The Protein Works Vegan Protein Powder has been in the industry for a few years, and it caused quite a sensation when it initially came out. Now even after two years, it still holds up well versus products from other well-known nutrition firms, vegan and whole food companies.
Protein is essential for your health since it keeps you full and helps your muscles grow. Obviously, for vegan diet followers, getting enough protein is one of the most popular questions, as well as one of the most difficult things to achieve. We tried The Protein Works’ new Chocolate Silk Vegan Protein Powder and have some thoughts to share!
One of the most common complaints of vegan protein sources is that they lack the entire balance of amino acids that our systems require. Our bodies can create 11 of the 20 amino acids naturally; the remaining 9 must be obtained from food. These amino acids are sometimes described as ‘essential’ amino acids since they must be included in your diet.
Only a few of these are commonly found in vegan protein sources. It’s worth noting that The Protein Works doesn’t reveal the actual ingredient mix in their Vegan Protein. But first, let’s look at what we do know.
Vegan Protein Powder Ingredients
Soybeans are one of the most protein-rich plant foods, and they’ll almost certainly be near the top of any list of “the finest vegan protein sources” you will find online. This isolate form contains 90 to 95 percent pure protein while also being gentle on the digestive tract.
Many of the amino acids required for muscle growth are included in soya protein isolate, and these peptides have also been linked to other potential health benefits, such as decreased cholesterol and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. More studies need to be done to completely understand the extra benefits of soy protein, but it appears to be a superb source of nourishment for non-meat eaters and is one of the best non-animal sources of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs).
White Hemp Protein
No, this isn’t the kind of hemp that will make you feel ‘relaxed’ during the post-workout recovery. White hemp protein is derived from hemp seeds and has a more complete amino acid profile than soy protein isolate, having all nine necessary amino acids.
Edestin and Albumin are the two main forms of protein found in hemp and both are biologically available and easy to digest. However, the disadvantage of hemp protein is that, though it contains all of the amino acids, it is unclear in what amounts they are present, and the powdered form of hemp protein is only around 50% pure. This formula’s overall protein concentration is diluted as a result of the strong amino acid composition.
Sunflower Protein
The Sunflower seed carries is a natural source of protein, amino acids, healthy fats, fiber and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. As mentioned above, The Protein Works’ Vegan Protein Powder contains all the necessary amino acids.
Sunflower protein is sadly overlooked by many nutrition firms, however, The Protein Works appears to be confident in their sunflower protein. This is indicated by the fact that their vegan protein collection includes 100% sunflower protein powder. However, Sunflower protein has one drawback: as the seed also includes a lot of polyunsaturated fats, the protein concentration of the powdered form might be as low as 50%.
Sunflower Protein is free from allergens, does not contain gluten, soy or lactose and hence agrees with even the most sensitive stomach.
Pea Protein Isolate
The addition of pea protein isolate in the recipe is a welcome addition since it helps to compensate for the hemp and sunflower’s lower protein levels. Pea protein isolate powder even though lacks some amino acids, has a high protein concentration, up to 80% which will help to bulk up the formula and ensure that customers don’t have to choose between high overall protein content and a complete set of necessary amino acids.
Brown Rice Protein
Rice protein and pea protein are frequently paired because they complement each other’s amino acid compositions. Brown rice also has a significant quantity of BCAAs and is made up of over 80% protein, making it one of the more protein-dense vegan sources.
It would be a mistake to assume that the brown rice protein is just there to fill in the numbers and provide a few amino acids; research has shown that rice protein, on its own, is a close competitor to whey in terms of results when measuring lean muscle mass and recovery from exercise, which are the two things that many of the customers will be concerned about.
DigeZyme®
This component is described on the DigeZyme® website as “a flexible multi-enzyme complex” generated from plant sources. It includes Amylase, protease, cellulase, beta-d-galactosidase, and lipase.
Amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into energy, while protease breaks down protein and lipase breaks down fat. These digestive enzymes are known as the “holy trinity” since they break down practically all of the food that you eat. They are used here to help your body absorb The Protein Work’s Bulk Vegan Protein powder.
