Solid taste and more healthy than whey protein.
By Brian Brown Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein 50%
I was surprised just how good hemp protein tastes. You wouldn’t want to sprinkle it on your ice cream, but as a protein source, it tastes just fine. No blotted or gassy feeling you get when you take whey or soy proteins. Plus, you overall just feel better. Highly recommend this product for anyone looking to increase their protein intake, whether weightlifters or vegetarians.
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I left whey protein powder and will never go back, March 1, 2010
By Frijole “Ben” (Birmingham, Alabama United States)
I’ve always used whey protein. Lately I’ve found whey protein powder to be harsh on my stomach. Genetically I have high cholesterol too, and whey protein powder does contain cholesterol.
So, I looked for an alternative. I wanted something organic that didn’t make a lot of ridiculous claims like the whey protein powders do. All that stuff those companies claim is garbage. All those protein powders are the same and they’re all overpriced. And no one polices that industry. Who knows the actual quality of all those whey protein powders? I figured there has to be some type of protein that doesn’t have cholesterol and that isn’t soy based (since I have a fear of estrogen).
My search basically came down to rice protein powder, yellow pea protein powder and hemp protein powder. After doing a bit of research, it seems that hemp has a lot of really healthy offerings. Sad that so many have abused it and created a stigma around it. So I chose the hemp protein powder.
Anyway, Nutiva is a company that seems to know what they’re doing. I checked out their website and it has a lot of great information and it’s well put together. And they don’t make ridiculous claims. Now, I’m not a hippie at all, but after watching documentaries like “Food, Inc” I have become more conscious of eating organic foods or at least foods from companies that have responsible practices.
The hemp protein powder itself tastes earthy. I don’t particularly like the taste, but all the whey protein powders (who claim to taste great) taste awful so I don’t really care too much. The only way I consume the hemp protein powder is in smoothies because a banana will cancel out most of the earthy flavor. Organic Peanut butter does a great job too. I use the Kirkland organic peanut butter from Costco, which is really good.
The best thing about the hemp protein powder is that it has fiber in it and is perfectly easy on my stomach. I was having issues in the bathroom before I started using the hemp protein powder and those issues stopped immediately after. We’ll just say the additional fiber in my diet helped me out. But my stomach never hurts after drinking a smoothie with the hemp protein in it, quite the opposite effect of the whey protein smoothies I was drinking.
I lift weights and train pretty hard 3-4 times a week and I feel like my recovery with the hemp protein powder is just as good (if not better) than my recovery with the whey protein. It’s bioavailable protein. Your body knows what to do with it.
I highly recommend this product. Even if you’re not a hippie.
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This review of Nutiva’s Hemp Protein comes from Natural News’ own Mike Adams. Thanks Mike!
Most hemp protein products leave a lot to be desired in the taste category. Two weeks ago, in fact, I publicly admitted that I had stopped consuming hemp protein because the taste just wasn’t keep pace with the far better tasting brown rice protein formulas like SunWarrior. But Nutiva has just raised the standard with a new hemp protein product that tastes far superior to any hemp protein product I’ve ever tried.
It’s called Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein(www.Nutiva.com) and it boasts 50% protein content with a finer, easier-to-mix texture that’s impressively smooth. But the best part is the vastly improved taste. Instead of the typical bitter hemp taste you might expect in such a protein, this one tastes more like stabilized rice bran (to me, at least), which is a sort of rich fatty cereal type of taste.
Remember, too, that the fats in hemp protein are super healthy, consisting of a very high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids. The Nutiva company also earns my enthusiastic recommendation, as its founder John Roulac is a huge supporter of natural living, natural health and sustainable agriculture.
Nutiva has a winner here. I’ve sampled their new formula in chocolate smoothies, and all the typical bitter taste of other hemp proteins was completely gone. I’m not sure how Nutiva managed to create this improved taste, but it didn’t involve any additional ingredients. The product still contains only raw, certified organic hemp protein, and that’s it. No sweeteners, no fillers, nothing else!
It’s also a hexane-free formula (hexane is a common chemical contaminant found in low-quality protein extracts).
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NaturalNews.com
By Mike Adams
February 25, 2008
Review: The Best Tasting Green Superfood Powder Products
There’s increasing awareness today about the health benefits of drinking superfood powders. Anyone who has been reading NaturalNews for very long knows that cruciferous vegetables prevent cancer, berries protect the nervous system and prevent heart disease, chlorella cleanses the liver and blood, curcumin prevents cancer and arthritis, cherries ease inflammation, pomegranates prevent prostate cancer, and so on. But many people who are new to superfood products are a bit put off by the intense tastes of the more potent powders (after all, they’re not sugared up like soda, and they contain no artificial sweeteners). Not surprisingly, I’m constantly being asked what’s available on the market that actually tastes good.
