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Created by a 100% vegan brand called Vega, Vega Sport is among the most popular plant-based protein powders on the market, and it’s also one of the first ones to make its way into the mainstream.
Akin to brands such as Optimum Nutrition and Muscle Milk, Vega’s protein powder has made its way into major retailers like Walmart and Target.
It’s also one of the most reviewed protein powders on Amazon with over 10 thousand reviews spread across several listings.
Vega Sport is an exceptional vegan protein powder that contains 30g of protein per serving, 5 grams of BCAAs, as well as several minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium. It also contains probiotics, making it a more complex formula than most.
Main Takeaways
- Vega Sport Protein Powder contains 30g of plant-based protein and essential minerals, with additional recovery-enhancing ingredients like tart cherry powder and probiotics.
- Its ingredient list is short and free from artificial additives, which caters well to a health-conscious audience that seeks to minimize potentially harmful ingredients.
- At $1.99 per serving, it’s relatively expensive, making it less accessible for those on a tight budget.
Vega Sport Protein Powder Nutrition Info
One scoop provides 160 calories: 30 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrates (2g fiber and 2g sugar), and 3 grams of fat (0.5g of saturated fat).
For a vegan protein powder, Vega Sport does have a lot of protein, as well as a relatively low number of carbs and fat, which makes it a very appealing option for those who want a low-carb high-protein supplement, namely vegan bodybuilding athletes who want to maximize protein intake and cut down on carbs.
Additionally, it contains several interesting minerals such as iron, calcium, and potassium, which are also crucial for individuals that train consistently. It has 7.2 mg of iron which is equivalent to 40% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance), 200 mg of calcium which represents 15% of the RDA, and 310 mg of potassium which is 6% of the RDA.
It doesn’t have vitamins such as vitamin B12 and vitamin D, but those are usually better supplemented through their own isolated formulas.
Vega Sport Protein Powder Ingredients
The ingredients list is not particularly long, and that means the supplement doesn’t contain worthless fillers or artificial ingredients. Plus, the ingredients themselves are pretty straightforward and clean.
The ingredients are the following: pea protein, cocoa powder, natural flavors, pumpkin seed protein, organic sunflower seed protein, alfalfa protein, tart cherry powder, beetroot powder, sea salt, stevia leaf extract, xantham gum, bromelain, turmeric extract, and black pepper extract.
This formula contains protein from a variety of sources, and that is crucial in a vegan-friendly protein powder because it ensures you’ve got access to all the necessary amino acids in one scoop. You’ll find that in one serving you have 5g of 9 different amino acid profiles, including L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, which are associated with faster muscle growth and improved recovery.
This formula also contains two unique ingredients you don’t see very often in protein powders, namely tart cherry powder, and probiotics.
Tart cherry powder provides a variety of electrolytes that prevent you from getting fatigued from the lack of hydration and electrolyte expenditure.
Some studies have also found that taking tart cherry powder may reduce muscle breakdown, soreness, and speed-up recovery in resistance-trained individuals. 1, 2, 3
Probiotics may also play a role in training as some studies show that they could help with weight loss through a number of different mechanisms. 4 One of these mechanisms is related to their ability to prevent the absorption of dietary fat in the intestine, which is then excreted through feces rather than being stored in the body. 5, 6
Additionally, probiotics might increase calorie expenditure, decrease fat storage, and prolong the feeling of fullness. The level of some hormones, like GLP-1, is rising, which contributes to this in part. 7, 8
They might also immediately aid in weight loss. Women on a diet who took Lactobacillus rhamnosus for three months lost 50% more weight than those who didn’t take a probiotic, according to one study. 9
Another research involving 210 individuals discovered that even low doses of Lactobacillus gasseri over the course of 12 weeks led to an 8.5% reduction in abdominal fat. 10
However, it’s also important to emphasize that these studies do not represent conclusive evidence and that they should be taken with a pinch of salt.
With that being said, the ingredients we’ve just mentioned do act synergistically in this formula, and if you want a protein powder that purely maximizes muscle gain, then we believe this one is definitely worth a try.
