National Bodybuilding Co. Full Prep Vegan Protein Review
Vegan protein is becoming more and more popular as people opt for a plant-based diet. Regardless of your reason for choosing such a diet, plant based protein is an ideal supplement for increasing levels of protein in the body.
The Full Prep Vegan Protein by National Bodybuilding Co. is one of few on the market to offer a blend of both pea and rice protein. But is it as effective as the other vegan alternatives?
Why supplement protein?
Firstly, you need to know exactly why you should be taking protein as a supplement. Whether you are a bodybuilder, and athlete, or an average joe training in the gym, your body needs protein.
Protein is one of three macronutrients and is vital for muscle repair and growth. When we do any resistance training, microtears are created in the muscles that need to be repaired in-order to grow stronger and bigger. This is where protein comes in. Without a sufficient amount of protein the muscles do not have the correct nutrients for this to happen.
Although many people use protein as a supplement, it is even more important for those following a primarily plant based diet. Most of the protein we consume comes from animal sources such as meat and dairy. Although you can get protein from other food sources, they do not always have enough of the essential amino acids that we need.
That’s where protein powder comes in. Full Prep Vegan Protein can be used to increase the amount of protein you are consuming in your diet, without increasing your diet with many more calories.
Full Prep Vegan Protein ingredients
With vegan protein powder, the ingredients are just as, if not more important than regular whey protein powder. Full Prep Vegan Protein includes a blend of vegan protein sources. This differs from many other vegan protein powders that only focus on one protein source in their blend.
But why is this important? Well it means that you are gaining key nutrients and various amino acids from the different sources. Pea protein and rice protein will provide a variety of nutrients that are essential for health and muscle growth. On top of this, all of the ingredients included are organic and naturally sourced. This is becoming increasingly important for those that want to be more aware of what they are putting into their body.
Organic pea protein
Pea protein is made from extracting the protein from yellow split peas. Unlike most plant-based protein powders, this one contains all 9 essential amino acids. Amino acids are the foundations of protein and essential amino acids need to be outsourced from food and supplements. Our body cannot produce essential amino acids on its own.
Three key amino acids that can be found in pea protein are leucine, isoleucine and valine. These are known as branched chain amino acids, key to the process of protein synthesis and muscle growth. Leucine in particular is vital to protein synthesis and is not commonly found in many plant based foods.
Organic pea protein is also a great source of iron, another key nutrient that is often found to be low in plant based diets. In a study of 161 men ages 18-35 years old, they found that there was no difference in muscle growth supplementing with either whey or pea protein. In-fact, both showed results of being better for protein synthesis than the placebo.
Organic rice protein
The second part of the full prep vegan protein is organic rice protein. This is a high protein, low calorie form of protein that is perfect for bodybuilders and athletes looking to build muscle and reduce fat. If going through body recomposition training, rice protein is an ideal way to keep the calories low, whilst still promoting as much growth as possible.
Like pea protein, it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids. Therefore, this is an ideal source for those on a plant based diet looking to get enough nutrients. In an 8 week study, evidence revealed that rice protein was just as good for muscle recovery and increasing muscle mass as whey protein.
Pros
It’s already clear to see the pros of this product, but just incase, here is a list of the things we think are the most important:
- No unwanted side effects
- Organic and naturally sourced ingredients
- Efficient for protein synthesis
- Suitable for most diets
Cons
That being said, there have to be some downsides to the product
- High cost
- Small flavour variety compared to others
For us, the pros definitely outweigh the cons of this product. But, this one is completely down to you. Whether you see the higher price of the powder to be worth the benefits it comes with.
Conclusion
The Full Prep Vegan Protein does come at a higher price than most protein powders, vegan and non-vegan included. However, the price is a reflection of the quality of the ingredients. There are not many vegan brands that blend powders and also offer those ingredients are organic.
Likewise, we believe there are plenty of benefits that make the extra cost worth it. Being able to offer a plant-based protein powder with all nine essential amino acids and low calories can go straight to the top of the list.