Naked Pea Protein Review

Written by Ben Carlisle

Last updated on: Aug 26, 2022

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If you are looking for a functional pea protein powder stripped back to the essential ingredients, Naked Nutrition’s Pea Protein is one of the very best options available. With an excellent nutritional profile and the ability to choose if any ingredients aside from pea protein are added, this supplement will be perfect for many people. Especially those looking for a vegan certified supplement which can deliver results. Naked Nutrition’s objective of providing supplements which support a healthy lifestyle is evident in their choice of ingredients.

They source the protein for all their supplements from select North American farms which follow sustainable farming practices. They add no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and all their protein powders are free of mixing agents. Perhaps the most attractive ting about Naked Pea Protein and the company is how they give control to the customer. The decision of whether to add to the raw essential ingredients to provide extra flavour is all in the hands of the customer. Below we have anyalyzed this supplement in detail reporting our findings and helping you to assess whether this supplement can help you progress towards your goals.

What Is Naked Pea Protein?

Naked Pea Protein is a clean plant based supplement with excellent nutritional facts. It is available in 3 forms. Unflavored, chocolate and vanilla. Each has a slightly different nutritional profile. The unflavored is one of the best supplements on the market for those wanting a protein powder stripped backed to the essentials. It consists of only one ingredient pea protein isolate. Each serving packs in 27 grams of protein, 5.69 grams of BCAA’s and just 120 calories. Both the chocolate and vanilla flavors have organic coconut sugar to provide sweetness, as well as flavoring. The protein content of each flavor is still very good at 25g per serving. With the chocolate having 160 calories and the vanilla 140 calories.

The pea protein used as the core ingredient is sourced from farms in the USA and Canada which follow sustainable farming practices. And the protein is isolated from these peas using mechanical water extraction. This means this supplement is completely chemical free. Naked Pea Protein is independently 3rd party tested for heavy metals. All flavors are “Informed Choice Trusted By Sport” certified, non-gmo, soy free and gluten free. There are also no additives or sweeteners added to these supplements.

Benefits of Naked Pea Protein

There are many benefits of taking Naked Pea Protein in all flavors. By taken any of them as a protein shake once or twice a day in combination with a good training program and a healthy diet, you can accelerate your progress towards a number of different goals.

Low Sodium Content For A Pea Protein

Naked Pea Protein has a low sodium content for a pea protein supplement. The 110 mg of sodium per serving is a lot lower than the 238 mg of sodium in the average pea protein supplement. This makes this vegan protein powder an option for those with with kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure who require a low sodium diet. It also adds to the appeal of the protein powder for those who want to keep there sodium levels within a healthy range. Scientific research has found low sodium intake can reduce blood pressure (1). Whilst also reducing the risk of strokes and fatal coronary heart disease (2).

Great For Customization

The degree to which ingredients are added to this supplement are left in the hands of the customer. Unlike many other protein powders using pea isolate. Naked Nutrition offer a pea protein powder which is made up of just 1 ingredient, organic yellow split peas. This gives the customer the option to have a high quality protein, cut back to just the essential ingredient. There are no added ingredients to improve the taste, just the natural flavor. Although this option will not be for everyone, those who want a clean protein without unnecessary ingredients will love having this option.

For those who would like to have a clean supplement but require some flavoring both the chocolate and vanilla version only use additional ingredients which are absolutely necessary. Both still use pea protein isolate as the core ingredient, but use organic coconut sugar for additional sweetness. The vanilla version uses natural vanilla flavoring whereas the chocolate version uses raw organic cacao powder.The flavored version do have slightly higher calorie counts and lower protein contents, compared to the unflavored's 27 grams of protein per serving. The Naked Pea Protein ingredients are left in the hands of the customer, allowing them to decided how they want to navigate trade off between nutritional profile, ingredient purity and taste.

90% Protein Content & 5.69g of BCAA's*

The unflavored variety of this protein powder has an extremely high protein content of 27g per serving. Unlike most other leading plant based protein powders with contents between 66% and 75%. Naked Pea's unflavored powder has a huge 90% protein level. This is comparable to some of the best whey protein powders. With an excellent 5.69g of branched chain amino acids, this supplement is an excellent choice for anyone seeking to build muscle. With research already finding pea protein can produce comparable results to whey protein when it comes to promoting strength, performance, lean muscle mass, and muscular adaptations (3). There is no doubt the nutritional profile of this supplement make it one of the best plant based alternatives to whey (this has made it a go to for many of those following a plant based diet).

