What Is The Best Plant-Based Protein Powder to Build Muscle?

Building muscle comes with a great deal of stress on the body, so it’s important to support it with a balanced lifestyle. Introducing a vegan protein powder (instead of whey protein powder) into your health regimen is a great way to support your body—especially your muscles—while you’re building muscle. There are a lot of options for vegan protein powder, so it’s important to know exactly what to look for. Let's break down everything you need to know to incorporate protein powder into your routine.

Which Plant-Based Protein Is Best for Muscle Gain?

Pea protein, soy protein, and hemp protein can all be very effective plant-based proteins for muscle gain. Let's look at each of these plant-based protein sources a little more deeply.

Pea Protein

One of the most popular plant proteins is pea protein. It is made by extracting the protein from yellow peas, which are of higher-quality than green peas. It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and is a great source of branched-chain amino acids, which help promote muscle growth. It’s rich in iron, easily digestible, and naturally allergen-friendly. Nourify® PLUS uses a pea and rice protein blend to give you a rich, complete source of protein.

Soy Protein

Another popular type of vegan protein is soy protein. It’s found in products like tofu, tempeh, edamame, and other soy products, but can also be found in soy protein powder. It is a complete protein, and soy protein isolate contains the most protein per serving. There are some concerns with soy protein. It contains phytates which are categorized as “antinutrients,” as they may reduce the availability of certain minerals. Additionally, most soy foods grown globally are genetically modified (GMO), which means they have been genetically altered. Soy is a popular vegan protein source, but it’s important to find products that are non-GMO! 

Hemp Protein

Hemp is another vegan protein source that is a complete protein. It also has fiber, healthy fats, and minerals! It is easier to digest than some other protein sources, which can help your body get all the benefits of it. Studies show that less than five percent of Americans get enough fiber in their diet, so high-fiber foods like hemp protein can help. Hemp protein also has unsaturated fats, which are beneficial for overall health. It’s also rich in key minerals and antioxidants. 

Can You Build Muscle with Plant-Based Protein Powder? 

In short, yes! Plant-based protein powder is just as effective as animal-based protein powder for building muscle, especially if you get one that is a complete protein. Getting enough protein is imperative for building muscle mass and your overall health. Muscle protein synthesis is the process by which your body converts amino acids into skeletal muscle, and the overall process of creating protein molecules—these are needed to help you build muscle mass. 

Vegan Protein Powder: What Protein Powder Do Vegan Bodybuilders Use?

It is possible to build muscle with vegan protein powder. Qualities to look for in plant-based protein powder are ensuring it’s a complete protein, contains BCAAs, and has a high protein content. Some of the most popular vegan protein powders for bodybuilding are: 

• Vega Sport Premium Vegan Protein Powder - this protein powder is NSF-certified for sport, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan. It has 30 grams of protein per serving, 5 grams of BCAAs, and has no added sugar. However, this plant-based protein powder is not pharmaceutical-grade and contains gums. 

• NAKED Nutrition Pea Protein Powder - this protein powder has 27 grams of protein per serving, no additives, and is vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free. It’s also third-party tested, non-GMO, and only has one ingredient: pea protein extracted from yellow split peas. 

• Thorne Research VeganPro Complex - this plant-based protein powder has 20 grams of protein per serving, is a complete protein—a pea, rice, and chia blend—is free of major allergens, and is NSF certified for sport. 

• Nourify® PLUS - this vegan protein powder is high-quality, non-GMO, pharmaceutical-grade, gluten, dairy, and soy-free, and boasts 20+ grams of protein per serving. It’s a complete protein and has all BCAAs. Something that sets this protein powder apart is that it contains one billion probiotics and a digestive enzyme blend to help with your overall digestion. Previnex® takes into consideration that sometimes, protein powder can cause stomach upset, so to mitigate that risk, we included digestive enzymes directly into every serving of Nourify®!

Chocolate and Vanilla Protein Powder for You

When it comes to building muscle and upping your protein intake, finding the right protein powder is key. The best vegan protein powders will be high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade, non-GMO, and without added ingredients, emulsifiers, or gums. Nourify® PLUS is all of this and more! It is gluten, dairy, and soy-free, boasts 20+ grams of protein per serving, contains all BCAAs, and contains one billion probiotics with digestive enzymes per serving. As a pea and rice protein blend, it is great for building muscle and contributing to your overall health. Grab yourself Nourify® PLUS in vanilla or chocolate to experience a vegan protein powder that doesn’t compromise taste or quality!