Choosing the Right Plant Based Protein Powder

Written by Ashley Fitzgerald & Reviewed by Emily Fultz, RD, LDN

Protein is an essential macronutrient needed in our diets to help with many functions including  building, maintaining, and repairing body tissues. To learn more about protein check out my previous blog on this topic.

If you’ve read that blog, then you’ll know that the recommended amount of protein for the average sedentary person is 0.8 g/kg each day. However endurance and strength athletes should consume 1.2-2 g/kg each day based on their personal training and goals.

Oftentimes athletes choose to consume whey protein because our bodies can easily digest and absorb this type of protein and it contains all of the 9 essential amino acids (1). However if you do not consume dairy products or follow a vegan diet, then you may be looking for an alternative type of protein powder. That’s where plant-based protein powders come in handy.

There are numerous plant-based protein powders sold in-stores and online. Today, I am comparing some of the more popular plant-based protein powders. Here is what we’ll be taking a look at with each plant-based protein powder:

• The cost and price per serving
• What flavors are available for each type
• The ingredients
• The amount of grams of protein per serving
• Whether it is NSF certified, which means that it has been tested and certified for quality, purity, and safety

1. Vega Sport

Cost and price per serving	$39.99, $2.00 per serving
Flavors available	vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, berry, mocha
Ingredients	pea protein, natural flavors, pumpkin seed protein, organic sunflower seed protein, alfalfa protein, tart cherry, xanthan gum, sea salt, stevia leaf extract, probiotics, bromelain, turmeric extract, black pepper extract
My thoughts on the ingredients	High quality ingredients that aid in muscle recovery
Grams of protein per serving	30 grams
NSF Certified?	Yes

2. Orgain Plant-Based Protein Powder

Cost and price per serving	$29.99, $1.50 per serving
Flavors available	creamy chocolate fudge, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter, iced matcha latte, natural unsweetened, vanilla bean
Ingredients	Orgain Organic Protein Blend (Organic Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Chia Seed), Orgain Organic Creamer Base (Organic Acacia Gum, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Inulin, Organic Rice Dextrins, Organic Rice Bran Extract, Organic Rosemary Extract), Organic Erythritol, Organic Natural Flavors, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Organic Acacia Gum, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Stevia, Xanthan Gum
My thoughts on the ingredients	Contains a lot of unnecessary sweeteners and filler ingredients
Grams of protein per serving	21 grams
NSF Certified?	No

3. NutriBiotic Rice Protein

Cost and price per serving	$42.79, $0.48 per serving
Flavors available	plain, vanilla, chocolate
Ingredients	Enzymatically processed rice protein from certified organic, whole grain, sprouted brown rice
My thoughts on the ingredients	Only one ingredient-rice!
Grams of protein per serving	12 grams
NSF Certified?	No

4. Naked Pea Protein Powder

Cost and price per serving	$14.99, $1.00 per serving
Flavors available	unflavored, chocolate, vanilla
Ingredients	Yellow pea protein
My thoughts on the ingredients	Only one ingredient-pea!
Grams of protein per serving	27 grams
NSF Certified?	No

5. Nutiva Organic Hemp Seed Protein

Cost and price per serving	$16.99, $1.13 per serving
Flavors available	vanilla, chocolate
Ingredients	Organic hemp protein
My thoughts on the ingredients	Only one ingredient-hemp!
Grams of protein per serving	15 grams
NSF Certified?	No

6. Sunwarrior Protein Blend

Cost and price per serving	$23.99, $1.60 per serving
Flavors available	natural, vanilla, chocolate, mocha, berry
Ingredients	Proprietary protein blend (organic pea protein, organic hemp protein,organic goji berry), organic vanilla flavor, organic guar gum, sea salt, organic stevia extract, organic whole ground coconut
My thoughts on the ingredients	High quality ingredients with only one sugar alternative and one filler
Grams of protein per serving	15 grams
NSF Certified?	No

7. Garden of Life Sport

Cost and price per serving	$43.96, $2.31 per serving
Flavors available	vanilla, chocolate
Ingredients	Organic pea protein, organic sprouted navy bean, organic sprouted lentil bean, organic sprouted garbanzo bean, organic cranberry protein (seed)
My thoughts on the ingredients	High quality ingredients, nothing added
Grams of protein per serving	30 grams
NSF Certified?	Yes

8. Plant Fusion Complete Protein

Cost and price per serving	$33.99, $2.27 per serving
Flavors available	creamy vanilla bean, rich chocolate, red velvet cake, natural, cookies & cream
Ingredients	Pea Protein Isolate, L-Isoleucine, L-Leucine,L-Valine, L-Glutamine, Artichoke Powder, Organic Sprouted Amaranth Powder, Organic Sprouted Quinoa Powder, Whole Algae Protein, Alpha Galactosidase, Bromelain, Natural Flavor, Stevia Extract Powder (Reb A), Organic Tapioca Powder, Silica, Guar Gum Powder, Lucuma Powder, Monk Fruit Extract Powder, Yacon Powder
My thoughts on the ingredients	High quality ingredients, but has some artificial sweeteners and fillers
Grams of protein per serving	21 grams
NSF Certified?	No

9. NOW Sports Soy Protein Isolate

Cost and price per serving	$27.99, $0.74 per serving
Flavors available	Unflavored, creamy vanilla, creamy chocolate
Ingredients	Soy protein isolate
My thoughts on the ingredients	Only one ingredient-soy!
Grams of protein per serving	20 grams
NSF Certified?	Yes

10. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

Cost and price per serving	$44.95, $2.25 per serving
Flavors available	smooth vanilla, just natural, real coffee, rich chocolate, wild strawberry
Ingredients	Pea protein isolate, natural vanilla flavor, thaumatin
My thoughts on the ingredients	Minimal ingredients
Grams of protein per serving	20 grams
NSF Certified?	No

So what are my final thoughts on these different plant-based protein powders?

While it’s nice the rice and hemp protein powders are only one ingredient, they do not contain as much protein as the other powders and are not NSF certified. 

The pea protein powder that is also one ingredient has much more protein per serving, but it is not NSF certified. 

The sunwarrior blend, plant fusion, nuzest, and orgain powders also do not contain as much protein per serving and are not NSF certified. Plus orgain has lots of artificial sweeteners and filler ingredients. 

While NOW Sports has only one ingredient, is NSF certified, and is one of the cheaper protein powders, it does not contain as much protein per serving as some of the others. 

That leaves us with Vega Sport and Garden of Life Sport. Both of these protein powders are NSF certified, contain 30 grams of protein per serving, and have high quality ingredients. The only real difference is that the Vega Sport is about $2.00 per serving while the Garden of Life Sport is about $2.31 per serving. Either of these will be ideal for the athlete who is looking for a plant-based protein powder.

References:

Johnson J. What is the difference between animal and plant proteins? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322827.php. Published August 21, 2018. Accessed October 2, 2019.