Protein is an essential building block for a healthy, balanced diet. It plays a crucial role in muscle growth, tissue repair, and general well-being. And protein powders exist to maximize those benefits.
However, finding high-quality protein powders can be quite challenging, particularly for those who have a gluten allergy or intolerance. Combine that with a vegan lifestyle, and searching for a decent protein powder might feel a tad overwhelming.
After all, having to avoid gluten is challenging no matter the product when you account for the fact that they might all be manufactured in the same facility using the same equipment, requiring you to be extra vigilant about what you can consume.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my top 3 picks for the best gluten-free and vegan protein powders on the market.
The 3 Best Gluten-Free and Vegan Protein Powders
Ora Organic Lean & So Clean Protein Powder
Ora Organic, as the name suggests, is a brand that manufactures organic products that are also plant-based. It’s an incredibly popular brand, both among vegans and non-vegans for being clean.
Pros
- Made with superfoods
- Contains digestive enzymes
- No added sugars
- Gluten-Free
- USDA-certified organic.
Cons
- Proprietary blends
- 20 servings per container.
Another sold brand is Ora Organic and their vegan protein powder that is made from all-organic ingredients which combined offer you 21 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbs, and a bunch of superfoods and amino acids to help you out after your workout.
A lot of people seem to like the taste and texture of this protein powder, saying it’s easy to mix and tastes great in recipes and smoothies.
But, of course, the taste can be pretty personal – one person loved the Chai flavor but really didn’t enjoy the Chocolate one, saying it was gritty and chalky.
It’s made with clean ingredients from USDA Organic-certified farms and doesn’t have any gluten, fillers, sugars, or artificial shenanigans.
In fact, if you check the supplement’s official lab results, it clearly states that it passes the gluten-allergy parameter.
For those with a sensitive stomach, Ora Organic has included pea and rice protein, as well as some digestive enzymes to help break down the plant protein, which can help with bloating, making it easier for your body to break down and absorb the protein.
That said, some people with sensitive stomachs still had issues, so keep in mind that your experience might be different.
Ritual Vegan Protein Powder
Ritual Essential protein powder is an incredible protein powder made with traceable ingredients and is available in several versions to help people through different life stages.
Pros
- Three variants made for young, older, and pregnant individuals
- Made with traceable ingredients
- Mostly organic ingredients.
- Free from major allergens, including gluten.
Cons
- Only available as a subscription.
- Not USDA-certified organic.
Ritual, a subscription-based brand, offers a variety of plant-based supplements with traceable ingredients tailored to different life stages, including versions for young adults, older adults, and pregnant women.
This means ingredients may vary for each version.
Here we focus on the young adult version, which contains 20 grams of protein per serving and an array of minerals such as iron, calcium, choline, and sodium.
Ritual also added L-methionine to achieve a more comprehensive amino acid profile in the formula.
This protein powder stands out for having traceable ingredients, allowing you to know the exact origins.
For example, the organic pea protein comes from PURIS, a company committed to regenerative farming and sourcing peas exclusively from the United States.
Notably, none of the ingredients originate from countries with questionable labor practices. Most ingredients are US-based, while the remaining ones come from countries like Brazil and Japan.
Ritual also attests to the lack of allergens within their products, including gluten.
The primary drawback of this protein powder is its subscription-based model, requiring monthly payments for delivery.
However, you can easily cancel the subscription if needed. It’s a viable option for those planning to use protein powder in the medium to long term.
Naked Nutrition Pea Protein Powder
Naked Nutrition is one of the cleanest supplement brands around. And the reason is simple, they typically just use one or two ingredients.
Pros
- Clean ingredients.
- Third-party testing with transparent results.
- Mostly organic ingredients.
- Free from major allergens, including gluten.
Cons
- Lackluster flavor.
Naked Nutrition’s pea protein supplement stands out for its simplicity, containing just one ingredient – yellow split pea protein.