Beta-g-galactosidase is a type of lactase that helps break down lactose into glucose. Cellulase breaks down cellulose, which is found in most plant-based meals, and beta-g-galactosidase is a type of lactase that helps break down lactose into glucose. The Protein Work’s recipe includes DigeZyme®, which ensures that the substance is promptly broken down in your system and the constituent parts are sent to where they need to go.
Complete list of ingredients
- Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Isolate, Pumpkin Seed Protein, Sunflower Protein, Brown Rice Protein)
- Fat-Reduced Cocoa powder (changes as per the flavor you choose)
- Sucralose as sweetener
- DigeZyme (Amylase, protease, Cellulase, Beta-D-Galactosidase, Lipase)
How to take it?
The recommended dose is 2-3 servings a day or as per your specific needs. Add 250-350ml of water/milk to your TPR shaker. Add 1 scoop (30g) of Vegan Protein Powder, shake well and consume.
Who can take it?
Anyone who wants to include protein in their diet and those who want to build muscle and faster recovery from exercise can use Vegan Protein Powder. It is suitable for both vegans and non-vegans alike.
Vegan Protein Powder side effects
Just like with any other supplement, there are few side effects. It ranges from stomach upsets to anaphylaxis though such cases are rare. Hemp protein has a lot of fiber that can cause diarrhea, wind or bloating.
Sunflower protein has high levels of phosphorous which when overly-consumed can impact negatively kidney function.
Pea protein and legumes in general can raise the level of uric acid in your blood that can cause gout in the long term.
Check the label if you are allergic to any ingredients.
What are the flavors available?
The Vegan protein powder is available in Vanilla Creme, Choc Mint Brownie, Choc Peanut Cookie, Chocolate Silk, Cookies N’ Cream, Millionaire’s Shortbread, Salted Caramel, Strawberries N’ Cream, and Unflavored.
The Protein Works reviews
- “So delicious. It is an excellent addition to smoothies or shakes. A good alternative to sugary treats. The consistency is too good.”
- “Nice to see vegan protein shakes for a change. Most of the supplements carry milk in them and it is no good for us. I have tried and it is very filling with just a small scoop and water. The taste is good and not bad as compared to others I have tried.”
- “Smells great and tastes great too, but it doesn’t mix quite easily.”
Is it an Organic vegan protein powder?
Though it is derived from natural sources, some of the ingredients are not organic.
Value for money
The Vegan Protein Powder received a 3 out of 5 rating for pricing since it is a tad expensive than many of its competitors’ products. However, we believe you might save a lot of money on vitamin supplements because it already includes a lot of them! Plus, because this is a premium product with obvious quality, we’d say it’s probably worth the money because it blends so smoothly and has such great ingredients.
Blendability
We gave this shake a 4 out of 5 blendability rating since users say that it blended quickly and didn’t get lumpy after a fast shake. It appears grainy at first glance, but after being shaken, it becomes quite smooth. Reviews say they tested this product in both ball shakers and grill shakers and discovered that it blended nicely in both, but somewhat better in the grill shaker. Ball shakers are fantastic for clumps of whey protein, but this protein powder doesn’t clump at all, therefore the noisy ball is unnecessary.
Taste
We gave it a 3 out of 5 for taste because it has a subtle flavour. Users tasted the shake with both water and milk and found that while water had a thinner flavour, milk hid some of the flavor, despite giving it a better texture. We think it’d be delicious with almond or coconut milk. It doesn’t have a strong flavour, so if you don’t like your protein powder to be too strong, this could be a good option for you. It would also be delicious when combined with bananas and berries in a shake!
Return policy
The Protein Works gives a “Lifetime Guarantee” on their products which means they have up to 365 days to return the product. So, in case you are not satisfied with the product, simply return it back and you will be refunded.
You can contact customer support at The Protein Works™, Unit 4 & 5, Pembroke Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1TJ or you can Email or Live Chat with your tracking number.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best Vegan protein powder in the UK, then Vegan Protein Powder from The Protein Works is the best. The Protein Works has undoubtedly set a standard in vegan nutrition that other companies should strive to match. While it may be lacking in taste and, more importantly, value for money, it does provide vegans with a complete dose of protein as well as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Although nutritionally great and one of the finest solutions for vegan athletes, many non-vegans are unlikely to switch.
Tastes nice, good clean protein
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Flavour
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Quality
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Value for money