For this review, I’m sharing the details on the top seven superfood products that I’m familiar with. This is not an exhaustive review, and I apologize to any company that should be included on this list, but isn’t. (Send some product samples to my office and that will help me learn about your product for the next update!)
Also, this is not a review about protein powders such as the outstanding hemp protein products from Ruth’s Hemp Foods or Nutiva, or the LivingFuel Rx Super Greens product (www.LivingFuel.com). It’s also not about omega-3 superfood products such as Jon Barron’s “Private Reserve” product, which is quite remarkable in its own right, or the Active Greens product (http://www.activegreens.com) from the Organic Food Bar company, which is also outstanding. Instead, it’s about green superfood powders that provide concentrated forms of disease-fighting fruits, vegetables, microalgae, probiotics and sea vegetables.
Taste vs. Nutritional Density
General speaking, the better a superfood product tastes, the lower the nutritional density. Why is this? Because the most nutritionally dense superfoods — such as chlorella, spirulina, broccoli sprouts, etc. — often have very strong tastes that seem unusual to people used to drinking sugary beverages like sodas or processed fruit juices.
People who are new to superfoods should begin by drinking the better-tasting brands (see below) for at least 60 – 90 days. After they are used to those tastes, they can experiment with more nutritionally dense brands.
Over time, any person can become accustomed to even the most nutritionally dense superfoods. For example, the sharp taste of the I3C phytonutrients from broccoli seems very strange to new people, but after a few days of drinking broccoli juice or extracts, the tongue is desensitized to the taste, and what once seemed offensive can come to taste rather mild or even pleasant in a relatively short period of time. (Note that in junk food consumers, this taste desensitization effect works in a negative way by making people crave more and more sugar or salt in their foods because they’re no longer sensitive to such tastes. Then, when they taste something healthy, they can’t stand the taste!)
Here are the seven superfood products included in this review, presented in the order of their taste: From the best-tasting to the most potent-tasting. All of these powders are simply mixed with water and sweetened to taste using stevia, agave nectar, raw honey or other natural sweeteners. You may also want to experiment blending them with a banana, apple or pear, but remember that using such fruits greatly increases the insulin response to consuming those drinks. It’s healthier to stick to a low-glycemic superfood meal whenever possible (and for diabetics, it’s essential to avoid drinking sugars!).
Disclaimer: Neither myself nor Natural News has any financial relationship whatsoever with the companies mentioned here. We earn nothing on the sales of these products, and we have not been paid in any way to write about these products. Any statements about the ability of these products to prevent or cure disease are our own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the manufacturers (thanks to FDA censorship of superfood labeling, of course).
Earth’s Promise
Taste: Earth’s Promise is available in several different flavors and has a tangy, tart flavor. It combines citric acid and inulin with many different superfoods, including fruits, vegetables, sea vegetables and other items. It has a delicious taste that even kids can immediately enjoy, but the high acidity of the beverage means I don’t recommend it for long-term use. It’s great as an entry-level superfood product, however.
Nutritional Density: Earth’s Promise is not very nutritionally dense, compared to the other products mentioned here. Still, it’s way better than drinking processed juices or soft drinks.
Price: Very high. Per ounce, Earth’s Promise is very expensive, and given that it doesn’t offer the nutritional density of other products mentioned here, it’s not the best value long term. Still, given the extremely beneficial ingredients it contains, it’s worth the cost, even at a high price per ounce. I openly recommend Earth’s Promise to lots of people, and it remains a great way for anyone to get started in superfoods without getting smacked by the extreme taste of hard-core green powders.
Learn more at:
http://www.enzy.com
Miracle Reds and Macro Greens
Taste: Miracle Reds taste really good. It doesn’t have the tart “candy” taste of Earth’s Promise, but it’s really delicious, especially when blended with a banana, apple or other sweet fruit. The company that makes Miracle Reds (Macro Life Naturals) also makes “Macro Greens,” a product that used to be called “Miracle Greens” before the idiotic, tyrannical U.S. government sued the company and forced them to change their name, claiming the word “miracle” was illegal to use in the context of a health product literature. In any case, the taste is really great for both products, but I think the “Reds” taste better (more fruits).