High-quality and sustainable practices are the focus of the North American farms where these yellow split peas grow.
The peas undergo chemical-free water extraction, resulting in an exceptional amino acid profile that effectively supports muscle growth and post-workout recovery.
The single-ingredient composition means the supplement is free from fillers, preservatives, and sweeteners.
However, this also results in a neutral taste, which may not appeal to some.
On the plus side, this supplement offers an impressive 76 servings per container, outperforming the quantity provided by most other supplements.
Naked Nutrition is also happy to share independent lab-testing results with the public, and in those results, it is possible to verify that it is gluten-free, hence why the brand is also certified as gluten-free.
Criteria For Selecting a High-Quality Vegan & Gluten-Free Protein Powder
When choosing the right gluten-free and vegan protein powder, it’s important to consider several factors.
I’ve examined each product based on the following criteria to make sure they’re not only gluten-free and vegan but also provide you with the best bang for your buck.
Third-Party Testing
To be absolutely sure that a protein powder is gluten-free, look for products that have been tested by a reputable third-party organization.
This guarantees that products meet strict quality standards and also ensures that products are sans harmful components, including major allergens like gluten-free.
Some companies actually share the results with the public (on their respective official websites) so make those your priority
If possible, you also want to see an official gluten-free certificate on the label.
Vegan-Friendly Ingredients
Evidently, a protein powder should be entirely comprised of plant-based ingredients, meaning it has no animal-derived ingredients like whey, casein, or egg.
Instead, it should use protein sources such as soy, rice, hemp, or a combination of various plant proteins, which is what brands often do to provide you with a formula with all the 9 essential amino acids and a few extra nutrients.
Protein Content and Quality
The amount of protein in a powder and how well the body can absorb and use it are critical factors in determining its effectiveness.
Personally, I tend to seek protein powders with at least 20 grams of protein per serving, and where the content is primarily protein.
Protein quality, on the other hand, is generally expressed by the PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Index) which is adopted as the preferred method for measuring the value of protein in human nutrition.
This index looks at two main factors:
- Amino acids: Basically, you want a protein source with all the 9 essential amino acids as they’re vital for protein synthesis, tissue repair, and nutrient absorption.
- Digestibility: This is how well your body can break down and absorb the protein, which means you’re better off consuming protein sources that are easier to digest.
The PDCAAS gives a score of between 0 and 1. A higher score suggests the protein a source has a good balance between amino acids and digestibility, while a lower score means it might be lacking in some amino acids and is harder to digest.
Among the plant-based protein sources, soy protein has a score of 1, which means it contains all the essential amino acids and has good digestibility.
Taste and Mixability
A good-tasting protein should be relatively easy to mix with any beverage of your choice, and it should taste nice, although I understand that this may come down to individual preference.
Price and Value for Money
When it comes to price and value for money, it all comes down to picking a high-quality product that doesn’t affect your finances too greatly; a criteria that might take on a different meaning depending on your financial background.
To determine the value of a protein powder, consider the cost per serving, the amount of protein per serving, and the quality of the product.
You also have to keep in mind that higher-priced protein powders may offer additional benefits like organic ingredients, proprietary blends, superior taste, and an even more comprehensive third-party testing process.
Also, in the context of this article, a protein powder may also be more expensive if they have an official gluten-free certificate on the label.
For a legitimate brand, there’s a mixed pool of characteristics that result in the final price, and more often than not, it’s not the amount of protein per serving.
Conclusion
Although it’s possible to find vegan protein powders sans gluten, I’ve come across brands that claimed to be gluten-free but also warned that their products were produced in facilities that also handled gluten.
For that reason, I’ve only selected brands that were clearly able to demonstrate (via independent party testing) that their protein powders didn’t have any gluten.
Although it’s more common to come across individuals with a gluten intolerance, we also have to acknowledge the few that have a severe allergy, since this can become a life-threatening issue.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, or exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
