What Is Pea Protein?
Protein powder is available in several forms, most commonly as whey protein, brown rice protein powder and soy. Whey and brown rice protein have some incredible benefits, and both are very useful in their own right.
Although pea protein powder isn’t currently in the top three, experts predict that it will begin drastically increasing in popularity over the next few years given the huge surge in health-conscious consumers and the continued push toward following a more plant-based and sustainable diet.
The rising popularity of this pea supplement should come as no surprise considering the amazing makeup of this veggie protein powder. Pea protein powder is among the most hypoallergenic of all protein powders, as it contains no gluten, soy or dairy. It’s also easy on the tummy and doesn’t cause bloating, a common side effect of many other protein powders.
So how is pea protein made? It’s produced by grinding the peas into a powder and then removing the starch and fiber to leave a highly concentrated pea protein isolate that’s perfect for adding to smoothies, baked goods or desserts to quickly boost protein intake.
Whether you are allergic or sensitive to gluten or dairy or are simply looking for a healthy, plant-based vegan protein powder, pea protein is one of the best protein supplement options available.
Nutrition Facts
One of the things that people often consider when shopping for protein supplements is whether or not they are considered complete protein sources. The complete protein definition includes any food or supplement that contains all nine of the essential amino acids, which are the types of amino acids that your body is unable to produce and must obtain from food sources.
Because of the varied types of soy and the confusion often surrounding protein powders, there tends to be a lot of different opinions about the assortment of amino acids in different types of proteins and what is necessary. Many people think that soy is the only vegetable-based protein with a complete amino acid profile, but that’s not the case.
Hemp protein powder is also considered a complete protein, while brown rice protein also sports a complete load of amino acids but is a bit low in lysine in comparison to whey protein or casein protein.
Pea protein has a nearly complete profile, although there are a couple of nonessential and conditional amino acids missing. Does that mean you should write off pea protein altogether? Absolutely not!
That’s one big reason it’s important to switch it up when it comes to protein powders and include a good variety in your routine.
One great reason to consider pea protein in your typical rotation is that it contains about five more grams of protein per serving than whey protein, so it really can be great for building muscle, burning fat and boosting heart health.
Plus, take a look at the peas nutrition facts, and it’s easy to see why pea protein powder is so nutritious. Each serving of pea nutrition packs in a low amount of peas calories but is high in protein and fiber as well as several important micronutrients.
A single scoop of pea protein powder, which is about 33 grams, contains approximately:
✶ 120 calories
✶ 1 gram carbohydrate
✶ 24 grams protein
✶ 2 grams fat
✶ 8 milligrams iron (45 percent DV)
✶ 330 milligrams sodium (14 percent DV)
✶ 43 milligrams calcium (4 percent DV)
✶ 83 milligrams potassium (2 percent DV)
Post time: Jan-12-2022