WHEY PROTEIN v/s HEMP PROTEIN: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

Whether you're a weekend person, trying to lose weight or an athlete, protein is essential for all. Even though, surprisingly, almost everyone is facing protein deficiency in their diet. Especially for those who prefer a vegan diet, the sources of dietary protein are further limited. Hence, it becomes highly imperative to know about the role of protein in our body and better ways to meet the protein requirements through our daily meals.

PROTEIN- A NUTRITIONAL SOURCE

It's All About Protein!
Protein is the fuel that drives and supports our body in building healthy tissues and cells. So, we require an adequate amount of protein in our bodies. An average person needs 0.8 g protein per kg of their body weight per day. So, if you're 70 kgs in weight, you probably need around 0.8 x 70 = 56 grams of protein per day if you're trying to burn fat and build muscles the right way. And for athletes, probably more than that will be required considering the extensive workouts and level of energy consumption. The most significant role of protein includes:

• The growth and repair of tissues.
• Giving structure to our body.
• Transporting and storing nutrients
• Providing energy to carry out various physiological functions.

It also causes biochemical reactions as enzymes that help in digestion, energy production and muscle contraction. It works as a chemical messenger in the form of hormones, which are essential for our body to perform basic physiological functions.

SOURCES OF PROTEIN

Food sources of dietary protein are as follows:

Non- Vegetarian food sources - Egg, meat, poultry, fish, and seafood are high in protein. Therefore, those who prefer non-vegetarian food in their diet can get enough from these.

Vegetarian food sources: Dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, greek yoghurt, cheese and cottage cheese are rich protein sources. Nuts and some plant seeds such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds have a good amount of protein.

For vegans, the plant-based protein sources are flaxseed, chia seeds, nuts, beans, legumes and hemp protein powder.

WHEY OR HEMP PROTEIN POWDER- WHICH ONE TO CONSUME?

It is often perceived that protein from a plant source isn't as beneficial as protein from a whey source. However, according to research, plant-based protein are as good as whey-based protein and many times even better. The conventional protein powders available in supermarkets and online stores are from whey-based sources. Unfortunately, these are loaded with hormones, antibiotics and steroids, and other harmful chemicals that would eventually deteriorate your health. So when you buy protein, make sure it's from an organic natural source. Hemp protein powder is 100% natural, organic, plant-based protein, an ultimate solution for protein deficiency in a vegan diet. It has 20 amino acids which are the building blocks of all kinds of protein required in our body. Therefore, hemp protein powder is a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids necessary for the human body to survive. Unlike whey, hemp protein powder not only contains protein but is also rich in fibre, B vitamins and other heart-healthy fats like omega-3 & 6 fatty acids. Most whey protein powders available in the market have their source of protein from animal by-products, i.e. dairy. These animals are raised in conventional farms and are stuffed with hormones, antibiotics and certain GMO grains. As a result, whey protein is highly processed and subjected to a lot of chemical and heat treatment. This increases the inflammatory risks, making it extremely unhealthy for consumption.

WHICH PROTEIN IS MORE SUSTAINABLE?

Whey protein is made as a by-product of the cheese-making process. These processes are very high on energy consumption, and the dairy industry itself has a lot of water consumption and produces tons of harmful gases like methane. Hence, making whey protein a less sustainable choice. Hemp, on the contrary, is highly sustainable as it needs minimal water and no pesticides to grow. In addition, hemp is environment friendly as it produces four times more oxygen and absorbs more CO2.

BENEFITS OF HEMP PROTEIN POWDER

About one-fourth of every hemp seed is only protein, and these seeds contain less amount of fat. Therefore, eating lean protein boosts metabolism, benefits digestion, and promotes weight loss. Also, it helps you to burn fat and build body muscles. Hemp protein is high on edestin and albumin. These protein are easily digestible and also aid in digestion-related issues. Unlike animal protein sources, a plant-based protein source contains good polyunsaturated fats that promote heart health. Hemp is a superfood as it is rich in minerals like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. It is also rich in antioxidants and omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, which are very difficult to get from a regular vegetarian diet, especially vegan. Hemp protein powder is highly versatile and can be used in different ways. It is often used to make a protein shake or can be added to your smoothies. Amazingly, hemp protein powder can also be used in baking. You can add it in brownies, cakes, and even in dinner and breakfast recipes.

WHEY PROTEIN, IS IT REALLY GOOD?

Although high in protein quantity, whey protein lacks the quality of protein as most of the amino acids in whey protein are non-digestible and have no proven benefits to our body. So is it really high?? People with an allergy to milk and milk products due to lactose intolerance should avoid consuming whey protein. This is because it has dairy content which might cause inflammation in your body, problems in bowel movements, and bloating. Also, vegans cannot consume it due to its dairy content. As a result of so many disadvantages and drawbacks, whey protein is no more the 1st choice of protein amongst health and diet-conscious individuals. Instead, people are opting for more natural, organic and healthy protein such as hemp protein powder.

TAKEAWAY

The bottom line is that plant-based hemp protein powder is undoubtedly a better source of protein for your body. Unlike conventional whey protein, Hemp protein powders are rich in edestin protein and minerals, antioxidants and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, which have an abundance of health benefits.
Next time you fill your stock of protein, choose wisely!