Is Pea Protein As Good As Whey?
It may be hard to tell sometimes, but there are other types of protein powder that exist besides whey. Of course, there’s a casein option and then there’s team of plant-based alternatives to sift through. So, what about pea protein? Pea protein can deliver nearly just as much protein to your body has whey, but the key — especially for anyone on a vegetarian or vegan diet — is that it’s dairy-free, which is also kind of a big deal for the lactose-intolerant.
The powerful soy-free veggie protein isn’t exactly a “complete” protein, meaning it doesn’t have all the nine “essential” amino acids in its profile. But it does have a significant amount more of the amino acid arginine than whey. Arginine is a major player when it comes to building muscle. Plus, this type of protein is a slow-digesting supplement. Due to the soluble fiber that comes from peas, it’s able to help you feel fuller longer, which can help ignite weight loss.
The Difference Between Pea Protein And Whey Protein
There’s always the question of whether vegetable protein matches up with whey protein powers, the standard for protein powders for most gym-goers. But side-by-side, pea protein stacks up pretty well. This type of protein offers almost the same amount of protein as a standard whey protein powders. There’s some difference when it comes to the amount of branched chain amino acids in the profile but pea protein can give you an almost identical protein boost as whey.
If you’re concerned about not having a complete protein profile, you can mix pea protein with another plant-based powder like rice or hemp protein. There’s also the taste that you should be aware of. Pea protein, like many plant-based proteins may have a more bland, chalky taste which can easily be combated by adding fruits, vegetables or almond butter to your mix.
Related Article: Pea Protein — The Future of Sports Nutrition?
The two proteins are almost identical looking at these specifications. But as we mentioned above, pea protein is much higher in arginine than whey. Arginine is a vasodilator and helps expand the blood vessels to make for easy transport of nutrients throughout the body. It also helps give lifters the pump while lifting in the gym.
The biggest upside of pea protein, is the fact that it can be utilized by a broader spectrum of our population. As shown in the benefits section, it is good for those who are lactose intolerant due to there being no dairy, it’s soy free, gluten free, and great for vegans.
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