The Cleanest Plant-Based Protein

We’ve created our own 100% vegan-friendly protein powder that rivals the muscle-building benefits of whey - while also offering a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, BCAAs, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and tons of other phytonutrients.

We make the cleanest plant-based protein on the market, quality testing every batch for hundreds of contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides - and publish the Certificates of Analysis for you to see. This is crucial in today’s world; various organizations have done extensive testing on numerous popular protein powders and found worrying levels of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic) in quite a few.

This is one of the only protein powders on the market to come with a current CoA. Simply scan the QR code on the back of every package and instantly see the lab results for the protein in your hands!

You won’t find any mysterious ‘natural flavors’ in Ananda’s hemp protein. This is especially important for vegans/vegetarians, as often ‘natural flavors’ are animal-sourced.

Why Take Protein Powder?

Next to water, protein is arguably the most essential substance for humans to consume, providing the building blocks for neurotransmitters, enzymes, antibodies, cartilage, skin, bones, blood, and muscle tissue. 

Signs of protein deficiency can include:

• fatigue
• weakness
• slow injury recovery
• intense food cravings/hunger
• irregular (up and down) energy levels

Experts recommend consuming at least 10-15g of protein with every meal, and efficiently meeting this daily quota is where high-quality protein powder can come in handy.

Even if you’re not the protein-shake-pounding sort of person, there are many options for incorporating this tasty super-protein into your day. You can add Chocolate Protein + Maca to your baking (muffins, loaves, or pancakes), or make your custom energy ball/bite recipe even more invigorating, delicious, and nutritious. 

This protein powder is simple but tasty, partially thanks to the cocoa powder and Maca, two potent botanicals that boost mood, energy, and endurance with their adaptogenic effects.

The Truth about Erythritol and Sugar Alcohols

Stevia stands out most for what it doesn’t offer, rather than what it does - meaning stevia won’t cause digestive disturbances. This stands in stark contrast to erythritol, which often causes gas, bloating, diarrhea, and severe digestive discomfort when consumed in the amounts typically present in many protein bars and powders currently on the market. 

Erythritol has gained freakish popularity in recent years, possibly due to the surge of people on ketogenic diets. This has led to the unfortunate development of our current reality, where it’s nearly impossible to find performance foods that aren’t full of sugar alcohols, animal products, or other unwanted substances. 

Sugar alcohols can be very taxing on the GI tract due to their dehydrating effects. If you’re looking for peak performance in the gym or hot yoga studio, sugar alcohols are best avoided. Examples of sugar alcohols include:

• Sorbitol
  
• Xylitol
  
• Erythritol
  
• Isomalt
  
• Lactitol
  
• Maltitol
  
• Mannitol

None of which you will find in Chocolate Protein + Maca!

Let’s look at a breakdown of the ingredients in Chocolate Protein + Maca, and you can see for yourself why keeping it simple just works. 

Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is stunningly nutrient-dense, providing:

• 20 amino acids
  
• Soluble + insoluble fibers
  
• Omega-3 + 6 essential fatty acids
  
• Magnesium
  
• Iron
  
• Manganese
  
• Zinc
  
• B-complex
  
• Vitamin E

Hemp is remarkable not only in terms of nutrient-density, but also because of the highly bioavailable type of protein it offers. ‘Globulin edestin’ is a globular protein, and is foundational for the body. Not only is globulin edestin incredibly gentle on the tummy, but the body uses it to make crucial substances like hemoglobin, insulin, DNA, and hormones. 

The protein ratio in hemp is nearly identical to that of blood plasma (constituting ~55% of our blood), the nourishing fluid that supplies life-giving proteins, hormones, and other nutrients to tissues all over the body.

In addition to being an unmatched source of protein, hemp is packed with vitals like omega fatty acids, microbiome-nourishing fibers, vitamins, and hard-to-find minerals like magnesium and zinc. This phytonutrient buffet makes chocolate protein + Maca a great standalone shake - or a supercharged addition to any meal. 

Continuing the win, the essential fatty acids in hemp protein supply the basic building blocks for endocannabinoid production and create some potential synergy between hemp protein and our CBD Oils.

