Protein powder is a popular workout supplement, and Orgain is a well-known brand in the plant-based protein powder market. Founded in 2009 by Dr. Andrew Abraham, a cancer survivor and integrative medicine specialist, Orgain emphasizes the idea that food is medicine. The company offers a wide range of protein powders, including plant-based options. This article provides a comprehensive review of Orgain's keto plant protein, examining its ingredients, nutritional value, taste, solubility, and overall value.
About Orgain
Orgain was founded in 2009 by Dr. Andrew Abraham, an integrative medicine specialist and cancer survivor. Dr. Abraham is a big proponent of the idea that food is medicine. All products from Orgain are certified organic whenever possible. They’re non-GMO and made without soy, carrageenans, and artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, and preservatives. To keep the sugar content low, the protein powders are sweetened with erythritol-a sugar alcohol that’s common among keto dieters-monk fruit, and/or stevia. A handful of the products use organic sugar or coconut sugar.
Orgain's Product Line
Orgain offers a full line of protein powders. There’s a grass-fed whey-based protein powder, plant-based protein powders, and formulations that are made for kids.
What to Consider Before Buying
As with any protein supplement, it is wise to consider your body’s sensitivities. Not every stomach responds the same to every formulation. To receive the maximum health benefits of protein, studies recommend consuming 0.36 grams per pound per day, so be sure that your protein powder can assist with this in relation to your protein consumption from whole foods throughout the day. Orgain’s Organic Protein Powder is third-party tested, and it’s always wise to look for these certification marks when choosing a protein supplement, especially if you’re a competitive strength athlete.
Testing Methodology
Our team has collaborated with registered dietitians to personally test and evaluate more than 100 protein powders. Our team of expert product testers has personally tried each protein powder and rated it on categories including formulation, taste, solubility, and more. The Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder in the flavor vanilla bean was specifically tested.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide: Orgain and Weight Loss
Nutritional Information
Orgain Organic Protein Powder is available in 15 different flavors, with prices starting at roughly $1.90 per serving. Each serving delivers 21 grams of protein, with some minor fluctuations in carb and fat counts. Calorie-wise, you can expect between 140 and 190 calories per serving, depending on your flavor of choice. The protein blend consists of multiple plant-based protein sources, including pea protein, organic brown rice protein, and organic chia seed protein. In addition to the macronutrient counts, this plant-based powder also contains vital micronutrients, including iron - a much-needed nutrient for athletes following vegan diets. Lastly, Orgain Organic Protein Powder is sweetened with both erythritol and stevia.
Ingredients
The formulation tested is made with a blend of organic pea protein, organic chia seed, and organic brown rice protein. It has a handful of emulsifiers and binders like guar gum, plus an “organic creamer base” that’s made from sunflower oil and acacia, which is used as a thickening agent. The Orgain Organic Creamer base contains organic acacia, a fiber that comes from the sap of Acacia trees in Africa, India, and Pakistan. Studies have shown that organic acacia can improve gut health and increase satiety (the feeling of being full). The base contains emulsifiers to help thicken the powder-these ingredients have minimal health risks when consumed in small quantities.
Key Ingredients Explained
- Organic pea protein: Pea protein powder is obtained from the edible seed from a legume plant-in other words, it comes from peas. It’s naturally high in fiber and protein, though it’s low in the amino acids methionine and cysteine. It’s also one of the few protein powders that’s free of all major allergens.
- Chia seed protein: Chia seed protein is taken from the chia seed by pressing out all the oil, which contains more fat than protein. The meal-like substance leftover is filled with protein and fiber. The combination of protein and fiber makes it great for people who are looking for a meal replacement protein.
Taste and Texture
Taste is really where this protein powder fell short. One tester tried the Vanilla Bean flavor, and said it tasted like grass with a hint of vanilla. Even when blending with fruit and spinach, it was difficult for her to stomach and she couldn’t finish it. The natural flavors are present, but some come through more so than others. Despite the inconsistency across the flavor profiles, our tester did note that there’s no chalky aftertaste and the natural flavors mask the “earthy” sensations often associated with plant-based proteins. “The stevia does give it a little aftertaste, but it’s not entirely off-putting.
Mixability
One of the major pitfalls of this Orgain Organic Protein Powder lies in its mixability, which is attributed to the abundance of powder needed for a single serving. While the powder mixed in fine, even with water, it got really thick. While all the powder blended in a shaker cup, there was a bit of residue at the bottom during the last few sips.
Benefits
This protein blend offers 21 grams of protein, 15 grams of carbs (9 grams of net carbs), 4 grams of fat, and zero added sugar. This protein count per serving is on par with other popular protein powders and can be influential when trying to promote muscle protein synthesis by reversing the muscle damage caused by exercise and promoting the growth of new muscle tissue.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Potential Health Benefits
- Gut Health: Studies suggest that acacia can help bolster gut health and overall satiety.
- Suitable for Sensitive Stomachs: Many people experience digestive issues with whey protein, so switching to a plant-based powder like Orgain may actually help alleviate these concerns.
- Weight Loss: Protein powders can contribute to weight loss and body composition changes when worked into a healthy lifestyle. Orgain also offers meal replacement shakes and protein bars that can be part of a weight-loss plan.
