Hemp vs Soy Protein: The Whole Scoop

Plant protein options are plentiful these days. Just walk in your local coffee shop and you will probably have two or more dairy-substitutes available.

But it wasn’t always like this. Back in the day, you had to go far out of your way to find dairy and meat alternatives. But today, there are more options than ever.

So if you are vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, lactose intolerant, or just looking to diversify your protein sources, what plant protein should you go with?

Hemp vs. Soy Protein

Here are two to consider: hemp and soy. Both have been popular for years, and now, even meat-eaters are getting on board. 

In a rare feat of nature, both soy and hemp are some of the very few plants that contain the nine essential amino acids, making both of them complete proteins.

So, how do the two compare?

A Look at Soy Protein

Soy has become a staple of plant-based protein all across the world. Native to China, the soybean was first cultivated by the Chinese 3,000 years ago. Soybeans can be eaten whole or made into tofu, tempeh, milk, or protein powder.

Here are just a few of the  benefits to adding soy to your diet.

• Soy is rich in nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium, as well as high-quality protein.
• People with diets high in soy protein and low in animal protein may have lower risks of prostate cancer and breast cancer.
• Increasing dietary whole soy can help lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides, making it very heart-healthy.
• Soy may also improve menopausal hot flashes, and may help maintain bone density to help decrease fractures in postmenopausal women.
• Soy is rich in nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium, as well as high-quality protein.

Now, if by chance you’ve heard that soy protein is harmful for men, it turns out this  is not true. The rumor usually goes something like this: 

“Soy contains plant estrogen, which can lower testosterone in men.”

Studies have shown this to be false. Soy does contain isoflavones, which were thought to possibly inhibit testosterone production in the body. But it turns out that the isoflavones in soy do not have this effect in men, making soy safe for almost everyone.

Some Downsides of Soy Protein

While there are plenty of people out there who LOVE soy, you may also hear others who aren’t too keen on this meat-replacer. And although one concern turned out to be false, there are some real downsides.

1. Problems in production: Lots of soy is broken down into soy isoflavone components when prepared as a powder or paste to be added as a protein supplement. These simplified, processed soy products haven’t shown the same high-quality nutrition as dietary whole soy protein.  This lines up with other studies that have shown higher quality and larger amounts of nutrients in organic soybeans rather than GMOs
2. Problems with pesticides: Large crops of soy often use pesticides, which absorb into the soybean. So, when you eat this kind of soybean, you may also be ingesting the pesticide sprayed onto it.

All in all, soybeans are an excellent source of proteins and other essential nutrients. But the market seems to be littered with soy-products that aren’t the cleanest or most nutritious options.

It’s difficult to find soy products that work for you while NOT working against you.

A look at Hemp

Although it’s probably not your first thought in the world of protein, hemp also offers a unique protein alternative.

Like soy, hemp contains all 9 essential amino acids that we need from our food (herbivores rejoice!).

Cultivated in central Asia, hemp is one of the  non-drug varieties of the plantCannabis. At the end of a successful crop, hemp produces thousands of nuts (commonly called seeds because of their small size), packed with nutrients, fiber, and energy.

Hemp has had many uses throughout history: rope, medicine, paper, more recently as biofuel, and yes, food.

Honestly, the amount of information on the health benefits of Hemp is huge and growing year-by-year. But here are just a few of the  most impressive qualities of hemp:

• The protein in hemp makes up 25% of its calories, ranking it as a protein-dense food.
• Hemp farmers don’t have to use pesticides to keep the plant healthy, so those toxic chemicals don’t end up on your plate or in your smoothie.
• Hemp is also packed with brain-healthy fatty acids, especially linoleic acid andalpha-linolenic acid.
• Because of these fatty acids, hemp can helpreduce symptoms of PMS and Menopause by inhibiting prolactin that comes from protein sources.
• And if other digestion problems are your concern, hemp is also loaded with fiber, making it great for your gut.

And the list goes on and on! Really, the quality and variety of the protein and amino acids makes hemp sort of a wonder food, even  benefiting skin disorders and  treating hypertension.

So Which is Better: Soy or Hemp?

Although soy and hemp both have amazing natural benefits, it’s clear that the use of pesticides and processed soy products makes it a gamble when looking for a protein source you can rely on.

We think hemp clearly comes out on top. 

Hemp production boasts a pesticide-free, more organic option to bring all the natural goodness of this incredible plant. And with new research affirming the fantastic properties of this plant being published all the time, hemp provides the protein you need, packed with nutrients and produced safely.

Which hemp should you choose?

If you are looking for hemp protein to supplement your diet, look no further that Hemplete, the clean, robust Hemp protein supplement for you.

With all the benefits of hemp’s natural nutrients, Hemplete allows the amazing qualities of this wonder-plant to make it from the farm, all the way to you.

Here are just a few of the great things about choosing Hemplete for you hemp protein:

• Packed with 20 amino acids, including all nine of the essentials.
• Our Unflavored Protein contains only one ingredient: hemp! So you get all the nutrients without any of those mystery, filler ingredients.
• One serving of the protein powder contains 75% protein, so you get your protein without the extra fats and carbs in other protein powders.
• And, the protein in the powder stays with you! 91-98% of the protein is digestible.
• Sweetened with ONLY monk fruit extract.
• All our products contain healthy amounts of fiber.

We all need protein, and with so many products on the market that reduce or pollute the natural health of plant-based protein sources, Hemplete is the right fit for anyone looking to stay healthy and enjoy their food.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19145965/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19524224/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814613019201

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32906622/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10681-004-4811-6

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21241460/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599175/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32326966/