Fermented Pea Protein

Pea protein is rich in both essential and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs - leucine, isoleucine, and valine), making it an excellent supplement for muscle building and maintenance. 

While pea protein has about 20% BCAA content (compared to 25% for whey), pea protein has roughly 3x the arginine of whey - a crucial amino acid involved in muscle synthesis and blood flow.

A study conducted by a prominent sports journal found that in combination with strength training, a group of people experienced just as many muscle gains with pea protein as whey. It doesn’t hurt that plant-based diets have also been linked to lower cholesterol, better blood sugar management, and reduced blood pressure.

Additionally, many people experience gas or bloating when taking whey protein supplements. While many may perceive peas as hard to digest, that couldn’t be further from the truth for fermented pea. The proprietary fermentation process we use transforms our pea protein through microbial action, creating an entirely new, more bioavailable nutrient profile. 

Pea protein digests more slowly than whey, with studies suggesting it is also more satisfying to boot. This combination of slow absorption and high satiety makes it the obvious choice for post-workout recovery, especially for those looking to control appetite.  

Pea protein stands firm against the plant-based protein competition, too. Compared to almonds, pea is more sustainable, uses less water, recycles nitrogen, and produces less CO2. And good news for anyone with allergies, pea protein does not come from any of the major allergens, such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, or wheat.

The only drawback to pea protein is that it is not a complete protein in and of itself - it supplies every essential amino except for methionine and cysteine. This dilemma is why we’ve paired it with our premium hemp protein powder - for a complete protein with more phytonutrients than you can shake or sip at. 

Peruvian Maca

There is an ancient Incan myth about Maca (also known as Peruvian Ginseng). Legend states that Inca warriors used to consume Maca root before going into battle to sustain energy, increase endurance, and vitalize muscles. 

Additionally, some claim that maca contains particular alkaloids (macamides) that activate the pineal gland - also considered by some as the seat of the ‘third eye.’ 

Maca is a cruciferous root vegetable with a long history of culinary and medicinal use in Peru. It primarily grows in harsh weather at extreme altitudes (13,000ft.+) in the Andes of central Peru. These intense growing conditions are perhaps what imbues Maca with such useful adaptogenic properties. Maca is a rich source of:

• Vitamin C
  
• Vitamin B6
  
• Iron
  
• Copper
  
• Potassium
  
• Manganese
  
• Polyphenols
  
• Glucosinolates

But perhaps most exciting of all are the macamides, compounds found only in maca root.

Certain macamides show activity at the CB1 receptor, inhibit FAAH (the enzyme responsible for breaking down anandamide - the body’s primary endocannabinoid), and powerfully inhibit the reuptake of anandamide by cells. In essence, taking Maca may be a great way to boost your body’s endocannabinoid levels! 

Various studies suggest that Maca may be a highly-effective plant-based approach to balancing hormones, as seen in the following experiments:

• Two months of maca supplementation alleviated negative physiological and psychological symptoms in perimenopausal women. 
  
• Six weeks of maca use may enhance sexual function in men and women.
  
• In mice, Maca increased endurance and swimming capacity, imbuing powerful anti-fatigue effects - as well as providing benefits to cognitive function.

Alkalized Cocoa Powder

Alkalized cocoa powder livens our protein blend with a velvety mouthfeel, and a hefty dose of antioxidant polyphenols to boot - molecules thought to improve brain function and blood flow. While the jury is out on the precise cause, cocoa is a great mood-booster, perhaps due to the flavanols, or the mere sensual enjoyment of enjoying the ‘food of the gods.’ 

Additionally, cocoa may assist with weight and blood sugar regulation, oral and skin health, and respiratory disorders.

Stevia

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a sweet-tasting member of the chrysanthemum family. No tummy-troubling erythritol or blood-sugar roller coaster cane sugar ride to be had in Chocolate Protein + Maca.

Studies suggest that stevia may help manage cholesterol, and lower both insulin and glucose levels - meaning stevia is safe for people with blood sugar problems!

Our protein powder may taste simple, but nature is clever, and it tends to be that the most simple things are also the most powerful. 

To your health and happiness, always!