Pea Protein Pros

Protein is a macronutrient made up of different combinations of building blocks called amino acids. It’s an essential part of our diet that is vital for many processes such building, repairing and maintaining the body's structures.. Just to name a few.

But which is the right type of protein powder to buy?

With many options out there, picking a protein powder can get confusing. There is Whey, Casein, Soy, Pea, Hemp, Egg and Rice protein powders to choose from. To make it easy, we’ve broken it into two classifications; animal product protein powders and plant-based protein powders:

To start with, be sure the protein powder you choose has all nine essential amino acids, which some powders do not. There are 20 different amino acids that we need for our body to function properly, nine of which we can only get through food, called ‘essential amino acids’. While our body naturally makes the other 11 ‘non-essential’ amino acids, times of high stress or illness can mean that our body requires more to keep up with demand. Where we’re not getting enough protein in the diet, this can result in muscle loss, a poor immune system, and skin, hair and nail problems. 

You can learn more about the different types of protein in our guide to choosing the best protein for you. 

Animal product protein powder

The most commonly used animal product protein powder is Whey protein. Whey protein is a milk-based protein made from draining, filtering and drying liquid milk. It is a complete protein, but does contain varying amounts of disaccharide lactose (sugar found in milk), which contributes to the higher calorie count. Whey, and other animal protein powders such as casein, can cause abdominal discomfort and digestion issues in some people, due to the dairy content disrupting the gut lining. 

Plant-based protein powder

Pea protein is a high quality protein which is made quite literally, from peas. Dried peas are finely ground into powder to make a completely plant-based, vegan and vegetarian friendly protein powder. It’s known to be easier on the digestive system as it doesn't contain common dietary allergens (like dairy and egg-based protein powders). For vegetarians, vegans, those with dairy, wheat, soy, and egg allergy or intolerance, and those who might not be getting enough complete protein in the diet, pea protein is a fantastic dietary supplement as it includes all nine essential amino acids, including branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s) for muscle growth and repair, and additionally provides a good source of iron.

TIP: Pea protein is the ideal form of protein for people with ‘inflammatory conditions’ such as acne, eczema or psoriasis as it does not contain insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) found in animal products, which can contribute to blemished skin. 

How much?

The recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein for women in New Zealand is 46g/day, and men is 64g/day. Our high quality pea-protein contains around 18g per 25g serve, and mixes silky smooth into any liquids or baking, perfect for everyday use. Sick of protein smoothies? See our recipe section for delicious ideas of how to incorporate your protein powder into meals.

Pea protein powder is suitable for both men and women alike. Although men and women have different daily protein needs, a high dose protein serve makes it easy to get just the right amount. 

Either taken post-workout to assist with muscle repair and building, or baked into a delicious afternoon snack to curb the cravings, pea protein powder can be taken at any time of the day, with any food. Protein has a myriad of health benefits and is essential for all systems and structures of the body, making it the ideal dietary supplement.