With the advancement of time and age, people are switching towards healthier dietary choices, which is an extremely good indication of our times. People are turning vegans and are becoming aware of their eating habits. As non-vegetarian people are transitioning towards becoming vegetarian people, they are trying to compensate for their protein intake by consuming some popular protein powders. One of the most researched and popular non-vegan protein powders is whey protein. 

However, not many know this, but pea protein can also be put into the list of healthy protein powder. But, which one is the better one between pea protein and whey protein? Let’s decide the victor in this article.

What is the Meaning of Whey Protein

Whey protein is the liquid by-product made from cheese and it comes along with the combinations of other proteins. You can find whey protein in everyday life. Just open a yogurt vessel, you will have a liquid layer floating on top. Yeah, that’s whey protein for you. Not only that, cow’s milk contains 80% whey protein and 20% casein. You can also find 60% of whey protein in breast milk which is the most versatile and powerful milk.

Traditionally, it was just considered to be a waste product, but then people started realizing its commercial value. As whey is initially found in the liquid form, enzymes are introduced to convert the liquid into powder. After extracting the essential elements, the liquid is sprayed with hot and cold air to turn it into powder.  To keep the powder commercially viable and available for a long period, preservatives are added to the product. Now, vegans and people who have lactose intolerance cannot consume whey protein as it is a liquid by-product of cheese.

How much Nutrition is Available in Whey Protein

Whey protein is available in four types which are called concentrates, isolates, hydrolysates, and native whey. Each type of whey protein has its specific nutritional value which differs from one another. Essentially, each type of whey protein has 20g of protein, 5g of carbohydrates, and no iron. Whey protein also contains some essential amino acids, which are high levels of leucine and cysteine. These amino acids help in preventing cell damage and other health problems.

What are the Benefits of Whey Protein

One of the major benefits of whey protein is that it gets quickly absorbed into the body which makes its benefits manifest quickly and easily. Whey protein also contains the nine essential amino acids which strengthen the muscles and the health of an individual. The nutritional and health benefits of whey are always dependent on its amino acid content which is also effective in stimulating the growth of individuals.

What are the Disadvantages of Whey Protein

As mentioned earlier that whey protein is a liquid by-product of cheese and therefore, is not suitable for people following a vegan diet and are lactose intolerant. In addition to this, whey protein has a very strong and powerful bad taste, which can overpower other food and drinks.

To compensate for that, many producers add preservatives and additives which are synthetic. So, if you want a complete organic or whole food diet mixed with whey protein, you need to consider all the ingredients used in it, as additives used by different producers and brands are different in proportion to each other. Now that we know some fundamentals of whey protein, let us understand what pea protein is.

Also Read: Best Protein Powder Recipes

What is Pea Protein

Pea protein is a plant-based protein, extracted from yellow peas and not green ones.  As it is organically made, it is the most appropriate option out of the two for those who have stomach and digestive sensitivities.

Whey protein is not organically available, which means some preservatives and additives are always added to it. This is when pea protein enters. So, the peas are taken from the plant and then ground into a fine beige powder. After that, water is added to it and starch is removed. As there are no preservatives or additives involved, all the essential proteins and nutrients such as iron, are retained which makes pea protein the most organic out of the two. 

How much Nutrition is Available from Pea Protein

As there are no synthetic additives or preservatives added to it and it is extracted from the plant, pea protein is considered to be the most nutrients out of the two. If you take two scoops of pea protein powder, you will find 15g of proteins, 1g of carbohydrates, 1g of fiber, 230mg of sodium, and 5mg of iron.

In addition to this, pea protein powder also contains some essential amino acids, the same as those of whey protein. These essential amino acids are not produced by the body and must therefore be consumed through food.

What are the Benefits of Pea Protein

1. Pea protein powder is one of the most nutritious powders out of the two as it has all the essential nine amino acids boosted by whey protein powder and entails a plethora of health benefits.
2. The amino acids present in the pea protein powder help in enhancing muscle thickness, improve the health of your heart, and also reduce the risk of acquiring any cardio-vascular diseases.
3. Pea protein also helps in reducing calories rapidly and easily, so you don’t have to feel guilty about overeating your favorite kinds of pasta.

What are the Disadvantages of Pea Protein

1. Although pea protein is easily digested as compared to whole peas, it cannot be readily eaten by everybody. Pea protein powder contains a significant proportion of sodium content, so if you are following a low-sodium diet, then this powder may not be the one for you.
2. Moreover, it is not easily available in grocery stores or shops, which makes it difficult for you to get a hold of it.

Now that the benefits and drawbacks of both are clear, it is up to you to choose which one is the better for you between pea protein and whey protein.

Also Read: 5 Whey Protein You Can Buy in India