If you are looking for ways to boost your protein intake, you have probably spent a bit of time looking at protein powders. But there are dozens of different options on the market including egg white, whey, and pea protein, and then there is hemp.
It has become a pretty well-known fact that plants in the hemp and cannabis family are superfoods that contain all kinds of health-boosting properties. But how much of that is true and how much is hype, and how does hemp measure up when it comes to protein?
While hemp does not have the same high concentration of protein as other powder options, it does come with a lot of other health benefits, which means that you should seriously consider it as a potential dietary supplement.
In today’s article, we will go through all the benefits of hemp protein power and what it can bring to your diet and health regime. We will also share our list of the ten best hemp protein powders on the market, and information about how to incorporate it into your diet.
Benefits of Hemp Protein
If you are all about protein, you might not be impressed with hemp protein powder, as it contains a lot less protein per gram than other options on the market.
Hemp protein powder contains an average of just under 50 grams of protein per 100 grams. Let’s compare that with:
- Pea protein, another vegan option, contains 80 grams of protein per 100 grams
- Whey protein powder, a vegetarian option, contains dairy and has 90 grams of protein per 100 grams
- You get more than 70 grams of protein per 100 grams when you look at egg white protein powder
So why go with hemp protein powder?
First off, just to clarify, hemp protein powder is made from grinding pressed hemp seeds into a fine powder. It does not contain enough of the THC found in cannabis to have any high inducing effects.
The resulting powder not only contains a good amount of protein, but all nine of the essential amino acids that the body cannot produce itself, plus lots of fibre, healthy fats, and minerals.
Amino Acids
One of the reasons that protein is so essential to the body is that it provides nine essential amino acids that the body needs, but cannot produce itself, and therefore must obtain from food.
While animal-derived proteins contain all these amino acids, plant-based proteins are usually missing at least one or two. This is why animal-based proteins are generally considered better.
However, hemp protein is an exception. It does contain all of the essential amino acids. The levels of the amino acid lysine are relatively low, but it contains the other eight in abundance.
Digestible
One of the other reasons that animal-based proteins are generally considered better than plant-based proteins is that it is easier to digest. But again, this is one area where hemp protein is an exception.
Research suggests that somewhere between 91 and 98 percent of proteins in hemp are digestible, which means that the body is not missing out on any of the goodness in the powder.
Though this is only true if the powder is made using a cold-press process, as heating the seeds can reduce their digestibility.
Hemp also contains plenty of fibre, which aids with digestion and also helps manage blood sugar levels, regulate gut bacteria, and reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
Unsaturated Fats
Hemp protein is higher in unsaturated fats than many of the other options on the market. A standard 30-gram serving contains about 3 grams of unsaturated fats which is great for heart health.
Minerals and Antioxidants
Hemp seeds are rich in a range of essential minerals and antioxidants including phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper.
These protect the body from chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, and are often deficient in the modern diet.
Healthy Addition to your Diet
So, as well as adding a good boost of protein to your diet, hemp protein powder adds a lot of extra dietary goodness that can mean improved health overall, and not just the muscle growth generally associated with protein powders.
10 Best Hemp Protein Powders
Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Raw Hemp Powder
In our opinion. the best hemp protein powder is the Organic Raw Hemp Powder from Sevenhills Wholefoods.
Sevenhills is one of the most trusted brands on the market when it comes to affordable supplements, and this organic, pure hemp protein powder is no different.
It is made with organic hemp seeds with nothing artificial added, and the seeds are pressed at temperatures that never exceed 45 degrees Celsius, which means that nutrients are maintained and the powder is easily digestible.
- £12.99 per KG
- 349 calories per 100 grams
- 48.3 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 22.6 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Pressed at low temperatures
Braham And Murray Good Hemp Raw Protein Powder
No products found.If all you want is 100 percent natural hemp protein powder that doesn’t cost the earth, then this bulk buy option from Graham and Murray is great value.
This brand will also appeal to the environmentally conscious. It is actively farmed using very little water.
No products found.
Naturya Organic Hemp Protein Powder
This hemp protein option made by Naturya is high density, with 40 grams of hemp seeds going into every 20 grams of the power. This means that it is higher in protein than some of the other variations that you will find.
Nevertheless, this powder is also relatively low in fibre, making it a good choice for anyone whose stomach gets upset by a big fibre dosage.
- £2.50 per 100 grams
- 389 calories per 100 grams
- 57 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 13 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- High-density powder
Erbology Hemp Seed Raw Organic Powder
This powder will appeal to anyone looking for a moderate protein boost, but a big boost in fibre.
The powder is ideal for baking and adding as an alternative to flour in recipes.
- £33.30 per KG
- 392 calories per 100 grams
- 35 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 32 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Organic
LOOV Organic Raw Hemp Protein Powder
One of the key selling points for this powder that sets it apart is that all the hemp is grown on a small family farm in Estonia. This supports a buy local attitude, and enables quality control.
It is also no heated at any stage during production, which means that the powder retains all the natural nutrients of the original seeds.
- £16.90 per KG
- 352 calories per 100 grams
- 50.5 grams of protein per 200 grams
- 15.4 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Family farmed
Bulk Powders Hemp Protein Powder
The Bulk Powders brand has a reputation for producing simple but high-quality powders and supplements that contain no nasties.
This powder is guaranteed organic and GMO-free, and comes in a range of sizes to save you money.
- £24.00 per KG
- 370 calories per 100 grams
- 47 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 21 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- GMO-free
Canah Hemp Protein Powder
This powder markets itself as being 100 percent Kosher certified as well as organic. While this should be true of all hemp powders, the fact that the company cares about this will appeal to many.
