Soluxe is growing the list of plant protein options for you! And that’s great, Because every individual may have different preferences for their desired plant protein intake — pea protein and soy protein — how do you know which is best for you?

You want a product that tastes good, provides the nutrients you need for your goals, and won’t cause any negative side effects. So, to help you decide, we compare these two Original Pea Protein Isolate and Original Soy Protein isolate so you can determine which will work best for you.

 

Comparing The Labels

To start, when you’re looking to buy a nutritional supplement or protein powder, it’s crucial to examine and compare the nutrition labels. While you’re searching for which protein has the most protein content, make sure the protein you select does not contain any funky names which you can't pronounce. Many existing brands in the market use fillers and additives to increase the "smoothness" or optically "voluminous".

It’s important to also note how many servings your protein has. Several plant-based options will have lower protein content and fewer servings per container. Make sure you’re getting a fair amount of percentage per serving - and not just compare "amount of protein per serving" (We'll talk about this more in detail in our next post!)

 

What Is Pea Protein Isolate?

As the name so aptly suggests, pea protein is derived from peas. Typically, pea protein is made with split peas, or yellow peas, and contains more protein content than other plant protein sources at 90% protein content. The peas are harvested, dried, re-hydrated and the protein is then extracted. Soluxe Pea Protein Isolate is processed in a facility that is certified Halal, Kosher and free of any industrial chemical use, safe for all individuals. 

Is Pea Protein A Complete Protein?

Of the 20 amino acids in the human body, nine are classified as essential. Essential, meaning that you must obtain them from your food or through supplements. The food sources that contain all nine essential amino acids are protein sources, typically derived from meat, poultry, or dairy sources. Some plant protein sources, do not contain all nine essential amino acids, thus making them incomplete sources of protein.

Soluxe Pea protein Isolate has an impressive essential amino acid profile, which is paramount to support your athletic performance and goals. Yet, there is an ongoing debate, whether or not Pea Protein is a complete source of protein. Although pea protein contains all nine essential amino acids, technically making it a complete protein, it’s low in the amino acid methionine. As compared to other plant-based protein sources, pea protein is the closest to animal-based protein sources such as whey with a very similar amino acid content.

 

What Is Soy Protein Isolate?

 

Soy protein is derived from soybeans, is dehulled, the extracted and isolated from the fat. The soybean is classified as a legume and contains no cholesterol and is an incredibly protein-dense. Soy protein made its massive rise in the late 1990s and found itself being used as a protein additive and fortified in many packaged foods such as cereal and granola bars. Soy is also a very popular vegan alternative and is used in tofu, tempeh, and as a dairy alternative in soymilk. Soy beans or Edamame are also a great protein-packed snack.

Micronutrient Content

One huge difference between animal and plant protein, are the micronutrients. Pea protein is rich in iron, manganese, folate, copper, phosphorus, vitamins B6, B2, niacin, molybdenum, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and K.

Soy protein is also rich in micronutrients such as phosphorus, manganese, copper, and contains 25% of the recommended daily intake of Iron.

What makes soy a bit more unique than pea protein, is that soy protein contains what’s called isoflavones – compounds with strong hormone-like structure. Yet nearly all these phytoestrogens are extracted during the isolated process when making soy protein powder.

 

Pea Protein Vs Soy Protein – In Summary

Pea protein and soy protein contain all essential and branched-chain amino acids you need for optimal performance. However, pea protein has slightly elevated levels compared to soy.

• Soy protein has slightly more protein per serving than pea protein
• Soy protein is a superior protein source than pea according to its bioavailability and amino acid score which is similar to casein or egg protein. However, studies show that pea protein promotes muscle protein synthesis better than soy protein despite the difference in PDCAA.
• Both Pea protein and soy protein have a neutral flavor and smooth texture
• Soy protein is a common allergen and pea protein is hypoallergenic.

Pea Protein Vs Soy Protein: Takeaway

Both pea and soy protein proves to be great plant-based protein options, regarding protein quality, content, taste, and digestibility. Despite the differences however, pea protein offers more amino acids per serving and is proven to improve performance gains more than soy protein. Despite the negligible and minute differences between the two, if you’re not allergic to soy, tofu, tempeh and edamame, soy and pea protein isolate are great additions to any type of diet.

Soluxe offers a wide range of protein powder flavors that are not only nutritious but also delicious, ensuring that you can enjoy a variety of options without sacrificing taste.

You can view all flavors available for Soluxe™ protein isolate HERE