When I first started following the Paleo Lifestyle I found myself continuing to use whey protein that I had purchased from Costco but by week 3 of The Paleo Secret 30 Day Challenge I noticed it was causing my stomach to turn over and resulting in lots of bloating. After looking deeper into the ingredients of the whey protein I was using I found that it included dairy products, glutens, and other ingredients which went against the primal lifestyle. This discovery sent me on a search for the best “All Natural” protein powder that I would be able to supplement my workouts with. At this point I was going to the gym 5 days a week but sometimes it would be late at night where I did not want to eat a full meal to get my protein supplement. This lead me to finding Garden of Life’s Raw Protein which is USDA certified Organic, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free. This had everything I was looking for but was tasteless, didn’t really dissolve easily, nor was it sold in bulk at a decent price. I continued my search as I was using this protein powder until I walked through the isles of my local Costco and found Orgain’s Organic Protein Powder. I thought this was perfect since it was sold in bulk and at the same price I paid for half the amount of protein in Garden of Life’s Raw Protein. With the perfect circumstances in front of me, there was no question that I was going to pick up this protein. I quickly added this protein in to my rotation and found some great benefits from it that won me over Garden of Life’s Raw Protein supplement. First being the ingredients are all USDA certified organic, dairy free, soy free, gluten free, lactose free, and did not contain any GMOs. Since it fit all of my necessities in a protein powder being Paleo friendly I decided to take it to the next level and test out the taste. Surprisingly, the taste was really good! The only complaint was that it was a little tough to mix since the powder did not dissolve easily but it still dissolved better than Garden of Life’s Raw Protein. I suspect this is due to the raw cacao that it contains within the mix. Since this was just an assumption at this point, I decided to dissect the ingredients a little more to uncover the mystery. My dissection is as follows:
| Supplement Facts | ||
| Serving Size 2 SCOOPS | ||
| Servings Per Container 20 | ||
| Amount Per | % Daily | |
| Serving | Value | |
| Calories | 150 | N/A* |
| Calories From Fat | 40 | N/A* |
| Total Fat | 4 Gm | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 0 Gm | N/A* |
| TRANS FAT | 0 Gm | N/A* |
| Cholesterol | 0 Mg | N/A* |
| Potassium | 60 Mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 125 Mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13 Gm | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 Gm | 20% |
| Sugar | 1 Gm | N/A* |
| Sugar Alcohol | 5 Gm | N/A* |
| Protein | 21 Gm | 42% |
| Calcium | 0 | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 0 | N/A* |
| Iron | 0 | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 0 | N/A* |
Other Ingredients:
Orgain Organic Protein Blend ™ (Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Sprouted Chia Seed, Organic Hemp Protein, Organic Pea Protein), Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Erythritol, Organic Rice Dextrins, Organic Cocoa, Organic Acacia Gum, Organic Inulin, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Organic Rice Bran Extract, Sea Salt, Organic Stevia, Monkfruit, Rosemary Extract
My findings have shown that whatever is in these “Other ingredients” makes the world of difference in every supplement I’ve tried. Let’s figure out what all of these “Other ingredients” do in terms of functionality and what they mean:
Orgain Organic Protein Blend ™
Organic Brown Rice Protein = extremely low in fat and carbohydrates, while at the same time containing high amounts of insoluble fiber, which is proven to be greatly beneficial for people’s health and is highly recommended by doctors all over to be included in people’s diets. Being entirely based on rice, whole grain brown rice protein contains all of the benefits that vegetable-only products can provide, and is completely free from animal protein that tends to be saturated with fat and cholesterol. It’s a complete protein, with all essential and non-essential amino acids naturally provided. It also has a nice ratio of BCAAs, making it ideal for athletes.
Organic Sprouted Chia Seed = Chia is the Mayan word for strength, signifying a reverence for the power of the plant among ancient civilizations. Traders and warriors have been said to drink special preparations to maintain strength and endurance on long journeys. Chia powder can keep you feeling full and energized longer because it contains protein that is easy to digest, and it’s an excellent source of fiber.
Organic Hemp Protein = Hemp contains high-quality plant protein with branched-chain amino acids that are vital for good health.
Organic Pea Protein = Naturally balanced amino acid profile that includes high concentrations of branched-chain amino acids and glutamine, which makes it ideal for fueling lean muscle development. That’s why more and more strength-training athletes and body builders are turning to pea protein as a quality vegetarian alternative to whey protein products. Plus, it’s easy to digest, so it doesn’t cause the discomforting gassiness and bloating so often experienced with other protein supplements.
Other Ingredients Continued:
Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil = Organic Sunflower Oil is naturally high oleic which means it contains a high percentage of monounsaturated fat (one of the good fats). This would not be primal but since it is cold-pressed (which preserves vitamin E and reduces oxidation), high-oleic/high-stearic sunflower oil then it makes it primal.
Organic Erythritol = It’s natural, doesn’t cause side effects and tastes almost exactly like sugar without the calories. Basically, all the good stuff in regular sugar, with none of the bad stuff. With only 6% of the calories of sugar, it still has 70% of the sweetness. For people who are overweight, with diabetes or other issues related to the metabolic syndrome, erythritol appears to be an excellent alternative to sugar.
Organic Rice Dextrins = One of the benefits of dextrin as a natural fiber is aiding the body in expelling waste. It increases the lactobacilli levels in the colon, promoting the body’s digestive abilities. It helps in reducing cholesterol levels, gives the feeling of fullness, regulates insulin response and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Organic Cocoa = The fruit of the cacao tree contains a small bean from which all chocolate is made. Adds rich real chocolate flavor to the drink but since it is in powder form it challenges for it’s dissolution. Cocoa is considered to be a rich source of antioxidants such as procyanidins and flavanoids, which may impart anti aging properties.
Organic Acacia Gum = A natural gum that is made out of the hardened sap of two acacia tree species – Acacia Seyal and Acacia Senegal. Useful as a protein supplement. Might cause excess gas, bloating and loose stools in people who are allergic to it.
Organic Inulin = The functional properties of inulin make it an excellent replacement for flour, sugar, and/or fat. Can help lower levels of cholesterol and a type of fat known as triglycerides since it is a fiber that adds bulk to stool.
Organic Guar Gum = Comes from the seed of the guar plant, which is a low-growing legume. Guar Gum acts as a thickening agent here. This ingredient helps in reducing body weight and has been used in the treatment of obesity since it is a fiber acting as a laxative. This ingredient gives the sense of fullness when consumed resulting in a lowered appetite but it can also cause intestinal and duodenal blockages.
Xanthan Gum =Similar to Guar Gum, this acts as a thickening agent. It is a good source of dietary fiber and helps fight against colon cancer, obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.
Organic Rice Bran Extract = High in fiber.
Sea Salt = Used as a natural flavoring.
Organic Stevia = Used as a natural sweetener
Monkfruit = A naturally sweet way to reduce sugar and calories.
Rosemary Extract = Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Studies show rosemary may protect against free radical damage both internally and externally.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Is Orgain organic?
Yes, Orgain is USDA Certified Organic which means it’s free of hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and GMOs. - Is Orgain lactose free?
Orgain is 99.3% lactose free so a vast majority of our lactose intolerant customers have no issues at all. - Is Orgain gluten free?
Yes! - Are their preservatives, colorings, artificial flavors, artificial sweetners?
No, no, no and no. - Is there any soy protein in Orgain?
Orgain uses organic whey and organic grass fed milk protein concentrates. Orgain is 100% soy free.