Welcome back!
The team at Thrive Plant Co. are very familiar with people questioning how plant-based eaters get enough protein in their diet.
We’re happy to report that there are numerous sources to help us hit this macronutrient for your plant-based diet. Among all the complete protein options available to us, how did we settle on using organic golden pea protein powder isolate for our product?
We’re happy you asked!
Whey protein vs pea plant protein
Whey protein is the most commonly used protein supplement – but obviously doesn’t work with plant-based or vegetarian diets.
That's ok because two types of protein can exist to serve different consumers! When creating a pea protein powder product, we knew it would need to be comparable to the results obtained from whey, and golden pea protein powder hits the mark.
Whey protein powder has been used as a muscle building supplement for a long time. However, with changing diets, there is a need for a plant-based protein alternative that can rival the benefits of its animal-based counterpart.
Unlike other plant derived protein sources, pea protein is one of the few complete plant-based high-quality protein, meaning it contains all nine of the essential amino acids our bodies need to build muscle and can’t produce by themselves.
And, the results are in! The difference between pea protein and whey has been found to be insignificant when it comes to strength, force production, and increases in muscle thickness.
In fact, in a study of bicep thickness in men, among the three control groups, those who utilized a pea protein and a whey protein saw very similar results, while the placebo group (no protein dietary supplements) saw far fewer improvements.
These same results were found in another study that looked at athlete’s one-rep max scores for squat and dead-lift, as well as a force production pull test. The groups supplemented either with whey or pea protein, and between the two, no statistical differences were found – meaning both protein sources produced the same effects.
And when gut sensitivities mean dairy is off the menu, you need to find alternatives. A variety of plant-based protein supplements are available including our pea protein.
Thrive plant protein powder can compete equally with casein and whey (cow’s milk proteins) for building muscle, and is superior to many other plant proteins. Its low allergenicity also works for people with gut issues. And to make it even more appealing, ours comes in a 4 delicious flavours including vanilla, chocolate, cookie crumble and banana bread!
What is isolate?
First things first, pea protein “isolate” refers to the wet extraction process that the peas have gone through to separate the protein. Not only does this process yield the highest concentration of plant-based proteins, it removes other unwanted elements.
According to the Cleveland Clinic: One of two types of pea protein you're likely to come across in a store, an isolate is a powder that contains pea protein, amino acids and nothing else
For example, through this process, lectin is separated from the protein. Lectin is a compound that causes cells to stick together, but it can cause digestive issues for some people. This is just one example of the benefit of why we choose an organic yellow peas isolate for our protein – so our product is yielding the purest source of protein possible.
Now, getting into the details of the source, the protein is extracted from yellow (golden) split peas. Peas are naturally low in allergens and are rich in nutrients such as protein (obviously), fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, they’re naturally low in fat. Due to the low amount of allergens, high fibre content, and the isolation process, pea protein is easily digestible, another key factor we considered when selecting this ingredient.
What is leucine?
Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that is notable for its role in the muscle protein synthesis process. As a protein supplement, possibly the biggest benefit of golden peas is their essential amino acids content. Specifically, golden peas have a high leucine content.
Leucine is necessary for the body to repair and build muscle tissue, build muscle mass and encourage muscle growth. This makes this a key factor when creating a plant-based protein supplement. For comparison purposes, whey protein is around 10% leucine by weight, and pea protein is close behind with 9% leucine by weight – pretty impressive for a plant-based protein source!
Why protein supplements?
Protein supplements are great for everyone – not just athletes. They’re a convenient snack or meal replacement when you’re on-the-go, or provide additional protein intake for the day.
Choosing golden peas as our protein source was an easy decision and a good option when we researched their health benefits.
Beyond the fact that their nutrient profile is solid, and they’re easily digestible, peas are known for their anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as the presence of phytochemicals such as antioxidants and flavonoids.
Combined with exercise, protein supplements can lead to other health benefits such as weight loss and muscle recovery.
Pair these compounds with pea’s high fibre content and the health benefits add up quickly. With a nutritious diet, pea protein can support healthy blood pressure, help control blood glucose, help reduce cell damage from oxidative stress, and keep you feeling full and satisfied. That’s impressive!
We hope you can see why we opted to rely on golden peas to be our singular protein source for Vegan Protein.
When you can hit all of these important markers with one ingredient, why make the formula more confusing?
Our focus at Thrive Plant Co. is to provide clean, simple, high quality products, and we are confident Vegan Protein delivers just that.
How do you consume pea protein isolate?
We're glad you asked! Although there are no right or wrong ways, we've put together recipes on our best way to get your protein needs from our products. The best part is that we combine these while whole foods with natural products and are free of artificial flavors to create delicious protein shakes.
Each Click below for our favourite recipes that are a great choice for high protein content:
- Thrive Vanilla Plant Protein shake
- Thrive protein packed breakfast bar
About Thrive Plant Co
Our Plant Based Vegan Protein Powder has only 5 simple ingredients: Golden Pea Protein Isolate (Pisum sativum seed 80%), natural flavor, xanthan gum, non-dairy creamer, stevia leaf extract (natural sweetener) and sodium chloride. No added sugar or artificial sweeteners!
Our proteins also come in a variety of other great flavours including Cookie Crumble, Chocolate Protein and Banana Bread. Check out each of these flavours for great smoothie recipes.
Our proteins contain 25 grams of protein per serving (about 50% of your daily value) and come in a variety of other great flavours. It's a great way to give that protein boost you need.
Thrive Plant co additionally produces a line of Good Greens, which contains 47 different superfoods and and easy way to consume essential nutrients.
This ensures each serving of our plant-based protein powders are packed full of micronutrients and antioxidants to promote optimal immune system health and well-being for your daily diet.
You can order our products directly through our website and get them in as quick as 1 business day or 3-5 business days if you have more time. At this time, we ship to Canada only. Any general nutrition advice should be done with a registered dietician!