IS VEGAN PROTEIN AS GOOD AS WHEY?

Michael, Ipswich Though meat-based muscle-builders remain whey ahead, vegan shakes offer generous gains, alongside holistic health hits. Here’s the full scoop

PURE WHEY PROTEIN

Bulk Powders £13 for 500g Best for: raw strength

This milk-based supp packs all nine essential amino acids and fuels up to 31% more growth than soya-based alternatives. With 22g of protein per serving, it can increase your leg press one-rep max by around a third*.

100% BEEF PROTEIN ISOLATE

Applied Nutrition £45 for 1.8kg

Best for: not much

This powder’s lacklustre amino acid count will hold you back. Compared to whey, it contains less than half of the muscle-building isoleucine, tryptophan and leucine. Not to mention its burned salt taste...

SOY PROTEIN 90 (ISOLATE)

The Protein

Works £11 for 500g Best for: green gains

Soy buoys your levels of hunger-banishing leptin – enough to help you lose 8kg in 12 weeks, according to one study**. Combined with a respectable 25g protein hit per scoop, it’s the herbivore’s Holy Grail.

HEMP PROTEIN POWDER

Canah Hemp Essentials £7.50 for 500g

Best for: hearty gains

A green protein that supplies all essential amino acids, hemp matches tuna in terms of omega 3. It also packs heart-healthy arginine, which strengthens your blood vessels.