Is Vegan Protein Powder Highly Processed?

There are a few criteria to consider when it comes to choosing a vegan protein powder. It should be high-quality, non-GMO, pharmaceutical-grade (this means products go through a rigorous testing process that ensures quality, safety, and effectiveness), and sourced from high-quality farms. It should also contain no additives, gums, emulsifiers, added sugar, or sugar alcohols. It’s also crucial to look at ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes to ensure you’re getting the highest quality protein powder. 

Is Vegan Protein Powder a Processed Food?

Processed foods are foods that are changed from their natural state—even something as simple as cleaning, cutting, cooking, or canning. There is somewhat of a spectrum when it comes to processed foods: 

• Unprocessed/minimally processed - these foods are things like fresh products, roasted nuts, or foods with slight changes, like frozen fruits. 

• Processed culinary ingredients - things like butter, oils, sugar, and salt. In their purest form, these products come from nature, but they have been slightly changed. 

• Processed foods - canned fish, fruits in syrup, cheese—products that were made by adding things from groups one or two. 

• Ultra-processed foods - these are items that are the result of intensive manufacturing processes. This category contains food like instant ramen or gummy bears. 

When it comes to protein powder, there are a few different processing techniques. For whey protein, the milk has to be separated. For vegan protein powder, the protein source (peas, brown rice, etc) has to be ground into flour. The protein has to be extracted and concentrated. If there is added flavor, that is also part of the process. Different sources of protein need to be processed differently, and the processing techniques impact the overall integrity of the protein—so it’s imperative to choose a company with high-quality, mindful manufacturing processes. 

Vegan Protein Powder vs Whey Protein Powder Processing

Whey protein tends to undergo extensive processing to isolate the protein. During this process, additives, artificial sweeteners, and even preservatives can be added to the protein. Additives like gums, emulsifiers, and added sugars can negatively impact your digestion and the overall quality of the protein. 

Vegan protein powder, on the other hand, typically requires less processing, which makes it easier to digest. When vegan protein powder is processed, the natural nutrients of the ingredients are typically preserved more easily, so fewer additives and harmful ingredients are introduced. Of course, this is going to be heavily dependent on the company you’re sourcing your vegan protein powder from. 

Are Protein Powders Considered Highly Processed? 

The typical manufacturing process for protein powder involves sourcing raw protein materials—like whey from milk or pea protein—extracting the protein from the raw material and concentrating it. From there, some protein powders will have flavor or other ingredients added, and then the protein powder will be blended together, quality tested, and packaged. The level of how processed protein powder depends on the quality of the soil, the quality of ingredients, and overall manufacturing processes. 

Is Vegan Protein Powder Actually Healthy? 

High-quality vegan protein powder can be a healthy choice to add to your wellness regimen, but is Vegan Protein Powder good for you? While “healthy” is subjective, vegan protein powder is just as beneficial to your health as whey protein. There is a misconception that vegan protein powder is not a complete protein—meaning, it does not contain all nine essential amino acids. However, this is entirely dependent upon the protein source and manufacturing. There are many vegan protein powders—like Nourify® PLUS—that contain all nine essential amino acids, and even branch-chain amino acids. Some of the top health benefits of vegan protein powder are: 

• It helps you build muscle and lose weight. 

• It helps you keep a balanced diet. Your meals should have a healthy blend of protein, carbs, and fat. Otherwise, you are left feeling hungry, and your body lacks essential nutrients. Using high-quality vegan protein powder as a meal replacement or adding it to things like baked goods, oatmeal, and smoothies can make your meals have a more complete nutrient profile. 

• It’s high in iron. Iron is a mineral essential to your body’s overall health. It helps your body make hemoglobin—a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to and through the rest of your system. In just one scoop of Nourify® PLUS chocolate protein powder, you get 23% of your daily value of iron. In two scoops, it’s 46%! 

Additives like gums and artificial ingredients can decrease the nutritional profile of vegan protein powder. Since these added ingredients do not have any nutritional value, they do not add anything beneficial to the protein powder or to your overall health. 

What Protein Powder Is Not Ultra-Processed? 

Protein powder that is not ultra-processed will contain non-GMO and/or organic ingredients, be sourced from a high-quality farm, and will have no additives. It will be as pure as possible! One of the best ways to know you’re getting a high-quality product is to ensure it is pharmaceutical-grade and has undergone third-party testing. 

Vegan protein powder that is pharmaceutical-grade has higher quality standards—it’s gone through rigorous testing to make sure it is void of contaminants. Additionally, third-party testing is done through a lab not associated or affiliated with the company you’re purchasing from. This decreases the likelihood of bias but still gives you a complete picture of the overall protein powder quality. Since protein powder and other supplements are not well regulated by the FDA, a third-party organization can independently verify the ingredients in the product. Third-party testing assists in regulating the purity and safety of supplements! It ensures that what’s listed on the label is what you’re actually getting. 

Conclusion

Consuming a high-quality, minimally-processed vegan powder is a great way to support your health and wellness. Nourify® PLUS is pharmaceutical-grade, non-GMO, gluten, dairy, and soy free, and contains no gums, emulsifiers, or sugar alcohols. It also contains one billion probiotics with digestive enzymes in every serving to support your digestion. The protein sources come from high-quality and organic farms in Canada (yellow pea) and Southeast Asia (brown rice), ensuring its purity and quality. Nourify® PLUS comes in both chocolate and vanilla flavors and is designed to support your overall health. Grab a canister today!