Proteins are fundamental structural and functional elements within every cell of the body and are involved in a wide range of critical metabolic interactions. All cells and tissues contain protein that is essential for their growth and repair, as well as maintenance of good health. Protein provides the body with approximately 10 to 15% of its dietary energy, and following water is the second most abundant compound in the body. Protein is an essential macronutrient, and it can be hard to meet our daily recommended intake requirements. Protein powders exist to provide protein in a convenient way for busy individuals or for those looking to support specific fitness goals.
What is pea protein powder?
Pea protein powder is a form of plant-based protein that comes from peas. Because peas naturally contain a lot of protein, about eight grams per cup of peas, we’ve found that it is one of the best sources of plant-based protein for those who are looking for a vegan protein powder with a substantial amount of protein. Pea protein powder is made by grinding down dried field peas into a powder. Once it’s in a fine powder, the protein is extracted and kept to create protein powder.
The pea protein that we use in our Pea Protein Blend is sourced from Cosucra in Belgium. We chose to work with Cosucra because of their pea protein powder’s quality and their sustainable business practices. Cosucra’s Pisane® pea protein powder is non-GMO verified and USDA organic, and they provide farm to fork traceability for all of their products.
Benefits of pea protein powder
With all the different kinds of protein powders out there, why would you choose pea protein? Pea protein is one of the best plant-based protein powders sharing a lot of the benefits of the animal protein powders, but with its own unique benefits for those looking for plant-based protein.
Pea protein contains all nine essential amino acids that your body cannot create and you can only get it from food. It’s also a great source of branched-chain amino acids, especially arginine — which promotes healthy blood flow and heart health — and leucine, isoleucine, and valine — which promote muscle growth. Pea protein powders are also rich in iron, which is an added benefit to plant-based diets.
Protein is necessary for tissue building and repair and helps contribute to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass while also maintaining bones. Ensuring that you are getting enough protein in your diet, especially if you do a lot of strength training or maintain a protein plant-based diet, is essential for your overall health.
For those who have more sensitive digestive issues, pea protein is one the most easily digestible protein sources allowing most of it to break down and not irritate your gut as other protein powders might. Additionally, for anyone avoiding certain allergens like milk or gluten, pea protein is 100% allergen and gluten-free and being totally plant-based is vegan friendly.
What should you look for when choosing pea protein powder?
There are several elements you should look for when choosing a pea protein powder to ensure that it is a high-quality powder that you are putting into your body. The first thing you’ll want to look at is the amino acid profile. Our Pea Protein Blend is high in leucine, which is important for protein synthesis and reduces protein breakdown. It’s also high in lysine, one of the essential building blocks of protein.
Of course, there are other elements that you should also consider when looking for pea protein powders such as sustainability, transparency and traceability. This is why we share with you that we source our pea protein powder from Cosucra, a family-owned company that focuses on quality, sustainable products.
You can usually tell which companies prioritise reducing their environmental impact by observing the ingredients in their products and their business practices. Choose a brand that has sustainability and the environment in mind, and puts that focus on all parts of their business. Our products, for example, come in aluminum packaging that can be recycled through the curbside recycling process, as well as pouches that are compostable at home.
Introducing Pro You’s unique formulation
Our pea protein powder has been specifically designed for busy females who want the best for their health, without having to spend a lot of time juggling multiple products. To help our customers in their busy lives we have made one simple, easy-to-use powder that contains 15 essential vitamins, minerals, and adaptogens along with 20.3 grams of protein. It’s like having a really high-quality protein powder with a multivitamin built-in.
Pro You’s Pea Protein Blend is the only New Zealand made product to combine B complex vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, ashwagandha, and flaxseed fibre, all of which have unique benefits to your health. In an article published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines, it was shown that ashwagandha provided anti-stress, neuroprotective, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why we decided it was important to include in our Pea Protein Blend. Our formulation ensures that you’re getting an additional serve of protein in your diet and many essential vitamins and minerals that will positively impact your health and well-being.
Ideas for using Pro You Pea Protein Powder
When you’re busy it can be challenging to integrate new habits into your day, so we wanted to put together a list of ideas for using our Pea Protein Blend to get you started.
Morning super smoothie
Start your day with a super smoothie made with our Pea Protein Blend and your choice of other ingredients; it will give you a protein hit in the morning and reduce your sugar cravings throughout the day. You can add plant milk, water, or coconut water, and any fruit or vegetables fresh or frozen. These super smoothies are great first thing in the morning and they can also be a great make-ahead smoothie to take into work for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Make it on the go
Because our Pea Protein Blend blends very easily, you can keep a protein shaker with your protein powder with you at work or in the car and just add liquid. It can easily be shaken in a protein shaker or even stirred in with a fork so you don’t have to have a blender on hand.
Protein powder recipes
If you look online, there are plenty of recipes that utilise protein powders that you can use our Pea Protein Blend to make. Some of our favourites are protein pancakes, energy balls, and chia pudding. These recipes are all quick, easy, and will ensure you feel full and satisfied until your next meal.
In the end, we all need protein, and a lot of us aren’t getting enough high-quality protein in our diets. If you find that you’re falling short of your protein requirements or want daily support for overall wellness, our Pea Protein Blend is for you. One 30g serve provides 20.3 grams of quality plant-based protein as well as vitamins, minerals, and adaptogens in an easy, all-in-one powder.
We would love for you to comment with your favourite ways to use pea protein powder and what benefits you’ve seen after using it as a daily supplement.
