Ditch the Dairy, Boost Your Gains: Dive into Vegan Protein Isolate’s Benefits, Sources & More
What is Vegan Protein Isolate?
Vegan protein isolate is a protein powder made from plant-based sources such as peas, soy, rice, or hemp. It is called an “isolate” because the protein has been extracted from the plant source and purified, leaving behind concentrated Protein powder. This process eliminates most of the carbohydrates, fats, and other nutrients that are naturally present in the plant source.
There is another class of vegan protein, which is “Natural vegan protein powders” For example Sattu, Brands like Sheer MADness, where no nutrient is eliminated, instead all the natural ingredients are kept intact.
In recent years as people have become more health-conscious and environmentally aware and plant-based diets and products have gained popularity. Vegan protein is one such product that has seen a surge in demand. So let us explore what vegan protein is, its benefits, how it can be used and how it is manufactured.
The purity of vegan protein powders makes them an excellent option for those who want to increase their protein intake without consuming additional calories or other nutrients. It is also ideal for people with dietary restrictions or sensitivities, such as lactose intolerance or allergies to dairy or eggs, as it is completely free of animal products.
Benefits of Vegan Protein Isolate:
1) Muscle Building and Repair.
Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles, making it an important nutrient for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Vegan protein provides all the essential amino acids necessary for muscle growth and repair.
2) Weight Management.
Vegan protein is low in calories and high in protein, making it a great option for those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Protein is known to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness, which can help prevent overeating.
3) Digestive Health.
Vegan protein isolate is easier to digest than other protein sources, such as whey protein, which can cause digestive issues for some people. It is also free of lactose, which can be difficult for some people to digest.
4) Sustainable and Environmentally-Friendly.
Animal agriculture is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Vegan protein isolate is made from plant-based sources, which have a much lower environmental impact and are more sustainable.
The next question that comes to mind is-
Q) How to Use Vegan Protein Isolate?
Vegan protein isolate can be used in a variety of ways, including:
1) Protein Shakes and Smoothies
One of the easiest ways to incorporate vegan protein isolate into your diet is by adding it to a protein shake or smoothie. Simply mix the powder with your favourite plant-based milk, water, or juice, and blend it with fruits, vegetables, or other ingredients of your choice.
2) Baked Goods
Vegan protein isolate can also be used in baking to add protein to your favourite treats. It can be added to pancake batter, muffins, or cookies, for example.
3) Snacks
Vegan protein isolate can be used to make protein bars, energy bites, or other snack foods. These are great options for those who need a quick and easy protein boost on the go.
But the discussion doesn’t end here, let us also understand the process of the filtration of protein or the isolation of Protein from the source. and that leads us to
How is Vegan Protein made?
Protein isolation is the process of extracting protein from a food source, such as peas, soy, rice, or hemp and purifying it into a powder form. The process involves several steps, including filtration, separation, and purification.
Filtration is the first step in protein isolation, where the protein is separated from other components, such as carbohydrates and fats, that are present in the food source. Filtration can be done using several methods, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and ion exchange chromatography.
Microfiltration and ultrafiltration use membranes with pores of different sizes to separate the protein from other components based on their size. Microfiltration typically removes larger particles, while ultrafiltration removes smaller particles. These methods are often used together to achieve maximum purification.
Ion exchange chromatography uses an ion exchange resin to separate proteins based on their charge. The resin has positively or negatively charged groups, which attract proteins with opposite charges. This method is highly effective at separating proteins with different charges.
After filtration, the protein is then separated from the other components using methods such as centrifugation or precipitation. Centrifugation involves spinning the mixture at high speeds, which separates the protein from other components based on their density. Precipitation involves adding a chemical, such as acid or salt, to the mixture, which causes the protein to separate out. Now, this is what we hate at the facility of Sheer MADness.
The final step in protein isolation is purification, where the isolated protein is further processed to remove any remaining impurities. This is typically done using methods such as reverse osmosis, dialysis, or ultrafiltration.
