So, which are the best protein powders to help you gain muscle and burn body fats fast when you are vegan or just plant curious?
And can you really build muscle mass on plant protein powders only?
In my opinion, Transparent Labs Organic Vegan rice and pea protein is by far the best pea protein for bodybuilding! Keep reading to see why and where you can buy it online at discounted a price…
Best Pea Protein Powder for Bodybuilders
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Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Rice & Pea Protein
Transparent Labs is one of the well-known brands in the world of protein powders, and if you have been looking for a vegan solution for bodybuilding, you might like their Organic Vegan Rice & Pea protein powder.
This protein powder isn’t just 100% vegan; it is also safe for the body as it is free of artificial flavorings, as well as sweeteners. And to show that this is a product you can trust, it is USDA-Organic certified.
How will this Organic Vegan Rice & Pea Protein Powder going to help you gain muscle?
With a 2:1 rice to pea protein formulation, this protein powder contains a protein base designed to ensure that your cells have an adequate supply of amino acids to encourage muscle building and muscle recovery.
This protein powder feels good in the mouth, and it not only tastes and smells good, but the formulation has also been made into this super-smooth mixture without any textured grit. It is delicious, goes down smoothly, and it’s easy on your digestive system.
The primary reason why we think of this vegan protein powder as one of the best on the market has to do with the high protein content per serving. Each serving of this protein powder packs 24g of protein, which is one of the highest protein concentrations in plant-based protein powders.
One scoop of the protein powder – 32.05g gives you 120 calories. It also contains 3 grams of carbs – 2g sugar and 1g fiber, and 2g of unsaturated fats.
The other ingredients of this protein powder include 20g of rice protein, 9.411g of pea protein isolate, 500g of pure vanilla sugar, 270g stevia, 1.56g natural flavors, and 310g of Himalayan rock salt.
You might also like it because it’s free of sodium or cholesterol. The absence of minerals and vitamins doesn’t make us too happy with this product, though.
With all these ingredients, this plant-based protein powder is one of the most versatile protein powders on the market. And if you have been told that the plant-based protein powders are not effective in muscle building, the ingredients in this protein powder clearly show that the contrarians are wrong.
By combining pea and rice proteins, while keeping the concentration of the carbs super low, this product has a high protein: carbs ratio, making it one of the best plant-based protein powders on the market. It’s also one of the most versatile protein powders.
This protein powder is free of soy, preservatives, gluten, and it’s 100% organic.
- 120 calories and 24g of protein for every serving/ scoop
- It mixes quite well, and it has a super-smooth texture/ consistency
- It’s organic, vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free
- Ideal plant-based protein powder for bodybuilding
- It is also enriched with 8 BCAAs for an amino acid profile boost
- It’s affordable
- No added preservatives
- It goes down smoothly and tastes good
- Super low carbs
- It has no vitamins, minerals or probiotics
- It has some brown rice proteins
- It’s not recommended for use by individuals with extreme sensitivities to animal proteins, wheat, or soybeans.
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Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
Made with a rich, creamy chocolate fudge taste and consistency, this plant-based protein powder might be what you need for muscle building.
This protein powder is made of pea, brown rice, and chia seeds proteins delivering as much as 21g of healthy proteins per serving. It’s a healthy protein powder for anyone interested in bulking up while on a plant-based diet thanks to the ingredients incorporated.
Each serving of this Orgain plant-based organic protein powder gives you 21g of protein, as well as 6g of dietary fiber, 4g net carbs, and 0g sugar. These constitute 150 calories per serving.
The chocolate fudge taste makes this a tasty protein powder, but what makes it a good option is its consistency. It mixes easily with water, milk, and you can add it to any of your protein shake recipes for a quick breakfast, pre/post-workout drink, or snack. You could also add it to your cake, brownies, or muffin batters for extra protein and an instant energy boost.
Given its versatility, nutritional benefits, and great taste, this protein powder is a healthy on-the-go option for men, kids, and women.
The high protein content makes it a good meal replacement option. You could also enjoy this protein powder as a smoothie booster for building lean muscle mass and for the enhancement of your muscle recovery process. As mentioned above, it’s an ideal pre and post-workout protein powder.
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Certified by the Regulatory affairs in 2018
- Can be used as a meal replacement option
- 21g and 150 calories per serving
- Creamy, smooth and delicious consistency and taste
- Kosher, vegan, gluten-free, USDA organic, soy-free and non-GMO
- It helps with weight loss through appetite suppression
- Easy to mix
- No stomach issues
- Affordable
- A little too chalky
- The taste doesn’t work for everyone
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Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Unflavored Powder
Garden of Life is a popular brand around protein powders for bodybuilding, and this plant-based protein powder is one of the best products by the brand. It’s rated highly by thousands; for good reasons.
It has a high protein content of 22g per serving, making it a good option for muscle building, and it’s free of sugar. It’s made from USA-grown peas, along with 13 raw organic sprouts. Each serving gives you 110 calories.