Vega Sport Protein Powder Price
Vega Sport protein powder is available in two sizes: one with about 20 servings and one with 45 servings.
The smaller one (with 20 servings) costs $39.99. That is equivalent to a price per serving of $1.99, which is relatively expensive compared to most protein powders.
The larger one (with 45 servings) costs $87.88. That is equivalent to $1.95 per serving, which is a few cents cheaper than the smaller-sized tub but it’s still expensive, nevertheless.
Its price point is not for everybody, but if you are able to afford it, you would be satisfied with the product as it is very high in protein, and contains complementary ingredients that support your body in terms of muscle gain, recovery, and general wellbeing.
So, Is Vega Sport’s Protein Powder Worth It?
Frankly, this is a pricey supplement that isn’t necessarily a good investment for everyone, but if that isn’t much of an issue for you, it’s a sound purchase, particularly if you do high-intensity workouts.
Based on the amount of protein it contains per serving, its complete amino acid profile, and the fact it contains ingredients such as tart cherry powder and probiotics, I’d say it’s designed for high-performance individuals.
In fact, Vega claims that they’ve made this particular protein supplement for athletes, so it’s definitely not suitable for beginners as their protein requirements are typically lower.
If you’re interested in this supplement, feel free to do so via iHerb 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.
References:
1. Levers K, Dalton R, Galvan E, O’Connor A, Goodenough C, Simbo S, Mertens-Talcott SU, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Riechman S, Crouse S, Kreider RB. Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on acute endurance exercise performance in aerobically trained individuals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016 May.
2. Levers K, Dalton R, Galvan E, et al. Powdered tart cherry supplementation demonstrates benefit on markers of catabolism and muscle soreness following an acute bout of intense lower body resistance exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2014;11(Suppl 1):P31. Published 2014 Dec.
3. Levers K, Dalton R, Galvan E, Goodenough C, O’Connor A, Simbo S, Barringer N, Mertens-Talcott SU, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Riechman S, Crouse S, Kreider RB. Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on an acute bout of intense lower body strength exercise in resistance-trained males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Nov.
4. Angelakis E, Merhej V, Raoult D. Related actions of probiotics and antibiotics on gut microbiota and weight modification. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Oct.
5. Ogawa A, Kobayashi T, Sakai F, Kadooka Y, Kawasaki Y. Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 suppresses fatty acid release through enlargement of fat emulsion size in vitro and promotes fecal fat excretion in healthy Japanese subjects. Lipids Health Dis. 2015 Mar.
6. Hamad EM, Sato M, Uzu K, Yoshida T, Higashi S, Kawakami H, Kadooka Y, Matsuyama H, Abd El-Gawad IA, Imaizumi K. Milk fermented by Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 influences adipocyte size via inhibition of dietary fat absorption in Zucker rats. Br J Nutr. 2009 Mar.
7. Yadav H, Lee JH, Lloyd J, Walter P, Rane SG. Beneficial metabolic effects of a probiotic via butyrate-induced GLP-1 hormone secretion. J Biol Chem. 2013 Aug.
8. Aronsson L, Huang Y, Parini P, Korach-André M, Håkansson J, Gustafsson JÅ, Pettersson S, Arulampalam V, Rafter J. Decreased fat storage by Lactobacillus paracasei is associated with increased levels of angiopoietin-like 4 protein (ANGPTL4). PLoS One. 2010 Sep.
9. Sanchez M, Darimont C, Drapeau V, Emady-Azar S, Lepage M, Rezzonico E, Ngom-Bru C, Berger B, Philippe L, Ammon-Zuffrey C, Leone P, Chevrier G, St-Amand E, Marette A, Doré J, Tremblay A. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. Br J Nutr. 2014 Apr.
10. Kadooka Y, Sato M, Ogawa A, Miyoshi M, Uenishi H, Ogawa H, Ikuyama K, Kagoshima M, Tsuchida T. Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 in fermented milk on abdominal adiposity in adults in a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2013 Nov.