Overall, protein isolation is a complex process that requires specialized equipment and expertise. The result is a highly purified protein powder that can be used in a variety of applications, including food and beverage products, supplements, and cosmetics.
Although there is another method known as the Hot and cold method, Proteins can be extracted using hot and cold water from several plant sources. Here the sample is subjected to ≥100 °C with high pressure and then cooled at room temperature. This technique is also known as subcritical water extraction with a temperature range from 100 to 380 °C.
But since it’s not commercially viable, manufacturing units still use chemical methods. Now just imagine the number of chemicals a human consumes,
Products of Sheer MADness don’t go through any such harsh chemical-filled process. It’s a perfect blend of almond, flaxseed, and turmeric as the mother recipe, in perfect proportion and with no chemical-filled preservatives, no artificial flavouring or additives, or emulsifiers.
The only other ingredients used are cocoa, Pure dark chocolate, for the Chocolate variant, and Moringa and cardamom in the Moringa variant. Thus, keeping the fibres, starches, and numerous other micro minerals, vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, various other amino acids, and essential fats intact, since we believe that it’s not only the protein that builds muscles but there are also numerous other factors like Exercise, rest, hormonal health and a lot more that helps in building muscles.
Conclusion:
Vegan protein is undoubtedly a way to increase your protein intake, but make sure to read the labels carefully, try and find out the method of production, the particular brand has used
To understand the industrial/commercial process: please refer to the link:
Now, here are Few Facts before I finish:
These are the same lines from my book “Great Health Comes from Exercise & Nutrition”
a) Everyone is an individual, so what suits me, may or may not suit the next person.
b) If a person has a medical condition, a doctor’s advice and prescribed medication will only help.
c) While buying any protein powder from the market read the labels carefully, and Watch out for various codes, and words like Anti-caking agent, and INS 551( Also known as Silicon dioxide), All these are Laboratory made chemicals, and although approved by regulatory bodies think twice, will you consume a spoon of Silicon dioxide? And Silicon dioxide is just one product, there are numerous others like BHA ( Butylated hydroxyanisole ), BHT ( Butylated hydroxytoluene ) and the list of lab-made chemicals goes on and on with various codes, that we generally ignore.
Hence read the labels especially the ingredients list of the product before buying.
If you are interested in buying chemical-free Natural vegan Protein powder, Health drinks for kids or our delicious but chemical-free Energy bars and Protein bars shop @ Sheer MADness.
One can also buy our Products From Flipkart, Jio Mart or ONDC in India.
d) Exercise is the key to fitness, we should always keep in mind that exercise and nutrition are two sides of the same coin and always go hand in hand. So only nutrition will not help you attain any goals till it is not supplemented with Exercise.
e) Excess of anything is wrong, it can be the best nutrient-filled superfood, but one should consume only recommended quantities.
f) Regarding health, fitness, and nutrition, remember that Rome was not built in a day. Your discipline and consistency is the key.
g) It’s not only Exercise and protein that builds muscles, there are numerous other factors like a healthy gut, numerous macro and micronutrients, your body type and DNA, the amount of rest the body gets, the lifestyle an individual lives, and on and on it goes. Out of all these, exercise and nutrition are within our control, and one should focus on these two primary aspects.
h) For More benefits related to Vegan Protein Powder, I will request you to read the Post: Muscle Growth to Health, Plant Protein Powders are the future.
i) To clear any doubt related to the topic of “Protein” I would request you to read my post “Protein, Everything you should be aware of.”
j) And the most important part: Nothing is better than a balanced meal.
Article by Chef Ashutosh Awasthi.
Disclaimer: Our products are a source of HEALTHY NUTRIENTS and COMPLETELY FREE OF ANY ADDED CHEMICALS.
We do not claim to cure any medical condition.
The information provided is informational, and we do not claim to diagnose or treat a person with any specific medical condition.
