Pulsin' Protein extravaganza

Pulsin’ have been slowly building up a following in the protein market for a while.  The reason being that they offer a unique selection of unflavoured proteins that can be used on their own or mixed up with fruit, in cooking or other ways to create exciting new drinks that are nutritious and tasty.

The flavours available

Pulsin’ have a few types of plant protein for you to try. With 5 vegan varieties to try you should find one you like. Also you can buy them in smaller serving sizes if you like, so test them all out by buying a small pouch, then buy the bigger size once you have found the one you prefer (or buy a couple of varieties for different situations).

Soya

Soya is the old man of the vegan protein world. Soya is an ideal protein for those dieting as it has a particularly good amino acid profile. It isn’t one I use that often as I eat foods made from soya, so I tend to vary my protein sources, this is so I vary the amino acid profile I am taking in.  However if you are looking for a superior post-workout protein, soya is the one. Pulsin’ only uses GM-Free soya, so that is excellent. It is 90% protein with a tiny hint of carbs and fat.  For the record soya does not feminise males, that has been debunked for a while now (If you want more information about that feel free to email me). Soya mixes well and has a somewhat nutty taste.  I find it ideal for post-workout, a snack between meals.  Adding it to the milk alternative of your choice and/or with bananas peanut butter etc can make the taste variations virtually endless.

Hemp

This was my favourite flavour of protein powder (or maybe the sunflower see below).  The hemp is a concentrate, not an isolate, so the amount of protein per 100g is 47g (47% protein).  It has more fat and carbs than soya however the fat is virtually all EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) these are what the body needs to build new cells and create hormones, so the fat is used in the natural bodily processes, not stored as fat unless you eat way more than you could reasonably do in a protein powder.  Hemp is a slightly slower protein to assimilate than soya (or pea – see below). For me the obvious times to use this are for a breakfast as the slower assimilation will mean you hold hunger at bay for longer or in the evenings if you are intent on muscle gains as it will slow the bodies descent into catabolism during the night. It could also be part of a meal replacement drink (add in fruit to make an amazing smoothie). I really liked the taste, however I have met people who cannot stand it, so buy a small pouch, test it out.  If you like it then invest in a larger supply. Hemp is generally considered hypoallergenic, so if you have a delicate tummy hemp or rice (see below), are the two options I would consider.

Organic Sunflower

I hadn’t heard of sunflower protein before I tried this packed. Like Hemp, sunflower protein is a concentrate, not an isolate, so it is 45% protein.  Mixed quite thickly this tasted a little like tahini and might work well being used in a soup or similar or possibly as a pudding with other ingredients When mixed to the normal consistency it tasted great.  I personally preferred hemp, but only by a small amount, either was good for me.  I would use this similar to hemp or try to create some unique dishes (I intend to experiment in the future with this protein, so stay tuned).

Pea

Pea is somewhat similar to soya.  The nutritional profile is slightly different, but in most ways I would use this in the same way as soya.  The one benefit it has is that it is very heat stable, so if you intend to use in baking or in soups or added to gravies, then pea is the ideal protein powder for you. It is hypoallergenic and is 80% protein. It is not quite as complete a protein as soya so mixing it with rice gives it an extra boost (although not normally necessary as you eat other protein containing foods throughout the day). Again post-workout or as a snack are good uses for this one.

Rice

Rice is hypoallergenic, so is good for most people, at 80% protein it is a good choice for an all-round protein that you can enjoy anytime. It has a very close amino acid profile to human breast milk (98% identical).  It is not quite a complete protein on its own, so you can mix it with another protein if you like although if you eat another protein source during the course of the day it isn’t really a concern. Anyone with tummy issues might do well to choose rice as their main supplementary protein source as many people tolerate it well. As usually always buy a small amount first, then buy more if you like the flavour and texture of the shake. Some people have said they found rice protein a little gritty.  I have no issues with it though.

A word about proteins

There are a few things to remember when you look at these proteins.  The first is that everyone’s tastes are different.  You may love one flavour, but I may hate it.  As you have a big selection here I expect there will be at least one flavour you can enjoy.  Also remember these are unflavoured products.  This opens up a world of options.  You can add fruits and berries, things like peanut butter or cocoa powder, you can mix them into foods or during baking.  You can even mix them into mash potato (I’ve never tried that, it just came into my head, so do not blame me if that doesn’t work!).

If you have any ideas for using protein powders, any favourite flavours of those mentioned above or any questions post below.

If you want to buy Pulsin’ protein or any other Pulsin’ products (remember to check the labels as not all of the Pulsin’ range is vegan) pop over to http://www.pulsin.co.uk/