It’s fair to say that humankind is more focused than ever on health. We’re the most aware we’ve ever been about the dangers of smoking, the risks tied to sugar, and the benefits of eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eighty percent of Internet users in America — 93 million people — have researched a health-related topic online, according to a study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
With this increased understanding of health and nutrition, many seek to give their bodies the best fuel possible.
Enter the era of protein. Nielsen data found that 55 percent of U.S. households say foods high in protein are an important consideration when shopping. In 2017, there were 64 million Google searches for “protein.”
What Is Protein?
Proteins are long chains of amino acids. They’re referred to as the “building blocks of life” because they are some of the main components that support our functioning. The human body has around 100 trillion cells, and each cell contains thousands of proteins.
The body uses protein to build and repair tissue. Protein also helps create hormones and enzymes, as well as skin, bones, blood, muscles, and cartilage.
What Happens if You Don’t Get Enough Protein?
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. For men, this usually sits at around 56 grams of protein a day. For women, the average is 46 grams.
Although rare, insufficient protein intake can lead to loss of muscle mass, slowed wound healing, swollen and puffy skin, and brittle hair and nails.
Top 9 Vegan Protein Brands
While many want to live healthy lifestyles, a lot of people find it hard to do so. Mintel research found that 43 percent of Americans feel that modern living makes it very difficult to be healthy. “Americans believe that living a modern lifestyle impedes their ability to be healthy, with some feeling as if they’re doomed to fail,” Lauren Bonetto, lifestyles and leisure analyst at Mintel, said in a statement.
Protein powders and shakes take the worry out of the equation. They’re designed to keep you energized, build strength, and to help your body achieve optimal health. Here are our nine top brands making effective vegan protein products.
1. Tattle
Tattle is shaking up the world of protein and healthy living. The wellness company champions transparency, vowing to be “abnormally” honest about the ingredients it uses, where they come from, and what they do. None of the ingredients are artificial, either.
Tattle’s Plant Protein Blend boasts 20+ grams of protein per serving and is gluten-free. It comes in two flavors — Chocolate and Vanilla Cold Brew — which are flavored naturally with Fair Trade cocoa and real coffee extract.
The blends are made with pea, rice, and hemp in a 50/40/10 ratio to provide a more complete amino acid profile. The powders also contain turmeric and tart cherry, which carry anti-inflammatory properties, and 2 billion CFU of probiotics for optimal gut health.
Tattle’s Plant Protein Blend also contains more than 4 grams of naturally occurring BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) per serving. BCAAs make up three of the nine essential amino acids and they can help boost muscle growth and reduce muscle soreness.
You can add the powder to your daily smoothies and post-workout recovery drinks.
Plus, Tattle goes a step further than offering feel-good, good-for-you products. It stands by its pledge to make a positive impact on the world. Tattle donates to people in need every time one of its products is purchased. Customers can choose where their money goes, so they can support the causes closest to their heart.
Since launching in mid-2019, Tattle has educated 140 students on mental health (via the Jed Foundation), donated 380 meals to the Children’s Hunger Fund, and provided 277 years of drinking water to people in need alongside the Thirst Project, a non-profit working to end the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities.
You can use the code LIVEKINDLY to get 20 percent off Tattle’s products right here. Offer valid until January 31, 2020.
2. EVOLVE
Evolve believes less is more. The Colorado-born company uses clean, simple, non-GMO ingredients to make its protein shakes. Evolve opts for pea protein because it requires less fertilizer, uses fewer resources, and is more sustainable than other ingredients. Peas also return nitrogen to the soil, enriching it for whatever is planted next.
Evolve’s vegan and gluten-free protein shakes contain 10 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein. They’re available in Classic Chocolate, Ideal Vanilla, Toasted Almond, and Mellow Mocha flavors.
Evolve donates a portion of its sales to the National Park Foundation, which works to protect and help people connect to America’s National Parks.
You can find Evolve’s products here.
3. Purition
The fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein of Purition’s products come from real food. The company uses strawberries, almonds, sunflower kernels, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, and nutritional yeast to make its plant-powered powders.
Purition — based in Shrewsbury, England — strives for sustainability. To reduce its carbon footprint, it buys ingredients directly from farmers in the UK and Europe. The chia seeds used in Purition’s products came from the UK’s first-ever chia harvest. And since 2018, the company has cut the amount of plastic it uses by 388kg.
Puritio’s protein powders are available in flavors including Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla, Hemp Chocolate, and Coffee & Walnut.
You can find Purition’s products here.
4. PlantFusion Complete
This all-vegan protein company stands by the belief that the right nutritional profile does wonders for the body. PlantFusion isn’t interested in overly processed ingredients like whey protein, just authentic, good-for-you foods like non-GMO peas, quinoa, and artichoke.
PlantFusion’s grab-and-go Complete Protein Shake boasts 20 grams of protein. It’s available in flavors chocolate and vanilla.
You can find PlantFusion’s products here.
5. Form
Form’s Pureblend Protein unites organic pea protein powder with brown rice, hemp, and AlgaVia whole algae protein. The result? A complete amino acid profile protein that’s totally animal-free. The vegan powder boosts energy as well as muscle growth and repair. Form doesn’t use sweeteners or flavoring to make its protein powder (which contains 15 grams of protein per scoop).
The company’s commitment to the environment motivated it to develop the first full color printed compostable stand-up pouch. Additionally, one meal is donated via the Form Feeding Fund to the Bansang Hospital in The Gambi for every Form product you buy.
You can find Form’s products here.
6. Liberto
Gluten-free and organic food purveyor Liberto is passionate about making food that everyone can enjoy. The company’s vegan protein shake powder is gluten-free and soy-free and made from pea protein, flax seeds, and chia seeds. You can get it in flavors Vanilla, Coconut & Lemon, and Dark Chocolate With Sour Cherry.
When Liberto isn’t producing plant protein, it’s busy making vegan pasta and sauces like fettuccine, spaghetti, Chilli Sin Carne, and pâté.
You can find Liberto’s products here.
7. MISSFITS
Missfits takes convenient healthy eating to new heights with its Vegan Protein Wonderballs. The handmade, gluten-free snacks offer 10 grams of protein and contain 75 percent less sugar than competitors. These plant-based Wonderballs are made of natural ingredients like dates, peas, sunflower seeds, and tapioca. They are ideal for before and after exercise, or just as a pick-me-up during the day.
You can find Missfit’s products here.
8. Après
Peas, chia seeds, hemp, virgin coconut oil, and cacao are what give Aprè’s vegan protein drinks their 14 grams of protein and 3 grams of metabolic fats (which offer long-lasting energy). Aprè’s drinks are available in flavors vanilla bean, sea salt chocolate, mint chocolate, and cold brew coffee.
You can find Aprè’s products here.
9. Vega
Vega Protein & Energy powder offers an “edge,” Vega says. Add it to your smoothies, top your ice cream with it, mix it into an energy ball recipe, or stir it into an açai bowl. You’ll get 20 grams of protein, 3 grams of MCT oil, and 200mg of caffeine (from organic coffee fruit). Also, the powder doesn’t contain gluten or artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.
Vega Protein & Energy is available in flavors cold brew coffee, chocolate, vanilla bean, and matcha latte.
You can find Vega’s products here.
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