the hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) which has been associated with acne breakouts. Whey protein is also known to cause blood sugar production imbalances . These imbalances cause skin flare ups.
• Vegan protein can be easier to digest than whey protein powder which often contains some ingredients of dubious quality. All vegan protein powders have healthy fibre levels which can aid digestion and help ease gas and feelings of bloatedness.
• You're adding an extra source of antioxidants and phytochemicals to your diet as all the best vegan protein powder in Australia are packed full of nutritious vitamins and minerals as well as being loaded with phytochemicals — plant produced compounds — that can be enormously beneficial to your health.

What is the best vegan protein powder?

Ultimately the answer will be different for many people, depending upon food allergies, taste and other personal choices. However, you can be assured that if you are looking for the best organic protein powder that is suitable for a vegan diet, then Buy Organics Online has a range of quality australian made protein powder products available for you to choose from.

Make the healthy more ethical protein powder choice and purchase your vegan protein powder products from Buy Organics Online now.