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If you’re reading this page, chances are you’ve been hammered with protein powder ads on Facebook or Instagram.
And when literally everyone — including us — is claiming the same benefits like, “clean” or “free from fillers,” it’s hard to tell the brands apart.
For a long time, all major protein powders were packed with fillers to bulk up the blend, and cheap ingredients full of heavy metals, additives, and sweeteners.
Until recently, when people started to pay attention.
We now understand that throwing all that junk in your healthy smoothie defeats the purpose.
So what did the big companies do?
They took note, cleaned up their powders, and now only offer the finest ingredients.
Just kidding... They didn't do that. (But wouldn't it be cool if they did?)
Most of the big companies are doing the same thing they've always done, only now new protein start-ups are popping up left and right claiming to offer a “clean” alternative.
Which introduces two brand new problems:
1. Many of the new brands are doing something called white-labeling, or using the exact same secret manufacturer and ingredients, only throwing their name on the label.
2. There’s no governing body over what is clean and what isn’t, so anyone can make the claim.
You’ll see ingredient lists with loads of nasty gums and blends...
"Natural flavors" that are far form their natural state...
And sweeteners that serve no purpose but to help make those flavors more tolerable.
Don't believe me? Let's take a closer look at how to spot some of the biggest clean-washing offenders.
1. Special Blends
Look at the ingredient list of just about any powder and you'll find words like, "Blend of... " or "A special blend containing..."
At first that doesn't seem unusual — a company has their formula and they don't want to share it.
But what they're really doing is hiding the important information.
When you see something like, “a special blend of pea, chia, and almond,” what they’re not telling you are the exact amounts of each, and there’s a very good chance that it’s 95% (or more) of the cheapest ingredient with just a few pinches of the good stuff.
And worst, that cheap ingredient could be full of heavy metals or a poor source of protein.
They lead you to believe you’re getting a well-balanced, complete protein, when you really have no idea.
2. Gums and Fillers
Besides the cheap protein sources you find in blends, dextrin (a carbohydrate from starch) and maltodextrin (produced from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat) are common fillers added to protein powder to bulk it up.
Also be on the lookout for gums, like xanthan gum, which is derived from corn and soy and often used as a thickener in protein power.
It goes without saying that these gums and fillers are totally unnatural and often cause bloating and gas.
3. Natural Flavors
Natural flavors... oh natural flavors.
Have you ever looked at a tub of vanilla-ice-cream- or chocolate-strawberry-flavored protein powder and thought to yourself, "oh yeah, that sounds natural."
Yeah, neither have I.
“Natural flavors” is an umbrella term used to describe a chemical that was originally found in a naturally occurring source. And even if the chemical is sourced naturally, it is almost certainly still highly processed. Making it barely a step above artificial flavoring.
While food processors must list all of the ingredients on a food label, flavor manufacturers do not have to disclose their ingredients. They can add synthetic solvents, preservatives, emulsifiers, carriers and other additives to a flavor that qualifies as "natural" under current regulations.
In other words, we have no idea what is actually in those "natural flavors." It's usually a laundry list of hidden ingredients.
So why even use it? It's typically added to mask cheap or yucky ingredients.
There's no need for companies to hide their ingredients behind blends.
Or use fillers or gums to bulk up their powder.
Or flavor their powder with anything other than the protein itself.
So what can you — as a consumer — do to ensure you're getting the highest quality powder?
As depressing as this article may seem up to this point, there's some really good news:
Clean plant-based protein powders can exist.
In fact, it already does.
"All organic. All premium. All labeled with the exact amounts of each so you truly know what you’re getting."
I'd like to introduce you to Complement Protein, the cleanest plant-based protein on the planet.*
When you look at our label, you won’t find any hidden ingredients, blends, or words you have to Google.
What you will find are just five real-food ingredients — chia seed, almond, yellow pea, pumpkin seed, and watermelon seed.
All organic. All premium. All labeled with the exact amounts of each so you truly know what you’re getting. It's even Prop 65 compliant, passing the strictest heavy metal testing.
The simplicity is what makes it so perfect.
We've painstakingly developed a formula with a complete plant-based amino acid profile, the cleanest ingredients, and nothing else.
But don't just take our word for it. Look at the results:
We back everything up with third-party testing, the results of which are shared on our website for the world to see.
Because when you stand by a product as much as we stand by ours, you don’t need to hide behind blends or buzzwords.
You have a product you can’t wait to show off.
Enter Complement Protein's 100% biodegradable bag. #NoMorePlasticTubs
It may feel a bit different than what you're used to, but that's what makes it so great. Throw it in your backyard compost — or just bury it in the ground — and by this time next year, the bag of protein that fed your body will now be feeding your soil.
So when is a bag no longer just a bag? When it's not part of the problem, but part of the solution.
There's a reason why Complement Protein only has five real food ingredients, and it's not just so we could call it "clean."
We believe that the best way to feed your body is with food as close to whole and natural as possible.
Because it's flavorless, you can add it to any smoothie or bake it into just about any dish for an extra boost of protein.
Let your food be the flavor, not something cooked up in a lab like sketchy "natural flavors."
15 grams of complete protein to stimulate muscle growth and recovery.*
By using only real food ingredients, our protein is easy on the body and quick to digest.*
No more plastic tubs. Complement Protein comes in a fully backyard-compostable bag to keep plastic out of landfills and oceans.
Just 5 real ingredients, and you can pronounce every one of them.
No proprietary blend trying to fool you. We put the ingredients and ratios right on the bag so you always know what you’re getting.
Exceeds the most stringent California Prop 65 standards.
Author of No Meat Athlete and Co-Founder of Complement
"Complement Protein was designed with my family in mind. With no added junk, the five clean, real food ingredients provide an easy, balanced protein boost for any smoothie or baked good. And best of all, there's no chalky aftertaste!"
Olympian, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Plant-Based Chef at Hooked On Plants, Whistler Vegan Fest Co-Founder
"I love that Complement Protein has just 5 whole food ingredients. No isolates, no fillers, no sweeteners, no additives. I always direct people to Complement because it's made of simple whole foods – plus it's organic and rigorously tested for heavy metals and in a biodegradable bag. My smoothies, pancakes and cookies always get a dose of this good stuff."
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