Which Protein Powder to Choose

Protein powders have to various degrees been liberated from all the other flotsam to allow you focus on your nutritional goals. The protein content in whey is about 92% – that is to say the protein in whey isolate, the most concentrated of protein powders. Now do we like whey isolate? It may be taking the science of refinement a little too far in our opinion and interestingly, whey isolate is not certified organic due to the the level of processing required to rid the final product of fats, lactose and other nutrients that get in the way of the pure protein. We LOVE organic whey protein concentrates, as they are closer to nature and bring in some great fat soluble nutrients and immunoglobulins associated with whey that are useful for our immune systems.

Our other favourite clean protein for protein density is, despite all our talk bemoaning vegan diets and their LACK of protein, a pea protein isolate, extracted from European grown golden pea grown without pesticides or fertilisers in France. The extract is known as Pisane, and is refined away from the starch and fibre components leaving an incredible 91% protein – heretofore unheard of levels for a vegan protein powder. Nuzest protein includes this source in their range and we used to getting great feedback from customers who try this protein either as their first time source or or as a swap out for their familiar whey protein powder. Nuzest’s Pisane pea protein has incredible biological value, having been tested using muscle biopsy for muscle density as a result of consuming Nuzest alongside.training stimulus.

The secret to protein’s high price at the grocery store, is in what it sucks out of the soil, what it takes to build protein in plants and animals – nitrogen. Nitrogenous fertiliser is what’s become ubiquitous in animal and plant agriculture as it’s the key to stimulating growth.  Low soil nitrogen leads to poorly growing plants, say in the case of wheat, the berries don’t develop and the farmer fails to get the high prices he needs to keep his farm running.

And it’s the same for cattle – nitrogen from the grass is what cattle need to put on muscle, and as our farming methods have become more “intensive” i.e. more singularly focused on the weight/volume of the short term outputs and less focused on the long term soil health and structure, there has been a significant loss of nitrogen from the soil, as the microorganisms that hold and convert nitrogen in the soil are dried out or washed away from weak soil structures, and key nitrogen fixing plants (like the peas we described above) are lost as part of the traditional farming practices that built and retained soil health and fertility.

Organic farmers and those adopting the regenerative agriculture moniker around the world are seeking to regenerate soil structure and natural soil health and fertility systems, to reduce the depletion of the earth and ensure that the annual crop cycle is looked at from a trans generational perspective, adopting the mindset of land stewardship, and seeking to restore soil health and ensure availability of protein and nitrogen for crops and animals in the decades to come.

So when we step back from our protein needs we start to see that this protein (nitrogen) crisis is a much broader thing than just addressing our immediate needs in the gym.  And taking considered steps in our choices as consumers in choosing high quality, organically sourced proteins like those we’ve mentioned is the way we as consumers play our role to support and direct agriculture systems to respond to our demands. If we don’t buy they won’t make it, and conversely, what we choose to support will become the future environment.