*Only Naked Nutrition's Unflavored Pea Protein Powder has a 90% protein content.

Excellent Supplement For A Range Of Goals

Naked Pea uses yellow pea from North American farms to provide the protein in this supplement. Yellow pea is widely seen as the leading type of plant based protein and has been found to provide similar results as whey protein. The beneficial results yellow pea is capable of providing is not just limited to performance, the development of lean muscle tissue and strength.

It has also been found to suppress appetite more effectively than other protein powders. This is obviously a huge bonus for those attempting to lose weight, as reducing calorie intake plays a huge role in a successful weight loss program (4). Also, increasing protein intake by using pea isolate will improve satiety which will also assist with any weight loss goals (5).

3rd Party Tested For Heavy Metals

The presence of heavy metals in vegan protein powders is a common concern  This concern originated from the "Clean Label Project" which questioned the heavy metal levels in plant based supplements. All plants will have some traces of heavy metals. For example, lead is naturally occurring in the soil. This does not mean the supplement is unsafe. A risk assessment on the human consumption of vegan supplements found, the the risks were very small and of no real concern for those worried about adverse health effects (6).

To remove any concerns customers may have over dangerous heavy metal levels in their protein powder. Naked Nutrition use 3rd party independent testing to ensure there supplements have heavy metal levels within the safety standards set by the FDA. This means when you take Naked Pea you can be safe in the knowledge your protein shake will not contain heavy metal levels above the FDA guidelines for safe consumption (7).

Naked Pea Ingredients

Yellow Pea Protein: Naked Pea Protein Powder uses pea protein isolate as its protein source. This is isolate from yellow split peas grown on select farms in the USA and Canada. It is the primary ingredient in all versions of this supplements and the sole ingredient in the unflavored Naked Pea.

Organic Coconut Sugar (Chocolate and Vanilla Flavor Only): Coconut sugar is a natural sugar which is derived from coconut palm sap.  It is used to add sweetness to the flavored versions of this supplement. The sugar retains some of the nutrients found in coconut palm. This includes zinc, calcium, iron and potassium. It also has some short-chain fatty acids, antioxidants and the fiber inulin.

Organic Cacao Powder (Chocolate Flavor Only): The cacao powder is used to provide flavoring to the chocolate version of this protein powder. Raw cacao beans do not taste very chocolatey. These beans most go through processing. Once harvested they go through several steps; fermentation, drying, roasting, crushing, drying and grinding. The use of cacao powder to provide the chocolate flavoring results in a more bitter taste for this version of Naked Pea when compared to other chocolate flavored protein powders.

Natural Vanilla Flavor (Vanilla Flavor Only): Gives the supplement vanilla flavoring.

How To Take Naked Pea

Naked Pea like all Naked Protein powders are designed to be taken as supplements to a healthy diet. Naked Pea protein powder can be taken in a number of ways, including; in protein shakes, smoothies or as an ingredient baked into recipes. Naked Nutrition advise the best time to take Naked Pea is in the morning or peri-workout.

The serving size is two scoops and is advised to be mixed with 6 to 10 ounces of water or non-dairy milk (we used almond milk). Fruit and vegetables are advised to be added if you want to add flavor to the unflavored version of this protein powder. Additionally, the mixing of this supplement with Naked Protein supplements such as Peanut Butter Powder or Naked Rice is recommended for flavor enhancement or to give a complete amino acid profile. Another option to get good levels of all the essential amino acids is to take a hemp protein supplement alongside the Naked Pea supplement.

Pros

• Leaves The Customer In Control Of Which Ingredients Are Added.

• Unflavored Powder Has An Excellent 90% Protein Content

• Zero Additives and No Added Sugar.

• Independently 3rd Party Tested & Informed Choice Trusted By Sport.

• Sodium Content Is Low For A Pea Protein Powder

• Very Functional. Only Essential Ingredients Used.

• Super Clean Ingredients Sourced From North American Farms

Cons

• Does Not Have Good Methionine Levels.

• Some Find The Texture Chalky.

• Aftertaste Is Not For Everyone (especially the unflavored variety).

Customer Reviews

Naked Pea has received over 1000 reviews, with the vast majority being extremely positive. The ability to choose a  pea protein supplement comprising of just pea protein and the use of additives (including natural ones) was a particularly popular feature of this supplement. Another feature very popular with this supplement was the low sodium content.