Potential Downsides
- Incomplete Protein: Plant-based proteins don’t have as many amino acids (specifically methionine, lysine, and tryptophan) as animal proteins like whey. To be a “complete protein,” you need to have a full amino acid profile in order to support lean muscle mass.
- Digestive Issues: That being said, Orgain does contain erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol. Some users did experience upset stomachs after using the protein.
Cost and Value
This protein powder retails for $34 for the largest tub, which is just over 2 pounds. There are 20 two-scoop servings in the container, so the price per serving breaks down to $1.70-not too bad for an organic protein powder. There are also single-serve packets. They come in boxes of 10 for $31, which breaks down to $3.10 per serving. The price per serving is also on par with some of the best whey protein powders.
Subscription Options
When ordering directly from the manufacturer, you can choose from three sizes: 10 single-serve packets, a 1.02-pound canister, or a 2.03-pound canister. After deciding which size you want, you can also opt for a single order or commit to a recurring subscription. If you sign up for the subscription, you’ll save 25% on the first order and 10% on all orders after that. Subscription orders also ship free.
Return Policy
Orgain does accept returns. If you don’t like the protein powder, you have 30 days from the day you receive it to send it back for a full refund.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
The Orgain organic plant-based protein powder has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on the brand’s site. It gets high marks from customers with food sensitivities or on restrictive diets who want to up their protein intake but have to be extra careful about ingredients. Amazon shoppers are big fans of this protein powder, too. It has more than 62,000 reviews with a 4.5-star average. Many customers agree that the flavors are pretty mild-like Nicole, some said they wished for just a little more oomph in the flavor department.
Orgain Organic Protein Powder Vs. Competitors
In the realm of protein powders, it would be bonkers to think there aren’t comparable silhouettes to Orgain Organic Protein Powder despite its formulation being free of added sugars, preservatives, and other non-natural ingredients.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Garden of Life Raw Organic Whey Protein
Garden of Life Raw Organic Whey Protein is very comparable to Orgain in that both formulations are certified organic, contain no artificial sweeteners or flavors, and contain 21 grams of protein per serving. Garden of Life is also recommended as one of the best protein powders for weight loss, given the lower calorie counts per serving. Another organic option, the Garden of Life protein powder is a top pick. It has 30 grams of protein in two scoops, compared to the 21 grams in the Orgain version. The protein blend is a bit different-it comes from peas, navy beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans-but the ingredient list is equally clean. It’s soy-free and gluten-free and sweetened with stevia. This protein powder includes natural flavors, plus a recovery blend of superfoods like apple, tart cherry, turmeric, and goji berry that can help fight inflammation.
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan can also be a worthwhile competitor to Orgain Organic Protein Powder thanks to its higher protein counts and lack of erythritol as a sweetener. The price per serving is also lower and can be dropped further through various Transparent Labs discount codes.
Now Sports Plant Protein Complex
If the Orgain and Garden of Life options are out of your budget, the Now Sports Plant Protein Complex is another good option. This one has 22 grams of protein per serving, but the serving size is only one scoop so you’ll really get more bang for your buck. The protein comes from a blend of yellow peas, quinoa, and hemp, and the rest of the ingredient list is fairly clean, too. Now Sports Protein Powder has very mixed reviews on taste, but people like the price point and that it uses a variety of protein sources.
Brand Value
Orgain’s benefits to public nutrition, sustainability, and philanthropy efforts and their B Corp certification contributed to their A in brand value. Orgain got points for their high-value, clean, organic protein products and plentiful certifications and humanitarian/environmental efforts.
Where to Buy
Along with the brand’s other roster of impressive supplements - including some of the best protein bars on the market - Orgain Organic Protein Powder is available online at the brand’s retail site.
Overall Impression
Orgain has been a go-to for clean, organic supplements, ranging from protein powders and bars to collagen, greens powders, and more. After trialing this Orgain Organic Protein Powder for multiple weeks across various flavors, it’s a fantastic option for athletes following plant-based or more restricted diets. The flavors can be hit or miss at times, and mixing the large two-scoop servings can be tedious. Orgain’s products offer mostly clean and organic ingredients, plus a handful of certifications that contribute to their good quality score.
Final Verdict
We love Orgain’s quality ingredient list and overall mission: to make cleaner protein blends that can supplement your workout or act as a healthy meal replacement. However, the grassy flavor and aftertaste make it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend it. It does have a nice texture, though, and many who can’t stomach whey protein powder say they don’t have any digestive troubles with this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orgain Organic Protein Powder good for weight loss?
Classifying this protein powder as “good for weight loss” can be subjective because it all depends on your eating habits in relation to your calorie deficit.
How much does Orgain Organic Protein Powder cost?
Orgain Organic Protein Powder is available in three different container sizes with costs starting at $1.90 per serving.
Can Orgain Organic Protein Powder be a meal replacement?
This Orgain protein powder contains between 140 and 190 calories per serving, depending on your flavor of choice. While this can be satiating enough for keeping you full in-between meals, we feel there are more calorie-dense protein powders out there that would be better solutions for full-on meal replacement.