This is also purported to be one of the better tasting powders on the market.
- £12.79 per KG
- 359 calories per 100 gams
- 50 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 21 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Kosher certified
Pulsin Hemp Isolate Protein Powder
This hemp powder is produced using cold pressing techniques to ensure that it maintains all the natural healthy nutrients.
It is all-natural and unflavoured so you can be sure that you are just getting organic hemp with no added nasties.
- £19.90 per KG
- 347 calories per 100 grams
- 49 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 18 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Cold-pressed
Superfood Outlet Organic Hemp Protein Powder
Another organic hemp protein power option, this powder has a rich green colour and a strong nutty taste for anyone who is a fan of the distinctive hemp flavour.
Certified organic, gluten-free, and vegan, this is an accessible source of protein regardless of what type of diet you are on.
- £12.49 per KG
- 362 calories per 100 grams
- 49 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 13 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Organic
Green Origins Organic Hemp Protein Powder
This premium hemp protein powder is certified organic by the Soil Association and certified vegan by the Vegan Society, which is part of the reason that it can come with just a hefty price tag.
While there are no flavours added to the mix, many consumers have said that it has a fainter flavour than many other hemp powders that they have tried, which is great if that particular taste does not appeal to you.
- £33.96 per KG
- 349 calories per 100 grams
- 48 grams of protein per 100 grams
- 23 grams of fibre per 100 grams
- Certified organic
How Much Protein
So how much protein do you really need to consume to maintain a healthy body, or to build muscle or lose weight if that is what you are aiming to do?
Dietitians recommend that the average sedentary person needs 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day. That’s not too much, and a level that you are likely to be able to get from a healthy diet without the use of protein powders.
However, if you are looking to transform your body, whether that be losing weight or gaining muscle, you need a lot more.
The exact amount depends on what you want to achieve. But if you want a general rule, you should be consuming 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of lean body mass.
We say “lean body mass” as the idea is to be feeding your muscles, tissues, and essential organs, but not any excess fat that you might be carrying around.
So, for example, if you weigh 90 kg and have 20 percent body fat, you will only be eating for that 72 kg of lean body mass. And yes, that is a whopping 158 grams of protein per day.
So, this is where protein powders come in, to help boost the amount of protein that you are consuming without dramatically increasing the amount of food that you need to consume.
You can find more essential dietary advice in our Diet section.
When to Eat Hemp Protein Powder
If you are trying to consume 150 grams of protein a day, you are pretty much going to want to add protein to every meal. This is why protein powders are great because they can be added to your morning smoothie or your evening stew.
But the most important time to boost your protein intake is directly after a workout. In a window of about 15 to 60 minutes after your workout, your body is in intensive muscle rebuilding mode. It is looking for the proteins that it needs to rebuild muscles, so you should give it to them.
This is the best time to consume a protein-heavy smoothie, rather than before or during your workout.
One of the other ways that you can use hemp protein powder is as a substitute for flour in baking recipes. It is a better choice for this than some other alternatives because it is ground finer than most other powders.
FAQs
Does hemp protein powder have CBD?
No, hemp powder does not contain CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is produced in the flower of the cannabis plant, while hemp protein is produced from the seeds. It is plausible that you might find traces of CBD in hemp protein powder, but it will only be a very negligible amount.
What are the side effects of hemp protein?
There are no serious side effects associated with hemp protein. However, it is very high in fibre, so when introduced to the diet it can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea as the body gets used to the new levels of protein.
Can protein shakes change your mood?
While there is no consensus within the scientific community on this topic, some studies have suggested that the concentrated introduction of the branched-chain amino acids found in protein powders can cause depression and negatively affect mood.
Is hemp powder good for weight loss?
Yes, hemp powder can be very good for weight loss. The reason is higher protein meals are usually more sating, and this should help to reduce your hunger cravings if you are trying to reduce calories. Because hemp powder is also high in protein, this helps you to build muscle mass. Fibre is also a great addition to your diet when trying to lose weight, which hemp powder contains a high amount of.
Does hemp powder make you sleepy?
No, hemp powder does not make you sleepy. Hemp should not be confused with cannabis or THC. Hemp protein powder is taken for protein supplementation purposes, and will contain a negligible amount of THC, if any at all.
Is hemp protein better than whey protein?
We think hemp protein is better than whey protein for vegetarians and vegans, or people who find it hard to digest very high protein diets. Because hemp protein contains a high percentage of fibre, it not only provides high amounts of protein but should aid your bowel movements too. So while whey protein contains more protein per scoop, hemp protein contains more unsaturated fats and fibre, which is good for digestive health and heart health.
The Verdict
When you are looking for protein powders to boost your protein intake, hemp protein powder is worth considering. While it does not contain as much protein as many alternatives, it is high in minerals, antioxidants, and unsaturated fats, which means it gives you a more well-rounded dietary boost.
It is also a completely vegan protein alternative, but unlike so many other vegan options, it contains all nine of the essential amino acids and is highly digestible.
Hemp protein powder is also versatile. You can mix it in to a post workout shake, but it is also ground finely enough that it can be used in baking and other alternatives.
So maybe you want to focus on higher protein concentrated powders for your post-workout protein hit, and then use healthy hemp protein to add to other recipes and round-off your diet throughout the day.
References
- Essential Amino Acids – Healthline
- Calculate how much protein you need – Bodybuilding.com
- Hemp Protein Powder – Healthline
Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