The high-protein content and the formulation with minerals and vitamins A. D, E, and K make this unflavored protein powder one of the best post-workout recovery protein powders. It’s a clean option, and it encourages fast muscle recovery while giving you that energy boost you need in the gym.
It’s also enriched with probiotics, 3 million CFU probiotics, to be specific, meaning that this protein powder will also enhance your digestion.
It also comes highly recommended because it’s gluten, soy, and dairy-free, and it’s also organic, vegan, and non-GMO.
- 0g sugar, 22g protein, 110 calories
- It contains probiotics, protein-digesting enzymes, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
- USDA, Vegan, and Non-GMO certified
- It contains raw ingredients which are more bioavailable for utilization by the body
- Different flavors
- The new version is different, and you might not like it
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NAKED Nutrition 5LB 100% Pea Protein Powder
For a 100% pea protein powder from peas grown in farms in North America, you have this vegan protein powder made of pea protein isolates. It’s easily digested and has been formulated to enhance muscle recovery.
This protein powder is unflavored, and unlike other pea and plant-based protein powders, it’s made of only one ingredient, the naked pea. It’s non-GMO, has no flavors or artificial sweeteners, and also gluten, color, and soy-free.
This protein powder is a good option for anyone looking for 100% vegan or vegetarian protein powders, and you might like it because it is dairy-free.
The maximum nutrition obtained from this protein powder is impressive, with 27g proteins, 2g sugar, 2g carbs, 5.7g BCAAs, and 120 calories per serving. These ingredients ensure that you remain fuller for longer while also encouraging an increase in your lean muscle mass and faster muscle recovery.
Though unflavored, you can enjoy it in the form of a protein shake, healthy green drinks or vegan smoothies, and even sauces and teas, among other recipes.
- Clean muscle gains
- High protein content at 27g per serving
- It has BCAAs to encourage muscle building and recovery
- Versatile pre and post-workout protein powder
- No dairy, sweeteners, additives and it’s vegan
- No soy
- Good value for money
- Good consistency for the powder and the grit dissolves eventually
- Blandish taste if taken on its own
- You might like the gritty bits
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Source Organic – Premium Pea Protein Isolate
100% organic and vegan, this premium-quality pea protein isolate makes a good plant-based protein powder. It comes in its pure pea protein form, and it offers all the muscle-building features you need.
Each serving gives you 22g of protein, 2.1g arginine, and 4.8g BCAAs, meaning that this protein powder offers everything you need for enhanced muscle gains, muscle recovery, and fat burning.
The peas are all sourced from the organic peas from Canadian farms. Just know that this pea protein concentrate is unflavored and free of sugars or color, but it’s free of allergens.
- Made of pure and raw pea protein isolates, hence a high protein content and a high degree of bioavailability
- Great source of iron
- It contains arginine and BCAAs for bigger muscle gains
- High-quality proteins
- Each serving has 0g cholesterol, 15g fats, 22g protein, 35mg potassium, and 90mg sodium for healthy cell functions
- No clumping
- It doesn’t have an off-putting smell
- Worth the money
- It’s unflavored, and you might not like the bland taste
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Micro Ingredients Organic Pea Protein Powder
Made of highly digestible essential amino acids and enriched with flavonoids and minerals, this organic pea protein might be exactly what you need to build your muscle mass fast; while supporting the function of your immune system.
It’s vegan-friendly, non-GMO, and free of additives, artificial flavors, soy, fillers, or gluten. All these make it a good fit for your lifestyle.
The protein content in each serving is not specified, but this protein powder comes with all the important ingredients you need for muscle building and weight loss.
The formulation of this plant protein powder with fatty acids, antioxidants, and natural fiber are the reasons why this powder boosts stamina, strength, and endurance levels.
- Tastes great with smoothies
- It encourages muscle building and weight loss
- Enriched with flavonoids (antioxidants), minerals and essential amino acids
- Keeps one full for longer
Cons
- Calories and protein content per serving isn’t specified
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Naturade Plant Based Vegan Pea Protein
This vegan shake is a formulation made of high-quality pea proteins. It is gluten-free, and also free of cholesterol, soy, and dairy.
The formulation is hypoallergenic, and it digests easily, thanks to the use of the highest quality pea protein isolate.
Made into a shake, it tastes great, and it’s a great source of protein for vegans, vegetarians, and individuals on the low-carb diet.
This pea protein powder also boasts a great amino acid profile, with a full spectrum of up to 18 amino acids, including the essential and the non-essential amino acids (the ones that cannot be produced by the body and the ones that can be produced by the body). These amino acids are important building blocks for the muscles, bones, and connective tissues.
Each serving (2 scoops) of this protein powder is 37g, and it leaves you with more than enough protein and amino acids for muscle building and weight loss.
- A great option for vegans
- Good consistency and non-gritty
- It’s affordable
- It tastes good
- High-protein content
- It has FODMAPs, and it is not a good option for persons with digestive issues like Hashimoto’s
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NOW Sports Nutrition Pea Protein Powder
This pea protein powder from NOW FOODS is one of the best options on the market, and each serving gives you 24g of easily digested proteins.
