What Type of Vegan Protein Does Naked Nutrition Use?

There are many ways to get enough protein on a plant-based diet, but vegan protein powders take the top spot for most convenient. Few vegan protein sources offer as much protein on a gram-for-gram basis, and they’re affordable and versatile to boot.

But not all vegan protein powders are made equally. Some give the rest a bad name due to their gritty texture, artificial taste, and long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce.

Naked Nutrition is a game changer when it comes to vegan protein powder. They use quality ingredients you can recognize and trace—some of their products have as few as one ingredient. I’ve tried Naked Nutrition products before and can confirm they have a pleasant taste and texture too.

Since they offer more than 20 options for vegans, here’s a guide to help break them down by protein type. Understanding the different types of vegan protein powders can help you choose one.

What Vegan Proteins Does Naked Nutrition Use?

Most vegan-friendly Naked Nutrition products use pea protein as the main protein source. The brand also has options that contain rice protein, powdered peanuts, almonds, and various seeds to create a variety of protein powders.

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Naked Nutrition, who sent me their product to review. All opinions are my own. If you make a purchase using my Amazon affiliate links, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please check out my full Disclaimer page for more information.

1. Pea Protein Powder

Pea protein is one of the most common protein sources found in vegan protein powders. It’s also the main type of protein Naked Nutrition uses in many (but not all) of their plant-based offerings.

Naked Nutrition’s pea protein comes from raw yellow peas that are sourced from North American farms. While some manufacturers use a chemical solvent to extract protein from the peas, Naked Nutrition uses a gentle water process.

So, why is pea protein so popular? For starters, it provides a high amount of protein and iron while keeping the fat and carbs low. It’s also gentle on the stomach and suitable for those with food allergies. When used in protein shakes and smoothies, pea protein yields a creamy consistency, making it the best alternative to whey protein powder.

Pros

• Allergy friendly
• Creamy consistency
• Easy to digest
• High in iron
• Low in fat and carbs

Cons

• Can be higher in sodium
• Low in fiber

Featured Product

I had the opportunity to try the new Naked Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter Pea Protein Powder, which contains pea protein as the first ingredient. I liked this option because it’s Certified Vegan and packs a whopping 25 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving. Though I normally gravitate to vanilla protein powders, Naked Nutrition’s chocolate flavors never disappoint—they’re extra rich and creamy. 

If you’re a chocolate lover like me, you’ll enjoy this, though some may find the added coconut sugar a bit too sweet. Just note that it contains peanuts, so it’s not suitable for those with peanut allergies. For those looking for something more simple, Naked Nutrition also has a pure pea protein powder with nothing else in it.

2. Brown Rice Protein Powder

Rice isn’t typically considered a protein source, but let’s not forget that rice and beans make a complete vegan protein when combined together. Between the two main types of rice—brown and white rice—brown rice contains more protein, so that’s the kind Naked Nutrition uses. 

In fact, the brown rice Naked Nutrition uses is organic, free from pesticides, and grown in quality crops local to Southeast Asia. If you’re concerned about the heavy metals in rice protein, Naked Nutrition products undergo third-party testing to make sure the rice is as pure as possible and in compliance with strict FDA standards.

Pros

• Low carb
• Low sodium
• Good source of iron
• Allergy friendly

Cons

• Can have a gritty texture
• Not a complete protein

Featured Product

The Naked Nutrition Organic Brown Rice Protein Powder contains just one ingredient—organic brown rice. This is a clean option if you’re looking for the simplest protein powder without any fillers or additives. However, this also means you’ll need to incorporate it in a shake or smoothie since it can be bland or gritty on its own.

Pro tip: Rice protein on its own isn’t a complete protein, meaning it doesn’t contain all nine of the essential amino acids. Use a scoop of the rice protein with a scoop of the pea protein to form a complete protein source.

3. Powdered Peanut Butter

One of the ways Naked Nutrition adds flavor and variety is through the use of nut powders. While Naked Nutrition offers a tub of powdered almonds, the brand relies on powdered peanuts more often. This is bad news for those with nut allergies, but for the rest of us, it’s a tasty way to get more protein or enjoy peanut butter with fewer calories. 

It’s also another example of how Naked Nutrition utilizes clean proteins—powdered peanut butter contains just one traceable ingredient. They use slow-roasted, non-GMO peanuts from U.S. farms.

Pros

• Simple ingredients
• Affordable
• Smooth consistency
• Versatile

Cons

• Not safe for those with nut allergies
• Lower in protein

Featured Product

While it may not be the highest in protein, the Naked Nutrition Powdered Peanut Butter still provides 7 grams of protein per scoop. At just 50 calories per serving, that’s a low-calorie way to sneak more protein into your meal plan. Like the rest of the brand’s offerings, the Naked PB range is third-party tested and free from artificial ingredients.

4. Seed Protein Powder

When you’ve been vegan for some time, there’s no doubt you’ve heard the oh-so original bird food jokes. While vegans don’t eat actual bird food, nuts and seeds are certainly staples of the diet. And that’s totally fine considering how much protein they pack.

Naked Nutrition, specifically, uses a variety of seeds, such as chia seeds. They’re a good source of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and minerals like iron and potassium. Naked Nutrition also uses watermelon, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds, making it relatively allergy safe for most people.

Pros

• Good source of fiber
• Rich in antioxidants
• Low sugar
• Low carb
• Low calorie
• Allergy friendly

Cons

• Not a complete protein
• Earthy taste isn’t for everyone

Featured Product

If Naked Nutrition has an unsung hero, it’s the Naked Nutrition Seed Protein Powder. In conversations about the best type of vegan protein powder, seed powders rarely enter the chat. So, here’s my take.

A seed powder may not be the best choice if you treat protein powder like a meal replacement because it’s not a complete protein. However, if you use it to get a quick boost of protein, it’s a wonderful option. It’s low in carbs, calories, and sugar, so it’s pretty much a concentrated source of protein, iron, fiber, and other nutrients.

How to Choose

For most people, pea protein is a solid choice. Some of Naked Nutrition’s pea protein powders contain 27 grams of protein per serving, rivaling whey protein. It’s well tolerated by most people and has a neutral flavor, making it easy to work into shakes, smoothies, and even baked goods.

To form a complete protein, try combining pea and rice protein powders together. This will also help make the rice protein more enjoyable since it’s not as creamy as pea protein.

The Naked Nutrition nut and seed proteins are best reserved for boosting your protein intake between meals. While they’re not complete proteins, they’re lower in sugar and provide plenty of nutrients.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the types of vegan protein powders Naked Nutrition uses.