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Do I Need Vegan Protein Powder?

Do I Need Vegan Protein Powder?

A question often asked and debated is can you gain sufficient protein from a vegan diet. For many people their primary source of protein is from the meat and dairy product they consume, but what happens if you cut all of this out of your diet?

If you have a well planned vegan diet, measured all your macros and know exactly how much protein you need and which sources you can get them from then you may not need vegan protein powder.

However – this is no easy feat. Many vegans have the Vegan Wondershake alongside their healthy, balanced diet as it is a delicious and convenient way to reach your protein requirements with ease without adding lots of additional calories to your diet too.

Nearly all plants, grains, lentils, beans nuts and seeds all contain sources of protein, though in much smaller quantities than meat, and as such requires you to eat more to sustain the same amount of amino acids and proteins you would consume while eating meat and dairy products.

How Much Protein do I Need?

Determining the optimal amount of protein intake is a crucial aspect of a well-balanced diet, catering to both sedentary individuals and those following a healthy, active lifestyle.

For individuals with a more sedentary lifestyle, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) suggests a daily protein intake of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. Research indicates that meeting this baseline can support essential bodily functions, including tissue repair and enzyme production. Meanwhile, for individuals following a healthy, active lifestyle, a slightly higher protein intake may be beneficial. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a range of 1.2 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for active individuals to support their lifestyle. Striking the right balance is key, ensuring that protein consumption aligns with individual lifestyle and activity levels to promote optimal health.

Vegan Foods vs Non-Vegan Foods Protein Amounts

To give you a bit of an idea of the amount of protein you can find in vegan foods compared to non-vegan, we’ve selected some of the highest protein below for a comparison, giving you a bit of an idea of how much you may need to eat.

Vegan Foods Protein (Per 100g) Non-Vegan Foods Protein (Per 100g)
Tofu 8g Chicken 27g
Chickpeas 19g Beef 26g
Peanuts 26g Pork 27g
Lentils 9g Eggs 13g
Peas 5g Cheese 25g

Not only do you need to eat much more to hit your protein requirements but due to plants being high in fibre (this isn’t a bad thing), they have a higher rate of satiety, which is the feeling of being full, so you may struggle to reach your desired amount, which is where Vegan Protein Powder can help save the day.

Why Is Vegan Protein Powder So Good?

Not only does vegan protein powder provide you with a convenient and cost effective way of hitting your personal protein goal, if you choose the right one it can also taste pretty good too. Often with Vegan Protein powders, it is a blend of a few different plant proteins. This is because single plant based protein sources often are lacking in certain amino acids but fortunately, when you combine different sources you often end up with a complete amino acid profile. 

As we’ve said previously you often need to eat much more to reach your protein targets when on a vegan diet. As with a lot of plants, calories are low but volume is high, meaning that you can feel full very easily. For those that contain high protein content such as peanuts, they can contain fats and carbohydrates that you may be wanting to reduce depending on your physique goals. This is where vegan protein powders can help, boosting your protein intake, without making you feel full and affecting other macronutrients, keeping the balance just right.

There are a number of different variants of vegan protein powders, from your standard protein to meal replacements to mass gainers and everything in between. Take a look at some of our top vegan proteins below.

Our Top Vegan Protein Powders

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