Nutritional Density: Good. The density is higher than Earth’s Promise, and these products provide really strong nutritional benefits, including heart disease prevention, nervous system protection, cancer prevention and much more. Definitely a solid product loaded with highly nutritious ingredients.
Price: Good, but not great. The price per ounce is somewhat high for this product, mostly because it’s sold through retail channels and therefore has quite a bit of markup. It’s an unavoidable side effect of distributing through retail. Also, part of the reason the price is high on this product (and all the products reviewed here) is because they use quality, genuine ingredients! These aren’t junk products made by Coca-Cola. These are superfood products made with real food. That costs money (but it’s worth every penny in terms of the health benefits you receive).
Learn more at:
http://www.macrolifenaturals.com
Amazing Grass
Taste: This is a superfood product for kids and adults, and I have to admit that the taste of the chocolate-flavored Amazing Grass is so good that I had a hard time (at first) believing it really contained the nutritional ingredients claimed on the label! The taste is accomplished with a small amount of cane juice (cane sugar), which I don’t really have a problem with, given the nutritional density of the other supporting ingredients. If you’re trying to get your child to drink superfoods, this is a great product to start with (and you’ll love it, too!).
Nutritional Density: Good, but not great. The cane juice crystals take away from the overall nutritional density. Still, it’s a highly recommended superfood product, and I’ve given it to lots of kids who otherwise would never eat or drink many of the ingredients found in this product. While there are other products with stronger nutritional density, they don’t have anywhere near the great taste of Amazing Grass.
Price: Although prices are always floating around a bit in the industry, my impression is that Amazing Grass products are priced in line with other superfood supplements sold in retail outlets. It’s not the best price in the world, but again, given the outstanding ingredients it contains, it’s a great investment in your health!
Learn more at:
http://www.AmazingGrass.com
Emerald Balance and X Balance
Taste: Simply outstanding! In terms of overall taste vs. overall nutritional density, the Emerald Balance and X Balance products earn my highest recommendation. These products taste remarkably great, even to folks who are new to superfoods. (If you’re brand new to superfoods, go for the chocolate-flavored X Balance product first. You’ll love it!) The Emerald Balance product, in contrast, has a bit of a minty flavor to it, which I find mixes really well with avocados and almond milk. (Really, it tastes like a mint ice cream shake!)
Nutritional Density: What really impressed me about the Emerald Balance and X Balance products is how they manage to taste so incredibly good even when they have such high nutritional density. It’s an art (and a science) to make that magic happen, and the formulator of Emerald Balance (Jan Lovejoy) has done a masterful job of creating a winning recipe. I strongly recommend this product to anyone who wants to experience an abundance of nutritional benefits from superfoods, but who doesn’t want to stomach something that taste really strong (like some of the other products reviewed below). By the way, they’ve just released a new product called Chocolate Emerald Balance Plus, which I haven’t tried yet, but I’m confident will be delicious!
Price: Good value. The Emerald Balance products are sold in larger containers than many other products, so although the total expenditure may be higher, the price per ounce is a very good value. Given the nutritional density of the product, I think the price is quite reasonable. This is a superfood product I consume on a regular basis.
Learn more at:
http://www.SGNnutrition.com
BOKU Superfood
Taste: With BOKU Superfood, we’re getting into a higher class of nutritional potency. In all the products that follow, taste is not the primary selling feature. None of these products taste as good as Emerald Balance or Earth’s Promise, for example (except to a few hard-core raw foodists who have retrained their taste buds over a period of decades). Among these high-density nutritional products, however, I think BOKU Superfood tastes very good. I sometimes drink it straight with nothing but water. But I don’t eat any refined sugar, either, and I’ve been consuming superfoods for about ten years now. Definitely do not try BOKU Superfood as your entry-level product if you’re new to superfoods. Start with something a little less potent.
Nutritional Density: Superb! Simply outstanding! I place this product among the top three most nutritionally dense superfoods products on the planet. It’s really outstanding. (Read my full review of the product here: http://www.naturalnews.com/022566.html ) This product is absolutely loaded with anti-cancer nutrients, anti-heart disease nutrients, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, etc. It contains natural medicines that scientific literature has clearly shown to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, depression, osteoporosis, and so much more. This is the product to choose if you’re looking for hard-core nutrition for curing or preventing serious disease. Chug several heaping spoonfuls each day!
