Protein powders are a useful and easy way to get a nutritional supplement. Athletes and bodybuilders use protein powders to gain weight and increase muscle mass. Most of protein powders are made of whey protein, which is the primary protein found in dairy products. Nonetheless, this kind of protein is not suitable for people who are lactose intolerant and/or vegans. Therefore, many athletes choose other proteins sources such as hemp protein powder, pea protein powder, soy and many more.
Hemp protein powder is becoming one of the most popular alternatives to whey protein. It is made by grinding and pressing hemp seeds.
Hemp Protein Powder: What is it?
Hemp is an excellent source for high quality proteins. It contains essential amino acids. In fact, some studies claim hemp protein powder has the same profile as egg and soy protein.
In addition, many hemp protein powders are rich in fiber, sometimes containing equal amounts of fiber and protein. Therefore, hemp protein powder is an excellent choice for people who are looking for higher fiber protein products. Nonetheless, a typical hemp protein powder contains approximately 15 g of protein per scoop (30 g). This is a lower protein content than whey protein powders that usually contain up to 24–25 g of protein per scoop (30 g).
Although it is an excellent option for vegans, hemp protein powder might have lower levels of essential amino acids than other protein sources.
Hemp Protein and Digestion
Many people are lactose intolerants, which means they will experience intestinal problems such as bloating or diarrhea if they consume dairy products. Consequently, lactose intolerants need other sources of protein to replace dairy ones.
Generally, animal proteins are easier to digest than plant proteins. However, research has concluded that hemp protein powders is highly digestible. Furthermore, hemp protein is less processed than other protein sources.
Although not as high in protein content ass whey protein, hemp protein powder is an excellent source of fiber and unsaturated fats which are beneficial for a healthy cardiovascular system and bowel regulation.
Hemp Protein: Other Health Benefits
In addition to be an excellent source of fiber and unsaturated fats, hemp protein powders are a great source of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper, and manganese. Furthermore, hemp protein is rich in antioxidants such as lignanamides.
An antioxidant is a substance that inhibits oxidation. Antioxidants protect your body against free radicals. Free radicals might play a role in the development of cancer, heart disease and they are even linked to ageing.
According to some theories, free radicals break cells down over time causing ageing, such as wrinkles and debilitating our bodies. Free radicals might be responsible for body ageing and other degenerative processes. According to LiveScience, “the body is under constant attack from oxidative stress. Oxygen in the body splits into single atoms with unpaired electrons. Electrons like to be in pairs, so these atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA”. In conclusion, hemp protein may have potential antioxidant properties that will help you prevent negative health effects caused by free radicals.
Hemp Protein: Conclusion
Hemp protein is not as high in protein as whey protein. However, this does not mean that it is not an excellent protein source with a high content of fiber and antioxidants. In addition, it is an excellent protein source for people with lactose intolerance and for vegans. Moreover, research has found that hemp protein is easy to digest compared with other plant-based proteins such as soy or pea protein powders.
Originally published at https://www.getispire.com on November 6, 2020.
