Why you should be using Pea Protein

28 Sep, 2018

With more and more people being diagnosed with food allergies and intolerances, the demand to seek out foods that are free from triggering ingredients is growing. As part of this, people are looking to alternative sources of protein and one of the latest additions is Pea Protein. Here’s why the humble split pea is worth your attention…

What is Pea Protein Isolate?

Pea Protein Isolate is a highly concentrated protein product sourced from yellow split peas. These are part of the legume family, known to be among the best sources of plant protein.

The extraction and purification processes that these peas undergo raise the protein content to a minimum of 84% from just 6%, which is the level usually found in fresh peas. This results in a protein that is highly soluble and therefore easy to digest and absorb.

Our Pea Protein has a mild taste and palatable texture that blends with other ingredients and flavours, hence it’s becoming hugely popular as a replacement protein supplement in vegan and vegetarian foods.

Why it’s great for today’s market

Pea Protein is a great option for raising the protein levels in free from food, as it’s not derived from any of the 8 most common allergenic foods, these being milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish and wheat. These triggering foods are often used in the creation of other protein supplements, hence Pea Protein is attracting some serious attention in today’s market.

These other protein options, such as whey, casein, egg and soy can be harder for a lot of us to digest, particularly those sensitive to gluten, lactose, soy or dairy. With Pea Protein you’re avoiding all of the most common offenders, making it a fantastic option for those with various dietary restrictions.

Along with free from diets, plant based eating is also becoming more popular. In fact, there was a 350% rise in the number of vegans in Britain from 2006 to 2016 and a 185% increase in vegan products launched in the UK during this period. Pea Protein is free from dairy products, eggs and all other animal products, so it’s great for providing the protein that vegans and vegetarians need in their diet.

Benefits of pea protein

Additional benefits

Whilst at first glance you may assume that peas aren’t up to the task of providing the protein we need, there’s more to this little vegetable than meets the eye.

Our Pea Protein Isolate contains a unique array of essential and non-essential amino acids, such as leucine, isoleucine and valine and is richer in arginine than any other commercially available protein. It is also a great source of many other nutrients including fibre, vitamin B6 and iron. Hence it provides the consumer with a good source of protein and covers many of the key requirements of a fully balanced diet.

It is also low in fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol and is 100% GMO free. Not only this, it is a highly sustainable protein source and far kinder on the environment than animal-based proteins as peas need less water and energy to grow. Perfect for appealing to the growing number of health and environmentally conscious customers who are highly aware of the impact of the products they choose.

What can it be used for?

Pea Protein is unsweetened and has a mild savoury taste, making it the ideal ingredient to mix into other foods to boost the protein content. As it’s highly soluble, it’s commonly mixed into free from soups and stews to thicken.

It’s also great for mixing into snack bars, shakes and oatmeal as a post-workout boost, and in dairy free milks, smoothies, yoghurts, ice creams and mayonnaise as it delivers the required calcium as well as protein. It can even be used in faux meats and vegan burgers, mimicking the taste and feel of real meat.

pea protein oatmeal