Price: Surprisingly, the price of BOKU Superfood is actually quite good. It’s astonishingly good through our NaturalNews special discount, which may or may not still be valid by the time you read this, but you can try it at the following URL:
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.php
If that URL is still valid, it’s flat out the best offer of any high-density superfood product on the market today, and it’s a huge discount off the normal price for this product. This is accomplished in part because the product is sold directly to consumers and doesn’t go through retail distribution channels, but it’s also because NaturalNews negotiated a huge discount on the product as a service to our readers. (That discount is available exclusively to NaturalNews readers, not to the general public.) Click the URL above to see if that offer is still good…
Learn more at:
http://www.BokuSuperfood.com
Special NaturalNews offer at:
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.php
Vitamineral Green
Taste: The Vitamineral Green product from HealthForce Nutritionals is legendary in the raw foods community. Formulated by raw foods pioneer Dr. Jameth Sheridan, it’s a top-of-the-line, high-density superfood product that’s also among my top three choices. The taste, however, is intense. I don’t drink this straight. I add it to other blends to improve the taste. It’s strong, even for people who drink a lot of fresh vegetables juices (like me). David Rain (from www.JuiceFeasting.com) drinks it straight with water, however.
Nutritional Density: Outstanding! This is one of the most nutritionally dense superfood products on the market today. If you’re seriously looking to reverse cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression or other chronic conditions, and you want support from a genuine superfood product, I strongly recommend you check out Vitamineral Green.
Value: A solid value, but still quite a bit more expensive than BOKU Superfood (because of the retail distribution channel issue). The nutritional density makes it worth every penny, of course. Simply phenomenal ingredients. The food of Kings!
Learn more at:
http://www.Healthforce.com
Pure Synergy
Taste: Let me be blunt: Pure Synergy tastes pretty wicked to those who are new to superfoods. But it’s similar to Vitamineral Green and the taste is tolerated quite well by hard-core nutritionists. I routinely use Pure Synergy in my Juice Feasting beverages, and while the taste seemed a bit strong the first time I consumed it, I quickly got used to it and now use the product regularly. Definitely not for beginners.
Nutritional Density: Very high. Similar to Vitamineral Green. Absolutely packed with disease-fighting nutrients. This is the kind of product you want to take if you’re serious about beating diseases like cancer. There are literally thousands of phytonutrients (natural, plant-based medicines) in this product and the others reviewed here. This is the best medicine in the world for preventing disease and enhancing health.
Price: High. This product seems to be priced higher than some other high-potency superfoods, but again, it’s still a fantastic value considering the quality of the ingredients you’re getting. Even at $100 a bottle, it would be a bargain, and it’s far less than $100 a bottle. When considering the prices on all these products, you have to ask yourself this question: What’s the cost of being sick? When you look at health as an investment in your own quality of life and longevity, then the prices of these products seem almost irrelevant.
Learn more at:
http://www.TheSynergyCompany.com
What’s the best superfood product?
I don’t have a “best” product overall. I recommend various superfood products depending on the situation. Here’s what I currently recommend:
Best superfood for traveling: Earth’s Promise (easy package size is good for luggage or airplanes, can be quickly mixed with water)
http://www.enzy.com
Best taste with high potency nutrition: Emerald Balance
http://sgnnutrition.com/emerald-balance/
Most nutrition per dollar: Boku Superfood
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.php
Best product for children: Amazing Grass (chocolate) or X Balance
http://www.amazinggrass.com
http://sgnnutrition.com/X-Balance/index.shtml
Most potent nutrition for purists and raw foodists: Vitamineral Green or Pure Synergy
http://www.healthforce.com/product-vita…
http://www.thesynergycompany.com/pages/home.html
Best fruit formula: HealthForce Fruits of the Earth (was not reviewed here, but is worth mentioning)
http://www.healthforce.com/product-fruits.html
Best greens + protein formula: Living Fuel Rx Super Greens
http://www.LivingFuel.com
Also worth mentioning: Superfood Food Bars! (Really outstanding ingredients, real nutrition, no junk…)
http://www.organicfoodbar.com
What about The Ultimate Meal? In my opinion, the Living Fuel Rx Super Greens product is far superior to The Ultimate Meal (for many reasons which I don’t have time to go into right here). Check out Living Fuel at http://www.LivingFuel.com
Did you enjoy this article? I wrote it in response to the reader survey results. If you participated in that recent survey, thanks for your participation! I’ll keep working to bring you more of the information you’re looking for, such as product reviews and recommendations.
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