Whey Protein vs. Plant Protein - What's The Difference?

Protein powder is such an easy and convenient way to get your protein intake in and help you get closer to your goals faster! However, with a variety of options available, choosing the right protein powder can be overwhelming. In this blog, I’m going to compare two different sources of protein powders: plant vs. whey, and why Naked Harvest uses plant over whey. 

What is whey protein?

Whey protein is derived from milk, and is a complete protein - which means it contains all of the 9 essential amino acids. Whey protein can also come in different forms, namely isolate, concentrate or casein. Altogether whey protein is mainly known for its high biological value (absorbability) and its fast absorption capacity.  

However, whey protein may cause issues for individuals who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies. Lactose intolerance is due to not being able to make lactase (an enzyme) in order to fully digest the lactose (sugar) in milk.  

What is plant protein?

Plant protein powders are made from various plant sources including peas, soy, hemp, rice, or a combination of these. Each plant protein source will have a different amino acid profile, and are generally not considered a full amino acid profile - meaning they are not a complete protein. Combining different plant protein sources together can create a complete amino acid profile. They are naturally free from dairy, making them a suitable option for those with specific dietary restrictions or allergies. At Naked Harvest, we use pea and rice combined together to create this full amino acid profile. Both are usually well tolerated by most people. 

Both whey and plant protein powders often come along with a whole heap of nasties such as added fillers, preservatives, artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners. This can also cause some digestive upset or unwanted reactions, which is another reason why it is important to choose carefully. 

Naked Harvest's THRIVE Plant Protein is formulated with added functional ingredients to provide more benefits than just protein, and does not come with the nasties. Having a plant protein allows us to cater for our plant based or lactose intolerant community, which means our delicious plant protein is available for all to enjoy. Additionally, THRIVE is free from refined sugars and gluten free.