Protein is a topic I talk about a lot with people. As a raw vegan, I'm constantly asked, "Where do you get your protein if your vegan?" I chuckle on the inside and reply with something like, "where do cows, panda bears, bison, gorillas, horses, or some other animal get their protein?" This gets people thinking for a bit before they say either "grass" or "grain". I then explain to them that we can process plant food for our protein and all nutrients just like these animals can. Actually, not only can we process it, but we process it much much better than animal proteins. Plant based protein is just amino acids which are the building blocks for proteins. Animal based protein is protein which has to be broken into amino acids by the body before being assimilated back into the protein your body needs.

I can ramble on about this process for awhile, but basically I always send people to a hemp based protein. Hemp is not only a great protein source but an all around superfood. Hemp has all the essential amino acids for humans as well as many Omegas. I'm not against other plant based proteins, but I personally see the best results with hemp and stick to it. Some of the following products use a blend of plant based proteins, but most contain hemp.

First on my list is the Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70 Original. This is what I use every single day in my shake. You need to get the original and not a flavored one. The original has 20 grams of protein per serving where as any flavored products usually have around 10-15 grams per serving and some kind of sugar. They have the best tasting and highest concentrated hemp protein on the market. Hands down.

I also use their Organic Hemp Hearts everyday as well. I use so much that I buy them in the 5 lb bags and would buy a bigger bag if they made it! Their hemp hearts are one of the cleanest. Some other brands will still have bits of hull in the mix which is like finding pits in your olives.

Manitoba doesn't really have any noteworthy new products that fit the raw category. However, I did talk to them and they said the Organic Hemp Hearts should be back on the market any day now. Their supply was out and harvest was just coming in as of September 23rd. Look for more information on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and Google+.

Next on my list is another plant based protein blend that I love. It's the Plant Head Protein by Genceutic Naturals (Nature's Answer). It's clearly marked as a Raw Vegan product and 15 grams of protein per serving. The taste is unreal! Smooth, not gritty and very clean only begin to describe this product. I would use this product in place of Manitoba's Hemp Pro 70 if it replaced the 5 grams of cane sugar with 5 grams of protein. In their defense this product does taste way better than the Hemp Pro 70. So for a individual just starting out with a plant based protein or someone who isn't worried about sugar intake, this is the must have product! It's still relatively new to the market, so be sure to request it at your local health food store.

Other great perks of this product are that it's Dairy, Gluten, and Soy free as well as Non GMO. This is the first protein product I've seen to include Algae and Cranberry as protein sources. It's also naturally flavored, sustainably produced, no preservatives, only 110 calories per serving and produced by a family owned company who's committed to quality. Learn more by going to PlantHeadNation.com. Or go to Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

Thirdly, I need to mention Nature's Plus' New Raw Proteins. Nature's Plus is a family owned company that is always trying to improve upon their already clean, potent, and quality products.

This new line of protein powders have only three ingredients, none of which are preservatives, fillers, allergens, or anything else unnatural. They also add in a "Protein-Energy-Liberating Enzyme Blend" which is a group of enzymes that help the body utilize the protein your consuming. Great idea in my humble opinion!

The taste is good, but not great. Of course, part of this has to do with the fact that there is no added sweeteners or flavorings. It's a tiny bit chalky but not nearly as bad as most proteins on the market. It's a brand new product so look for it to start hitting shelves in your independent store in the next few months. Dig up more info through Facebook and Youtube.

Then there is a brand I'm sure you've not heard of unless you live in the EU. They are called Agropro and they are a hemp based company on the rise. They have really nice hemp oil and seeds, but their star products are the pastas! Hemp pasta! Not only does it taste just like normal wheat pasta, but over 30% of it is pure hemp protein! What a great concept, right?

They are working on getting distribution into the United States, so you may not see them for another year or two. I just got excited at the thought and had to share. You can learn more about them on their website or their Facebook.

Finally, I'd like to talk to you about having a Foursome. You really should have one, because they are delicious!

Foursome is a new line of protein drinks that taste like a bottled juice. They are all cold pressed, no sugar added, and 10 grams of vegan protein per bottle. There are 4 tasty flavors including Berry Boom, Power Greens, Mango Passion, and Strawberry Slam. I couldn't decide on a favorite so you should try them all for yourself. Look them up on social media. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are where you will find them.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to comment, like, and share. Next in this series I'll be talking about Gut Health. I'll have some new exciting info for you health nerds out there. Check back soon!