Our first thought when it comes to food sources of protein is often meat and other animal products. Protein is also found in plants. Even if you’re a vegetarian or vegan who avoids all meat, milk, and animal products, you can gain plenty of protein in your diet. In addition, adding the best vegan protein powder to your daily diet may help you meet your protein goals. Vegan protein powders obtain protein from non-animal sources, namely plants.
Vegan protein sources
You can frequently find the following items at your local supermarket.
Soya:
Soy-based protein powders contain soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. Garbanzo beans are also known as chickpeas. Fat, carbohydrate, and fibre have been removed from soybean flakes to make the isolate. In addition to fibre, soy protein concentrate also contains reduced amounts of fat and sugar.
Legumes:
Beans, peas, lentils, and other legumes are used to make protein powder. It’s typically made using yellow split peas, lentils, and various beans such as garbanzo beans.
Grains:
We usually add whole grains, such as quinoa, millet and amaranth, which provide unsaturated fats and carbohydrates.
To make the best vegan protein powder in India, the plant item is dehulled, ground, and sieved to turn the protein into flour. Various processes are then used to extract, purify and dry the protein. Often, sweeteners, vegetables, fruits, and other flavourings are added to enhance the flavour. The majority of vegan protein powders contain fibre as well, which many of us are lacking.
Hemp:
Cannabis-derived hemp contains a high amount of protein. THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, is not present in this product. It is possible to grind hemp seeds into protein powder.
Blue-green algae:
Blue-green algae are cyanobacteria that can be found in freshwater and saltwater. It is also known as spirulina. Besides being high in protein, it is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
Sacha inchi:
Sacha inchi, also known as a Sacha peanut, mountain peanut, or Inca nut, is native to South America and the Caribbean. Although it’s often thought of as a nut, it’s a seed.
Protein selection based on usage
Vegans and those trying to limit their animal protein consumption for health, ethical, or religious reasons might consider adding vegan protein powder to their diet. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes, the average adult should consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. A 70-kilogram person should consume about 54 grams of protein per day, which is 0.77 grams per kilogram. Protein is required by some individuals, such as older athletes and adults. A patient about to undergo major surgery, like orthopaedic surgery, may be advised to increase their protein intake to improve their recovery. Those with milk allergies or milk intolerance can also consume vegan protein powder. In addition, people with lung disorders, heart failure, and HIV might also need high protein intake because they are the building block of the body.
Plant-based products contain vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that boost the immune system and lower inflammation. Furthermore, many people with lactose intolerance or allergies to milk proteins can consume them more easily. Vegetarians and vegans who may be having trouble meeting their daily protein goals can enhance the protein content of their meals by adding a vegan protein powder to their cooking or baking. As vegan protein powders can be a convenient way to get some protein when you don’t have time for a meal, you can use them to make quick meal-replacement shakes. For quick, on-the-go meals, vegan protein powders can be blended with fruits and vegetables into a smoothie for about 20-30 grams of protein (per serving).
All these need to be taken under the proper care of a nutritionist. If you end up taking too much protein or too many vitamins, then it will trigger some other deficiencies or other conditions. So to be on the safer side you can try biohacking techniques where biohackers will study your body conditions and carry out trial-and-error methods to improve your health and optimize your performance.
How to select the best vegan protein powder in India?
To choose the top vegan protein powder, there are certain things to be taken into consideration.
Safety standards certificate:
Check for the safety standards and certificates of the powder to ensure that you are getting safe and original products.
Complete protein blend:
Most plant-based proteins are not complete protein supplements. It is better to choose soy-based protein containing all the amino acids. If you are looking for soy-free powder, check whether it has all the required amino acids.
Sugar content:
Before buying protein powder, always check for sugar content because some may have high sugar that is not good for health.
Ingredients:
Ensure whether the powder contains all the required nutrients. Avoid buying them if you find artificial sweeteners, colours and other toxic chemicals.
If you are looking for best tasting vegan protein powder go for brands like oziva, bgreen etc., as they are available in a lot of flavours. If you want the best vegan protein powder bodybuilding, brands like Bigmuscles nutrition, Muscleblaze plant protein, etc., may be considered.