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What is Pea protein powder？

Pea protein is an extract from split peas, and food manufacturers are adding this protein to a variety of foods like energy bars, meal-replacement shakes, veggie burgers and even cereals. You can also find it as a powder to add when making smoothies.

Pea protein powder is among the most hypoallergenic of all protein powders, as it contains no gluten, soy or dairy. It’s also easy on the tummy and doesn’t cause bloating, a common side effect of many other protein powders.

So how is pea protein made? It’s produced by grinding the peas into a powder and then removing the starch and fiber to leave a highly concentrated pea protein isolate that’s perfect for adding to smoothies, baked goods or desserts to quickly boost protein intake.

Whether you are allergic or sensitive to gluten or dairy or are simply looking for a healthy, plant-based vegan protein powder, pea protein is one of the best protein supplement options available.

Pea Protein versus Other Plant Proteins

Proteins are made of amino acids and there are nine amino acids that are essential in our diets. Unlike animal sources of protein, protein from plant foods is often low in one or more of these nine amino acids that makes a “complete” protein. Yet research shows that as long as you eat a variety of protein sources throughout the day, it’s not necessary to consume complete proteins in each meal.

Like the legumes from which it’s made, pea protein contains all the essential amino acids but it is low in one called methionine. That means it should be used as only one of many different protein sources, not the major choice throughout the day.

Pea protein is not all the same. Protein and other nutrient content varies based on the brand and whether it is a concentrate or isolate (isolates typically have more protein). Even when supplying equal amounts of protein, the amount of fiber differs. Some are a good source of fiber yet most contain little. This protein is relatively low in fat yet at least one that I looked at contained a concerning amount of trans fat (the type of fat most clearly damaging to heart health).

What is pea protein isolate made from?

Pea protein isolate is typically produced from yellow peas grown in either North America or Europe. The creation of pea protein isolate happens through a basic food production process that involves removing the pea’s outer shell and milling it into a flour. From there, the pea’s other ingredients like fiber and starch are separated through a filtration process. The pea protein is then distilled into a white precipitate, known as protein powder.

As you’ll see in the next few sections, many people like to use pea protein powder as a regular part of their nutrition regimen.

Is pea protein the same as pea protein isolate?

They are similar but not exactly the same. Pea protein is simply the protein content found in peas, while pea protein isolate refers to the extracted protein created through a chemical process (described above) that separates protein from other elements of peas.

In other words, the protein you consume when you eat pea protein isolate is similar to the protein you consume when you eat whole peas, just in a slightly different format.

Is pea protein isolate processed?

As mentioned above, pea protein isolate is different from pea protein because of the chemical process it goes through to turn peas into pea protein isolate. Because of this characteristic, pea protein isolate is technically a processed food. However, since it is only minimally processed from its original form, pea protein isolate typically doesn’t have the negative side effects that come with some other types of processed foods that contain high amounts of fillers and preservatives like sugar and sodium.

Studies have shown that processed pea protein isolate is safe enough to be used in infant formula. Unless you have a pre-existing health condition or an intolerance to peas, you should be able to include pea protein isolate as part of your regular diet.