The protein powder is formulated with BCAAs, and each serving contains at least 4.2g of BCAAs and 2g of arginine, for enhanced muscle building and recovery.
Some of the amino acids in this protein powder include L-serine, lysine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, aspartic acid, alanine, arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, valine, histidine, tyrosine, and isoleucine.
You also don’t have to worry about the quality of the protein powder because this product has a high NPA rating (it’s A-Rated), which means that the product is clean, safe and it has gone through all the required standard testing procedures.
- Ideal pre and post-workout protein powder
- Encourages muscle building and muscle recovery
- Non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free
- Smooth texture for use in different drinks, recipes, and smoothies
- High protein content per serving
- 120 Calories per serving
- Low carbohydrates content
- The flavor is bearable, but it is not the greatest flavor
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Vegansmart Plant Based Pea Protein Powder by Naturade
This plant-based protein powder by Vegansmart is one of the best vegan protein powders on the market, as it offers everything you need to bulk up and even lose weight.
This non-GMO protein gives 20g per serving, and it’s free of dairy, soy, gluten, and cholesterol. It tastes great, and it makes excellent smoothies.
Some of the ingredients in this protein powder include invaluable amino acids, BCAAs, dietary fiber, and it doesn’t have any trans fats.
The protein powder also contains 2g of soluble fiber, 2g dietary fiber, 3g carbohydrates, 3g sugars, 2.5g total fats, 270mg sodium, and 130mg potassium.
It’s a low-calorie formulation for male and female athletes, as well as children.
- It’s a great source of plant-based proteins
- It boasts a great amino acids profile with 18 amino acids (essential and non-essential)
- 20g proteins per serving
- Great for muscle building, muscle recovery, for the good health of the muscles, bones, and connective tissue
- It has an amazing taste
- No awful after-taste, and it works great with smoothies and fruits
- 130 calories per serving
- It contains a little stevia
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Judee’s Gluten Free Pea Protein Powder
This is a high-protein plant-based protein powder that makes the best vegan addition to your muscle-building journey.
Made in a facility that’s free of gluten and nuts, the powder is vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, keto, and non-GMO. It’s unflavored and also free of artificial flavors and additives.
This protein powder is made of 100% pea proteins, with each serving of 25g made of 20g of high- quality proteins. Each serving contains 100 calories, making this protein powder a good option if you are looking to gain lean muscle mass.
It’s packaged in a reusable foil pouch, which keeps the protein powder fresh at all times.
- High-quality proteins
- Good pre or post-workout protein powder option
- It mixes well and easily
- 20g of protein and 110 calories per serving
- It’s affordable
- Its texture is inconsistent
- The taste of the new powder is off-putting – It has a faint eggs smell
- It’s not filling
Why Choose Pea Protein Powders?
A supplement made through the extraction of proteins from yellow peas, pea protein, represents one of the highest quality protein powders on the market, and it’s a good option for vegans who want to bulk up.
Pea protein is also a great source of iron, and it has been shown to be quite effective in muscle growth, as well as weight loss/ management, and the enhancement of overall heart health. This protein is also an excellent option for all diets since it’s naturally hypoallergenic and vegan. It goes quite well with smoothies and shakes too.
Pea protein boasts a huge range of nutritional benefits. The protein powder or the pea protein isolate is created through the isolation of proteins from the ground yellow peas, and the result of this extraction is a beige powder.
While the nutritional facts about the protein powders might vary depending on the brand you buy your protein powder from, 20g of pea protein (2 scoops) will give you:
- 80 calories
- 15g of protein
- 1 gram of carbs
- 5g total fat
- 1 gram fats
- 5g iron
- 230mg of sodium.
Other than these nutrients, pea protein boasts a rich supply of amino acids, and it has all the 9 essential amino acids needed by your body because the cells cannot make these amino acids. The only catch is that the pea protein powder will be low in the amino acid methionine.
Pea proteins are also an excellent source of the branched-chain amino acids like arginine that’s effective in the promotion of healthy blood flow and heart function, as well as valine, isoleucine, and leucine, all integral in muscle building.
What all that means is that pea protein is an excellent addition to your diet if you are vegan or lactose intolerant and looking for the best sources of plant proteins.
So, which are some of the best pea protein powders for bodybuilding?
Before you buy protein powder for bodybuilding, you need to check its amino acid profile to make sure that the protein powder will ensure the optimization of your muscle gains and muscle recovery.
With that in mind, the best of these protein powders have branched-chain amino acids and the best of the essential amino acids.
These protein powders are also made of either protein concentrates or isolates. They may also have essential components that would encourage muscle recovery, for example, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and L-glutamate, among others.
Conclusion
These are just some of the best pea protein powders on the market for bodybuilding. They are designed to encourage muscle mass growth, and if you are keen, these powders help in weight loss too. Just make sure that the option you choose allows you to meet your daily protein content requirements for building lean muscle mass.