Looking for a vegan protein powder that actually tastes good? I’ve got you.
Finding a vegan protein that doesn’t have the consistency and taste of sand can be frustrating. Luckily, you can skip the process of trying your way through countless awful products by reading this Myprotein Soy Protein Isolate review. (Spoiler: Not all flavors are good, but one in particular blew my mind).
Disclaimer: This is an unpaid review. All products mentioned were bought with my own money.
Contents:
- Are Myprotein and Myvegan the Same?
- How is Soy Protein Isolate Made?
- What are the Benefits of Soy Protein Isolate?
- The Best Myprotein Soy Protein Isolate Flavor
- Other Flavors Reviewed
- Ingredients of Soy Protein Isolate
- Nutritional Value of Soy Protein Isolate
Related: Protein – Everything You Need To Know
Are Myprotein and Myvegan the Same?
Before we dive into the review, let’s clear some label confusion.
Although it says “Myvegan” on the package, the protein powder in question is actually from the UK-based supplement company Myprotein.
Myprotein also sells animal-based products such as whey protein powder, omega 3 fish oil, and various protein snacks and meal replacements. The company launched Myvegan as its first plant-based product line in 2019. Similarly to Myprotein, the vegan brand offers different kinds of protein powders, protein bars and cookies, and health supplements.
How is Soy Protein Isolate Made?
Soy protein isolate is not only a nutrition supplement, it’s also a common ingredient used by the food industry. Plant-based meat alternatives often contain soy protein isolates because they act as emulsifiers, enhance moisture retention (leading to a better texture), and boost the product’s overall protein content (1).
But how is protein isolated from soybeans?
Essentially, soy protein isolates are made from defattened soy flakes (or soy flour) which have been stripped of their fat, carbohydrate, fiber, and vitamin contents.
Next, the soy flakes are dehydrated and pulverized into a fine powder. Et voilà!
What are the Benefits of Soy Protein Isolate?
Because it’s stripped of nearly all fat and carbohydrates, soy protein isolate is a good option for those who want just pure protein. Conventional soy protein isolates contain a minimum of 80% protein (depending on how much other ingredients, such as flavoring, are added).
Additionally, the soybean has an amino acid profile that closely resembles that of animal-based protein (2). In fact, soy protein is considered to have among the highest biological value of plant-based protein sources (3). Compared to other plant-proteins, soy protein also contains a good amount of leucine. This essential amino acid helps build and repair muscles, making it an amino acid of focus for strength and fitness athletes.
Bonus point: Soy protein isolate is is also pretty affordable compared to most vegan and non-vegan protein blends because soy itself is a relatively cheap resource.
Related: Amino Acids – The Uncomplicated Guide
The Best Myprotein Soy Isolate Flavor
Myprotein offers six different flavors of soy protein isolate: chocolate, iced latte, natural strawberry, salted caramel, vanilla, and unflavored.
Of these flavors, I’ve tried chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and salted caramel. Three of them had me disappointed, but one flavor truly blew my mind.
Salted caramel is by far one of the best tasting vegan protein powders out there. It even beats most non-vegan proteins I’ve had.
The flavor is super convincing and 100% salted caramel. It’s sweet (but not too sweet), slightly tangy, and just a touch salty. Combined with its silky smooth texture, Myprotein landed a winner with this one (which is why I stocked up on a 2.5 kg bag of salted caramel soy protein isolate!).
Since I don’t drink protein shakes, I cannot speak to how the isolate’s consistency lends itself to protein shakes. But it already has a very silky texture when mixed with small amounts of liquid, so I can imagine that it’s good in shakes too. Taste-wise, it would definitely pair well with various non-dairy milks.
I use soy protein isolate in my breakfast porridge, stirred into soy or coconut yogurt, or mixed with a bit of soy milk as a sweet spread on bread and rice cakes. I’m so obsessed with Myprotein’s salted caramel flavor that I eat it daily.
Other Flavors Reviewed
As for the other three soy protein isolate flavors that I’ve tried (strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla), none of them could convince me. Their texture is nearly identical to that of the salted caramel version, but they taste bland and unexciting. Vanilla is okay in oatmeal, but the other two flavors are locked away in the back of a kitchen cupboard, only to be used when salted caramel has run out.
Particularly Myprotein’s chocolate soy protein isolate had me disappointed. Instead of the indulgent, rich chocolate flavor I had expected, it’s weak taste is reminiscent of stale chocolate that has passed its ‘best by’ date.
Ingredients of Soy Protein Isolate
All of the flavors contain around 90% pure soy protein isolate (with the exception of the unflavored version, which is 100% soy protein isolate). They also contain various flavorings and the calorie-free artificial sweetener sucralose. Although sucralose is a controversial topic, especially among social media health gurus, over 20 years of research have shown that it is generally safe for human consumption (4).
I like the fact that Myprotein keeps the ingredient list of all of the six flavors quite short. Here are the full ingredient lists of all six soy protein isolate flavors ( as shown on Myprotein’s website):
Nutritional Value of Soy Protein Isolate
Because it is an isolate, Myprotein’s soy protein isolate is stripped of most of its fat and carbohydrate contents. This makes it a relatively pure protein powder that is higher in protein than most protein powder blends (including dairy-based ones).
The six flavors differ slightly in regards to their exact nutritional value, but overall they’re nutrition profile is very similar. All of them have a protein content of at least 80g per 100g of isolate. Their calorie content lies within the range of 330 – 360 calories per 100g.
Here’s the nutrition label of my favorite flavor, salted caramel:
In conclusion, the majority of Myprotein’s soy protein isolates are not worth buying. However, the salted caramel flavor is the best vegan protein powder I have tried as of yet. For anyone looking for a delicious, silky smooth , and affordable vegan protein, look no further.
Safe to say, I’m obsessed with salted caramel soy protein isolate.
Enjoyed this review? Let me know in the comments or on social media what you would like me to review next!
References:
(1) https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2007.00025.x
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8398613/#B17-molecules-26-05071
(3) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814697002318
(4) https://foodinsight.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sucralose/