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Pulsin is an award-winning UK-based supplement brand that originally started by selling energy balls before moving on to protein powders, protein bars, and other products.
One of their most popular product is a pea protein powder which is an ideal alternative for vegans or other individuals who might be unable to consume dairy and gluten.
In this article, I’m going to review Pulsin’s pea protein powder and help you figure out whether it’s a protein powder you should consider buying.
Main Takeaways
- The protein content is relatively lower compared to other brands, making it less suitable for individuals aiming to significantly bulk up or build muscle.
- It is highly affordable, especially when purchased in bulk, making it a budget-friendly option for protein supplementation.
- The unflavored variety contains only pea protein, making it a pure and potentially healthier option. However, it has a strong pea taste which may not be appealing to all. On the other hand, the chocolate-flavored variety is tastier but contains additives.
Pulsin Pea Protein Powder Overview
One scoop contains 41 calories, which includes: 8 grams of protein, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0.9 grams of fat, and 0.1 grams of fiber. These are the macronutrients present in the natural & unflavored variety.
Pulsin also has a chocolate-flavored pea protein variety that contains the following per scoop: 97 calories, 17.4 grams of protein, 2.0 grams of carbohydrates (of which 0.1 grams are sugar), 1.9 grams of fat (of which 0.4 grams are saturated fats), and 1.0 grams of fiber.
Whilst the natural & unflavored variety contains pea protein as its sole ingredient, the chocolate-flavored variety has other ingredients such as cacao powder, natural flavorings, rice bran extract, xantham gum (thickener), and steviol glycosides (sweetener). You could say it’s not as clean as the unflavored variety, which is natural.
Personally, I prefer unflavored supplements because it’s the only way of ensuring you’re not ingesting unknown controversial ingredients that might represent a risk to your health. That is because unflavored supplements usually only contain the nutrient you’re looking for— in this case, the protein source.
Protein Breakdown
For a product to be rightfully marketed as a protein powder, it has to contain more protein than any other macronutrient in one serving. And while that is the case with most protein powders, some contain very little protein.
To determine whether a protein powder is actually good, one has to calculate how much protein it contains per scoop, and the criteria used to evaluate the quality of a protein powder fall under the following:
- 65-75% protein per scoop = reasonable
- 75-85% protein per scoop = good
- More than 85% protein per scoop = excellent
Pulsin’s two flavors contain different amounts of protein (both overall and in terms of protein to total calories ratio).
The unflavored pea protein contains 78% protein (according to my calculations), which means that 78% of the calories are derived from protein. The chocolate-flavored pea protein contains 71% protein, so it contains a relatively lower protein content per scoop than the unflavored protein.
So, what does this all mean? Well, it means that Pulsin’s pea proteins contain a relatively lower protein content per scoop compared to some other brands. A protein powder should naturally contain more protein powder than anything else, as it’s an indicator of how pure the protein is.
However, that doesn’t always tell the full story. For instance, the chocolate-flavored pea protein still manages to have 17.4 grams of protein per serving, compared to the 8 grams of protein in the unflavored variety. Even though percentage-wise, the unflavored variety contains a higher proportion of protein per scoop, it’s not as appealing as the chocolate flavor because it just contains a very low number of calories overall.
What I Like About Pulsin Protein Powder
Inexpensive
Pulsin pea protein is less than a pound per serving (around 30 pence) making it one of the most cost-effective protein supplements on the European market.
1kg bag of pea protein costs 29.99 pounds and comes with 100 servings, which is a considerable amount and it means that one bag should last you 3-4 months.
You also have the option to buy it in bulk (6 bags of 1kg, to be more precise), which would have an upfront cost of 88.99 pounds, but the price per serving would be around 15 pence per serving, allowing you to save in the long term.
So, yeah, if a protein powder was all about the price, then this one would be a winner.
Healthier Unflavored Variety
This protein powder provides an unflavored option, which you may appreciate if, like me, you don’t enjoy protein powders that are very sweet.
Since pea protein is the only ingredient in the unflavored variety, it is the purest sort of protein you can find and is therefore healthier since you won’t be consuming questionable sweeteners, among other ingredients.
Low in Calories
Both the unflavored and flavored varieties come under 100 calories per serving, which makes them an interesting option for someone that is on a tightrope, working towards a calorie deficit but still needs a consistent protein intake.
However, if you’re going to either buy one or the other, opt for the chocolate-flavored variety as that one contains twice the amount of protein, even though the unflavored variety contains more protein per total number of calories.
What I Don’t Like About Pulsin Protein Powder
Low Protein Content
Pulsin’s pea protein powders not only contain a lower protein content overall, but they also contain a lower protein content in proportion to the total number of calories.
For instance, if you take Future Kind’s vegan protein powder, not only can you find a higher protein content (20g of protein), but it also contains a higher protein content (94% protein) in proportion to the total number of calories, which makes it a rather excellent protein powder.
So, for a protein powder, I would say that Pulsin is behind other brands when it comes to the sheer amount of protein and protein to total calories ratio.
Not The Tastiest
Unfortunately, this protein powder has an overpowering pea taste, which might be a good or a bad thing depending on the person, but most people will probably not appreciate it because it’s also hard to disguise it with other foods.
Obviously, if you choose the chocolate-flavored pea protein, you’ll be better served in terms of flavor, but you can also count on it having other ingredients like sweeteners, which I personally don’t appreciate because I don’t think they’re healthy in the long term.
Is Pulsin Protein Powder Worth It?
Frankly, I think that Pulsin’s pea protein powder is an ideal alternative for those who simply wish to include a bit more protein in their diets but don’t necessarily want to do it in order to bulk up or build muscle.
The unflavored pea protein variety contains 8 grams of protein, which is low for anyone who wants to seriously bulk up and build muscle, but It’s an adequate option if you want to slightly your protein intake by adding it to a soup, milkshake, or smoothie.
Pulsin also has a chocolate-flavored pea protein that comes with 17.4 grams of protein, and you could probably consider this one if you want to bulk up, however, there are better options on the market for that purpose, in my opinion.
Its low-calorie content makes it an alluring option for those who want perhaps lose weight while still maintaining a solid protein intake since it gives you enough protein to prevent muscle wasting while also ensuring you don’t go above the calorie threshold you need to maintain in order to lose weight. Add that to the cheap price, then it’s definitely one to consider if you want to cut.
In the end, although I do think it’s a decent protein powder, it’s possible to find something with more protein (overall) and also a higher protein content per scoop (where the protein content surpasses 80% of the total number of calories so that you know you’re actually paying for a purer protein).
If you’re interested in Pulsin’s protein powder, feel free to get it via Holland and Barrett or the brand’s official website.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the 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, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
