Buffy's Bulletin

By Dr. Brittany Masteller

We are so excited to introduce our new Buff Chick Vegan Protein. This plant-based blend delivers 30 grams of delicious protein per serving. Whether you are a vegan, or just trying to cut back on consumption of animal products, this tasty formula contains a 70:30 ratio of pea:rice protein blend to ensure you get a balanced amino acid profile and complete protein source with every scoop. 

Protein is one of the macronutrients needed for our bodies to function, along with carbohydrates and fats. As someone who lifts weights, focusing on proper protein intake can help you maximize the hard work you are doing in the weight room. Dietary protein is particularly important for Buff Chicks (and anyone who participates in strength training!). Appropriate protein ingestion helps to maximize muscle protein synthesis, which allows the body to build muscle in response to exercise [1].

Check out this article for an overview of protein intake recommendations.

Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are categorized as essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are needed in the body but have to be consumed through diet, whereas nonessential amino acids are created within the body and do not (typically) need to be consumed in the diet. When a food contains all of the essential amino acids in correct quantities, it is known as a complete protein. Complete proteins are important for the muscle and strength building benefits of protein consumption.

The essential amino acid called leucine is a key factor for increasing muscle protein synthesis to facilitate muscle recovery and growth. Leucine is the only amino acid that has demonstrated the ability to independently enhance muscle building [2, 3]. Foods highest in leucine include ground beef, chicken breast, whole eggs, whey and casein protein powders, fish, and milk (aka animal products!) Don’t worry though – leucine can be supplemented and we’ve made sure to include it as part of our vegan formula.

In general, animal proteins, such as meat, are complete proteins while plant proteins are considered incomplete proteins. Certain dietary patterns (such as veganism) limit or exclude the consumption of animal products so it is important for individuals who do not consume complete proteins to pay close attention to their essential amino acid consumption [4, 5]. This is not to say that you cannot gain muscle while consuming a vegan diet, it may just take some extra planning to make sure you are consuming adequate complete protein sources for your goals.

Buff Chick’s Vegan Protein blend is formulated with 2.3 grams of leucine per serving to ensure that you will still get the proper amino acid profile. A balanced amino acid profile simply means that a protein has an appropriate ratio of amino acids in comparison to what the body needs. And, it means that there’s no compromise on muscle growth or strength development when compared to their milk-derived Buff Whey. Our amino amino acid profile per serving can be seen below and includes the proper evidence-based dosage of each ingredient.

Our vegan blend is a 70:30 ratio of pea:rice protein, which is an evidence-based ratio to ensure a more balanced amino acid profile. Pea protein is derived from yellow and green split peas and is easily digestible, making it a good option for those with food allergies [6]. Rice protein is derived from brown rice, and like pea protein is easily digestible and contains all the essential amino acids. However, it is not a complete protein.However, when both of these proteins are combined, they are complimentary. Together, the two of them make a complete protein, which is more comparable to a non-vegan option. 

The formula also includes digestive enzymes, which can further aid in digestion and reduce the quality differences between vegan and whey protein.

The texture is incredibly smooth because of the vegan oat milk blend addition to the formula.

It is important to understand that it is most important what your nutritional profile looks like over an entire day/week, vs. one isolated meal. Supplementing protein is helpful, in combination with a balanced diet and optimizing nutrition will include many factors. When comparing vegan protein to whey protein, there can be differences in the protein content and amino acid profile. At Buff Chick, we created our vegan protein with this in mind. Our formula ensures that the differences don’t make vegan a less quality option. Thanks to our rice:pea blend, leucine content, digestive enzymes, and serving size adjustments, you aren’t making sacrifices by taking Buff Chick Vegan Protein. There’s no difference in muscle growth and strength development when you compare the two. 

Even if you aren’t a vegan, consuming vegan protein could still be a good option. For example, if you are more sensitive to whey or lactose may tolerate vegan options better than non-vegan products. Or, maybe you are just interested in cutting back on consumption of animal products for the sake of our environment. Some people genuinely enjoy the taste of vegan options. Regardless of the reason, we hope you’ll give this high-quality, vegan protein a try.At Buff Chick, all of our supplements are vegan-friendly, with the exception of Buff Whey. We are so excited to add a vegan protein powder to our suite of products to help you gain strength, recover better, and gain muscle. You can purchase your vegan protein powder here. 

References

1. https://buffchick.com/pages/research

2. ​​Atherton PJ, Smith K. Muscle protein synthesis in response to nutrition and exercise. J Physiol. 2012;590(5):1049-1057.

3. Norton, L. E., & Layman, D. K. (2006). Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise. Journal of Nutrition, 136(2), 533S–537S.
4. Norton, L. E., & Wilson, G. J. (2009). Optimal protein intake to maximize muscle protein synthesis. AgroFood Industry Hi-Tech, 20, 54–57.
5. Bakaloudi, Dimitra Rafailia et al. “Intake and adequacy of the vegan diet. A systematic review of the evidence.” Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) vol. 40,5 (2021): 3503-3521. 6. Gorissen SHM, Crombag JJR, Senden JMG, et al. Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids. 2018;50(12):1685-1695.
7. Ge, J., Sun, C., Corke, H., Gul, K., Gan, R., Fang, Y. The health benefits, functional properties, modifications, and applications of pea (Pisum sativum L.) protein. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2020 June 22;19:1835–1876.