If you’ve ever seen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, you know there’s a scene at the end of the movie where Indiana is looking at all the cups and trying to decide which one is the Holy Grail that promises eternal life. That’s how I’ve always felt about protein powders. I’ve tried many different kinds over the years at all different price points and textures. Some taste great and some taste like dirt. Some are too sweet, some too chalky. Many of them taste synthetic and/or gritty.
I’m a smoothie fan mostly out of necessity. When you have a job as a personal trainer and a running coach, not to mention you have to parent two small children as well as find time to navigate your own workouts, you’ve got to get your nutrition in however you can. Sometimes that means drinking a shake at a stop light between appointments so you don’t forget to eat. My quest to find the right one has been important because they are a big part of life for me.
I was given the chance to test two products from Orgain .. The Sport Recovery Organic Plant Based Powder and the Sport Protein Organic Plant Based Powder in both chocolate and vanilla flavors. Orgain’s products check a lot of boxes on my list of what I need in a protein powder and they align to my lifestyle requirements. Not only are their products USDA Organic, but they are Plant Powered and 100% vegan as well. I am a vegetarian with what I call “vegan tendencies,” which means that I try to omit as much dairy as I can despite my love of cheese. There are no GMO ingredients or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in Orgain products, so I knew from the first scoop that I was fueling my body with good things.
Orgain was founded by a man named Andrew, who had a rare and aggressive form of cancer at the age of 17. The chemo pretty much destroyed his appetite and he began drinking protein shakes to help keep his weight up. He found that the options available were not very healthy, so Andrew and his mom concocted their own organic shakes at home. Eventually, he became a doctor, but he was able to quit his medical practice when he started Orgain because he wanted to help others the same way he’d helped himself all these years ago. The reason I put this story in the review is because any time a product is manufactured as a result of real life experiences, I pay attention. These products usually turn out to be the best, and these are the kinds of stories that change lives. I’m also a sucker for a story about an “every-man” beating the odds and making the world a better place.
I tried the Orgain Recovery first, following a long sweaty run in the heat of the day. A serving of this conveniently sized container packs in 3g of apple cider vinegar, vitamin C, and adaptogens. It’s really simple to incorporate into your life, as you just add a small scoop to your water within 30 minutes of your workout or drink it throughout the day. It’s refreshing and it tastes like lemonade. That always sounds good to me on a hot day after a run, so it goes down really easily!
The Sports Recovery is meant to both replenish you with electrolytes and help your tired muscles recover after a workout. I’ve found it really reenrergizes me if I’ve been working for a long time on my feet, and I’m sure that the adaptogens and anti-inflamatory properties are really doing their job. It’s a great tool to add to my never-ending days and I love that it’s so effortless.
Next, I tried the Sport Protein powder. My first priority, to be honest, is taste. Protein powders should be good for you if they are doing what they are supposed to, but if they taste like cardboard or have a weird aftertaste, I’m not going to feel motivated to continue with them. I tried the chocolate flavor first, as that’s my preferred flavor for a shake and it was completely delicious. NO chalkiness. NO grittiness. NO super artificial taste to cover up the healthy stuff. Just delicious, creamy, smooth chocolate. I tried the vanilla flavor a couple of days later. Same experience .. Also delicious. A total WIN for my taste buds.
As far as the health stats go, the Sport Protein powder has 30g of protein, 5g branch chain amino acids, and 3g net carbs. I couldn’t have asked for a better, CLEAN, Certified Organic protein. Some of the plant-based ingredients include tart cherry and the power duo of fermented turmeric and ginger. This powder will not only support muscle recovery, but it will help with muscle soreness as well.
Have I found my Holy Grail? Well, I think Indiana Jones would be satisfied with my choice. Orgain will be a staple in this busy household for sure.
Company:
Products & Price:
- Sport Recovery Organic Plant Based Powder ($27.99) – Find it on Amazon here
- Sport Protein Organic Plant Based Powder ($39.99) – Find it on Amazon here
Specs (from website):
- Gluten Free
- Kosher
- No Sugar Added
- High Protein
- Vegan
- Non-GMO
- USDA Organic
- Made without Soy Ingredients
- Made without Dairy Ingredients
- Made without Lactose Ingredients
More about Orgain:
Relentlessly clean. We are committed to incredibly high standards, using only the highest quality ingredients to deliver the cleanest and most delicious nutrition possible. Most Orgain products are Certified Organic and all are soy free, gluten free, non-GMO and free of anything artificial.
Committed to innovation. We strive to have a positive impact on as many people as possible. This means we are constantly experimenting with new ideas, new recipes and new products that can meet the broad and varied nutrition needs of our customers.
Giving protein a purpose. The reason that Orgain exists remains unchanged today – to inspire healthy, vibrant lives. Every action we take and product we make seeks to provide a cleaner form of nutrition that is more delicious, more convenient and more accessible to more people.
Thank you to Orgain for providing us with samples Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
