Are you thinking about cutting meat out of your diet?
In recent years, the demand for animal-free products has skyrocketed, possibly due to the monstrosity that was the Nasi Lemak burger.
We’ve all heard of “animal-free” meats, such as Impossible Foods’ range of meats, as well as plant-based milk, and even vegan cheeses.
But this… this is a game-changer; there is now an animal-free whey protein powder.
Called V-Whey, here are 10 facts about this newly-launched protein powder that you could soon be gulping down after your gym workouts:
It’s the First Globally Available Animal-Free Whey Protein Powder
California Performance Co., a new brand from The Urgent Company, has teamed up with Perfect Day to create V-Whey, the first globally available animal-free whey protein powder.
With their new product, California Performance Co. aims to transform the way the world does sports nutrition by proving that high performance and low environmental impact can work together.
Yes, this could be the answer to those looking to beef up while being friendly to the environment.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: okay, so they got the protein from other sources. What’s the big deal?
Well, what you’re forgetting is that this is not just any protein, but whey protein, meaning…
It Contains Actual Milk Proteins, But They Aren’t Produced by Cows
As you know, whey and casein are the two types of protein found in cow’s milk. They are often used for bodybuilding because these proteins are particularly rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which makes them great for muscle growth and repair.
And how’s this for a mind-blaster: the proteins in V-Whey are actual milk proteins, but they weren’t produced in a cow.
Instead, it’s produced by fermentation in a process that I’ll elaborate on later. This means that not a single cow nor any other animal for that matter is involved in the production process, making it truly animal-free.
Despite this…
Its Milk Proteins are Biologically Identical to the Proteins Found in Cow’s Milk
According to its creators, the milk proteins found in V-Whey are biologically identical to the ones found in cow’s milk.
This is why, Perfect Day said, that they “deliver the same creamy, melty, silky taste and texture of conventional dairy that plant-based alternatives just can’t match.”
Interestingly, its creators say these proteins are also nutritionally identical to the milk proteins found in cow’s milk.
One important thing to note is that since both types of proteins are molecularly identical, customers with a dairy allergy should avoid any product made with Perfect Day animal-free protein.
It Offers 23g of Protein & 5g of BCAAs Per Serving
People typically consume whey protein to build muscles, and if they’re like me, they want the best bang for their buck when purchasing supplements.
Well, V-Whey offers an impressive 23g of protein and 5g of BCAAs per serving.
For the unversed, BCAAs are a group of three essential amino acids – leucine, isoleucine, and valine – that are commonly taken to boost muscle growth and enhance exercise performance.
It’s Free From Lactose, Cholesterol, and Hormones
In addition to combating the downsides of factory farming, V-Whey is produced in such a way that it remains free from many of the unwanted ingredients we try to avoid when shopping for supplements.
This includes lactose, cholesterol, hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Note that while bioengineering is part of the process used by Perfect Day in producing the animal-free whey protein, the protein powder does not contain GMOs.
It Has a Smaller Environmental Footprint Than Conventional Whey Protein Isolate
Interestingly, whey used to be considered a waste product. After all, it’s most commonly created as a “leftover” after curdling milk to make cheese or yoghurt.
In the past, dairy farmers often used it as fertiliser or to feed hogs.
But now that they’re commonly used as protein supplements, energy-intensive processing is frequently carried out to refine and dry whey into a protein supplement, contributing to its environmental footprint.
The great thing about the non-animal whey protein ingredient found in V-Whey is that it creates up to 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, uses up to 99% less water, and uses up to 60% less non-
renewable energy, compared to traditional dairy production.
More notably, animal-free whey also cuts out the greenhouse gases emitted by livestock, which is a significant contributor to the climate crisis.
As California Performance Co. says, this way, you don’t have to choose between performance and the planet; you can have both.
It’s Made From Microflora
Now for the not-so-secret secret you’ve been dying to know: how the heck is this made?
Central to this innovative process is microflora, which is defined as “the set of microorganisms that cohabit a multicellular organism.”
It can be found in many places, including our gut. The flora that is used here comes from soil.
The coolest part of the production process is that the makers have found a way to “teach” microflora to create animal-free milk protein.
They do this by giving a digital version of the milk-making genetic blueprint from a cow to the microflora.
And just like cows, flora needs food to produce milk proteins, so they’re fed simple plant sugars.
The flora then undergoes fermentation, which converts the plant sugars to milk proteins.
Voila!
There are Three Flavours to Choose From
As we all know, flavour is inarguably the most important part of a good protein shake.
Reader: Uh, what about the protein quantity or BC-
Fortunately for us, California Performance Co. has three delicious flavours to choose from:
- Chocolate Brownie
- Mixed Berry
- Vanilla Sundae
And if you’re wary of packing on the pounds, you’ll be happy to learn that two of the flavours – Chocolate Brownie and Vanilla Sundae – have no added sugars.
All California Performance Co. products are also gluten- and soy-free.
It’s Available for Purchase in the US, Singapore, and Hong Kong
V-Whey first launched in the US, and is now available to buy from Singapore and Hong Kong.
The good news is that you can order it right now and get it delivered to your doorstep.
Each Flavour Costs $39.99, With Free Delivery for Orders Over $75
That’s right, all three flavours are available online for S$39.99. Each package will contain around 15 servings.
And if your order is over S$75, then you’ll get free delivery as well.
So, what are you waiting for? Join the animal-free club and get swole in the process!
This article was first published on GoodyFeed.com and written in collaboration with California Performance Co.