If you have been trying to increase muscle mass, or even maintain your body composition, while on a plant-based diet, you may have realized that removing lean meat and fish off the menu makes protein intake a challenge. Well, you can quit worrying now because plant-based protein powders have revolutionized the supplementary protein industry, making the best vegan protein powders a hit among athletes and health-conscious individuals.

Gone are the days when whey protein was considered the go-to source. Now, people have become acquainted with the vast benefits of vegan protein powders. No more restricted to vegans, plant-based protein powders have become the preferred choice of lactose-intolerant individuals too.

That being said, the wide selection of protein powders to choose from can be baffling for many. Additionally, it is not uncommon for protein powders manufacturers to sneak in unnecessary ingredients or low-quality ingredients.

Here are a few factors that you must consider to avoid adulterated protein powders and choose the best vegan protein powder.

Complete Protein

A complete protein intake comprises the nine essential amino acids i.e., histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. You may think that rice protein, pea protein, wheat protein, etc., perfectly suit your vegan needs. However, that is not true. These are single-source protein powders i.e., they do not contain all the nine essential amino acids.

The best vegan protein powder will, therefore, have all the essential amino acids with a blend of the different plants. The next time you go protein-powder shopping, look for a blend of chia, pea, and rice protein, for instance.

Nutrient-Dense

The best vegan protein powder is rich in micronutrients. Pumpkin protein, for instance, is high in magnesium and potassium. Pea protein offers a large amount of calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin E. Essentially, one must not focus solely on the protein source. The intake, or lack of, other nutrients is equally important. A vegan diet offers plenty of other performance and energy benefits, but only if you are mindful of this when selecting your protein powder.

Organic

Plant-protein should be organic. While this may sound similar to water should be wet, many powders, indeed, carry protein from pesticide-laden plants. This is commonly seen in soy protein.

Sustainably Sourced

While this criterion does not directly alter your health and body goals, it does alter your immediate environment. If you value going completely organic, you are likely to value the cause of a safe environment. There are plenty of vegan protein powders that are labeled sustainably sourced or Non-GMO certified. Selecting a protein option that is either Non-GMO or GMO will affect your health.

Grain-Free

For those who are gluten intolerant or on a Paleo diet, a grain-free vegan protein powder is highly recommended. Pea protein, hemp protein, spirulina, etc. are all the amazing options available to you.

Quality Ingredients

While the old adage, the fewer ingredients on a label, the better, is true. It does make the previous task of balancing completely clean protein with a tasty product a challenge.

Several plant-based protein powders on the market have a gritty texture combined with a bitter taste, and sometimes an off-putting color. No, that does not sound, look, or taste appetizing at all. To fix this problem, some manufacturers add in a whole lot of synthetic sweeteners, artificial flavors, fillers, and/or artificial coloring. In the worst case, they go right ahead and load up the powder with pure sugar (honey, agave, and coconut sugar do in fact count as sugar).

Be sure to watch out for the following suspicious ingredients.

. Sucralose

. Coconut sugar

. Brown rice syrup

. Agave

. Acesulfame-potassium

. Aspartame

Instead, look for natural sweeteners like all-natural stevia or other natural flavors.

The best vegan protein powder is not solely restricted to a vegan. It is beneficial for anyone wanting to optimize their health. So, head for the best vegan protein powder, today.