Why This Product Should Be Trusted

Naked Nutrition was found by Stephen Zieminski. He was an All-American track and cross-country athlete. He founded Naked Nutrition after growing frustrated with the little nutritional value provided by other protein powders on the market. He believed supplement companies were marketing health to people trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but not delivering on their promises.

Naked Nutrition have created a range of supplements which have excellent nutritional profiles and are made form clean ingredients. This means those who want a healthy lifestyle can find supplements which deliver on the marketing promise of health. All of the high quality ingredients are from select farms, and are 3rd party tested. Naked Nutrition also leave the customer in control by giving the option to use just the core essential ingredient or to add further ingredients to enhance the flavor. If you are looking for a supplement manufacturer who cares about delivering on their marketing promises and giving the customer the choice on what is right for them, you can trust Naked Nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Should Take Naked Pea Protein?

This supplement is ideal for anyone who wants a clean plant based protein powder with no unnecessary ingredients. For those wanting a supplement for progression towards health, fitness and sporting goals without any need for flavoring, the unflavored variety is ideal. There is not a more simple and pure option on the market. With just 1 ingredient it packs in a 90% protein content and 27g or protein per serving. Another, attractive aspect of this pea based protein supplement is it has a low sodium content of just 110mg per serving. This is considerably lower than the average sodium content of 238mg per serving for a pea supplement. This supplement is also excellent for those wanting a gluten free, soy free or non-gmo product. Naked Pea is "Certified Gluten Free".

Who Shouldn't Take Naked Pea Protein?

Anyone allergic to pea protein should not take this protein powder as this is the primary ingredient. Those who want a supplement which is completely sugar free and with good levels of all 9 essential amino acids may not find this the best pea protein powder for their needs. This is also true for athletes who want a supplement which undergoes the more thorough testing process of Informed Sport Certification. Promix vegan protein would be more suitable for such athletes. For anyone who puts taste at the top of the list when choosing a protein powder, this is probably not right for you. The unflavored variety is borderline unpleasant for some people. The chocolate flavor does not really have the taste of chocolate you find without other powders. And all varieties of this supplement have a strong aftertaste.

Is There A Difference Between The Flavors?

Yes, there are some difference between the flavors.  The chocolate flavor contains 3 ingredients; pea protein, cacao powder and coconut sugar. The vanilla flavor contains 3 ingredients; pea protein, natural vanilla flavor and coconut sugar. The unflavored variety has just 1 ingredient pea protein. The calorie count varies too; unflavored has 120, vanilla has 140 and chocolate has 160. The unflavored version also has slightly more protein in each serving at 27g compared to the 25g provided by the vanilla and chocolate flavors.

Is Every Flavor Informed Choice Trusted by Sport Certified?

Yes, every flavor is Informed Choice Trusted by Sport Certified. Informed Choice is a global retail monitoring and quality assurance program. It helps reduce the risk of banned substances and impurities entering products. Informed Choice differs from Informed Sport in the frequency of which testing is done. Informed Sport Certified products test every batch of a supplement before it is released to the market. This means every flavor or variation of a product is tested. Informed Choice tests at least one batch of the product randomly each month. Essentially, Informed Choice is a less thorough process than Informed Sport.

Is Naked Pea Protein Sugar Free?

No, the pea protein supplements offered by Naked Nutrition are not sugar free. They contain no added sugar. However, the chocolate and vanilla flavors contain 5g of sugar per serving. And the unflavored variety contains 2g of sugar per serving. These varieties are free of additives and artificial sweeteners.

Where Can You Buy Naked Pea Protein?

Naked Pea Protein is easy to order from their official website. There are several ways to purchase supplements from Naked Nutrition. This includes using finance with 4 interest fee-payments. If you want maximum savings the best option is to subscribe for regular delivery where you will receive 20% off your first purchase, then 10% on every order afterwards. Free shipping is provided on all orders over $99.

Conclusion: Is Naked Pea Protein Worth It?

Naked Pea Protein powder is a very good supplement. We rate it as one of the best pea protein powders on the market. It is a great option for those who are ingredient conscious. With Naked Nutrition leaving the choice of whether you want to add ingredients for extra flavouring down to you. We believe the unflavoured variety of this protein powder is amongst the best supplements on the market when it comes to purity. It is the quintessential functional protein powder just 1 ingredient yellow pea protein and 27g of protein in one serving of just 120 calories. Although there may be slightly better pea protein powders available for certain goals such as overall health or elite sporting performance. As a pure pea protein powder the unflavoured variety of this supplement is amongst the elite.