Ask the Experts

The new millennium has seen a wider range of protein powders as nutritional supplements, with active people increasingly turning to vegan protein, considered by some to be one of the cleanest fuels for your body.

When combined with additional ingredients in new protein blends—such as medicinal mushrooms, fermented peas, and sprouted brown rice—vegan protein can certainly be a powerful addition to your regimen.

Fermentation

One way to reinforce the power of vegan protein is through fermentation. In addition to its food preservation qualities, fermentation of plant-based protein produces a series of nutrients, from effective enzymes and beneficial probiotics to omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins.

Another is proteins from sprouted grains, legumes, or seeds, which help to absorb key minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. In general, vegan protein helps maintain a balance that may help reduce inflammation and immune hyperactivity.

Enzyme blends

Enzyme blends can help people pack even more punch in their protein. Try protein powders that carry natural enzyme blends to help the body break the protein down into smaller particles. This helps optimize digestion and absorption, and enhances delivery of amino acids to tissues in need throughout the body.

Broad-spectrum amino acids

Supplementing with vegan protein helps generate a more complete pool of amino acids, dipeptides and tripeptides, the building blocks of tissue. Look for those with natural digestive enzymes and high protein digestibility corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS).

A balanced approach, resulting in the delivery of broad-spectrum amino acids, helps active people shift toward a more favourable body composition. That’s the punch most of us are looking for as we integrate protein supplements into our daily regimens.