If you talk to many athletes, bodybuilders or weightlifters, they will tell you that pure whey protein isolate is the best supplement for muscle gains. The problem is that many people can’t tolerate whey protein and others lead vegan lifestyles and don’t want to consume products obtained from animals. Still others try plant-based protein powders because they are made from all-natural ingredients with many fiber and other nutrients that aren’t offered by whey protein powder.
As plant-based protein powders become more popular, more people are shopping for organic brown rice protein powder than ever before. This is one of the most popular forms of vegan protein powder, so there are more products hitting the market to meet consumer demand. While organic pea protein and other organic plant protein powders are harder to find, you can easily get your hands on brown rice protein powder that is certified organic.
Rice Protein Powder Benefits
Why would you choose organic brown rice protein powder over the many other types of protein powder currently on the market? There are many potential benefits regardless of your health and fitness goals:
1. Brown rice contains natural dietary fiber, so many brown rice protein powders contain fiber. Many whey and casein protein powders contain no fiber at all. Fiber is beneficial because it nourishes your body and helps you feel full and satisfied between meals. It is also helpful for the digestive system.
2. Brown rice is hypoallergenic, so it is more likely to work well for those with allergies to soy, gluten and other dietary substances.
3. Brown rice protein powders are suitable for vegetarian diets, including strict vegan diets. Read individual labels to double check, but most of these powders contain no animal products or byproducts.
4. You can get just as much protein from a brown rice supplement as many other standard milk-based protein powders. They may not compare well to mass gainers and other intense protein powders, but they are comparable to the protein content in many other products.
5. You can use organic brown rice protein powder as a pre-workout supplement that delivers energy for your workout or as a post-workout supplement that helps your muscles recover and build back up stronger.
6. If you want to use your protein supplement as a meal replacement, an all-natural, organic powder made from brown rice and other healthy ingredients is far better than a standard whey protein powder.
Recommended Organic Brown Rice Protein Powder
Now that you know why brown rice protein powder is a good addition to your daily diet or a powerful tool to help you reach serious fitness goals, how do you select the right organic protein powder? There are some good options on the market today, but the following are among the best in terms of quality, availability, nutritional content and flavor.
Nutribiotic Organic Rice Protein
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There are only two ingredients in this USDA-certified organic brown rice protein powder: organic rice protein and organic vanilla flavor. The protein is created from organic whole grain sprouted brown rice, and it is processed with enzymes to ensure easy digestion. It is vegan-friendly and is 80% protein.
One heaping tablespoon of this powder contains 12 grams of protein and only 60 calories. You can use two or more tablespoons in order to meet your protein intake needs. This is a fat-free protein powder that contains only 2 grams of carbohydrates. While many brown rice protein powders contain fiber, this one contains less than 1 gram per serving.
Growing Naturals Organic Rice Protein
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This is an all-natural, organic-certified rice protein powder that uses raw sprouted brown rice as the only protein source. Each serving contains 24 grams of protein, so it is comparable to the protein content of many whey protein powder isolates. The advantage to this powder is the flavor. It has excellent ratings from consumers and works for those trying to lose weight as well as those trying to gain lean muscle or simply supplement their diet with a nutritious shake.
Sprout Living Epic Protein Powder
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This is an organic brown rice protein powder that is made from raw, whole foods with no GMO, soy or gluten content. Each serving contains 19 grams of protein, which is a bit less than many other protein powders on the market today. It may not have enough protein for those with high daily protein intake needs, but each serving contains just 110 calories and is fat free, so it is a good supplement for those trying to lose weight. Each serving also contains a bit of fiber, so that can help with satiety between meals.
Organic Brown Rice Meal Replacement Powder
You can use any of the organic brown rice protein powders listed above as the base for a homemade meal replacement shake, but it is easier to purchase a prepackaged meal replacement powder. There is one that is based on organic sprouted rice. It contains a proprietary protein blend that combines this sprouted organic rice protein with other organic proteins that offer tons of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in addition to the protein.
This meal replacement powder is the Raw Meal Beyond Organic Meal Replacement Formula from Garden of Life. It offers 34 grams of protein in every serving along with 270 calories. That is far more calories than other organic rice protein powders, but it is due to the added nutrients incorporated into a shake designed to sustain your body as a meal.
Each serving of this meal replacement has just 2.5 grams of fat and 9 grams of fiber. While it delivers enough protein to help those with high protein intake goals, it is also diet-friendly for those trying to burn fat and lose weight. The powder is USDA-certified organic.