Guide
How to choose a good plant protein
A good plant protein label states protein per serving plainly, hides no blend, only claims "complete" if it shows the amino acids, compares honestly to trial doses, cites research on the actual ingredient it contains, and discloses price and testing — measured here against our own label.
A good plant protein label answers six questions without making you guess: how much protein is in a serving, whether any blend is hiding individual amounts, whether a "complete protein" claim is actually backed by an amino acid profile, how the dose compares to what's been studied, whether a cited study is even testing the same ingredient you're buying, and what you're paying per gram of protein. Here's the checklist, run against our own label like any other.
1. Is the protein amount printed per serving, plainly?
Some labels state grams per scoop, others per serving of two or more scoops, which makes side-by-side comparison harder than it should be. Our panel states 21 g of protein per two-scoop (34.7 g) serving — it doesn't break that down to a per-scoop number, so if you want a per-scoop figure you have to estimate it yourself (roughly 10.5 g, halving the total).
2. Is there a hidden blend, or is every ingredient's role visible?
A "proprietary blend" line groups several ingredients under one total weight, hiding how much of each you're actually getting. Our label has no blend paragraph — Fava Bean Protein Isolate, YESTEIN™ Fermented Nutritional Yeast Protein, cocoa, flavor, MCT oil powder, apple pectin, salt, lecithin and stevia are each printed as their own line. Individual gram amounts for the ones after the two proteins still aren't stated — that's normal for a protein powder, not unique to us.
3. Is "complete protein" backed by an actual amino acid profile?
A protein source is complete when it supplies all nine essential amino acids in meaningful amounts — and the only way to check that from a label is if the label shows the numbers. Ours doesn't print an amino acid breakdown, so we don't call this blend "complete," even though it combines two protein sources. If a label claims "complete protein" or "all essential amino acids" without showing the amino acid numbers, that claim isn't something you can verify — treat it the same way whether it's on our label or anyone else's.
4. How does the dose compare to the trials?
The clearest dose-related finding available is from a 2018 meta-regression of 49 resistance-training trials (1,863 adults): added protein helped up to about 1.62 g of total daily protein per kg of body weight, and stopped helping above that. Our 21 g serving is one contribution toward that total, not a stand-alone dose meant to hit it — see our dosage guide for the full math.
5. Is a cited study even testing the same ingredient?
This is the trap worth knowing before you trust any "backed by research" claim on a fava-bean-based protein powder. Two 2023 trials tested a Vicia faba (fava bean) peptide network — an enzymatically hydrolyzed fraction selected for a specific biological activity, given at 2.4-20 g/day — and found it matched milk protein for preserving muscle during immobilization and improved strength recovery after exercise damage. That's a real result, but it's not evidence about a fava bean protein isolate powder like ours: same bean, differently processed ingredient, different dose, different research question. A study on one form of an ingredient is not automatically evidence for a different form of the same plant, ours included — we don't apply those two studies to our product, and any label that does is stretching the citation further than it goes.
6. What's the price per gram of protein, and is it independently tested?
Divide the bottle price by total grams of protein (grams per serving × servings) to compare brands on protein cost rather than sticker price. Ours works out to about $0.11 per gram of protein, on a bottle priced as low as $54.47 on a three-bottle subscription ($2.27 a serving, 21 g protein a serving). We do not hold a third-party heavy-metal or purity certification on this product — a real concern in this category, since independent testing has previously found detectable heavy metals in some pea and rice protein powders — and we're not going to claim "tested" or imply a badge we don't have.
Our label against the checklist
| Check | Our label |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving, printed plainly | Yes — 21 g per two-scoop (34.7 g) serving; no per-scoop figure printed |
| No hidden blend | Yes — every ingredient is its own line, no proprietary-blend paragraph |
| "Complete protein" backed by an amino acid profile | No — no amino acid breakdown on the panel, so we don't use the term |
| Dose vs. the trials | 21 g is one part of the ~1.62 g/kg/day total-protein ceiling the largest trial found, not a stand-alone target |
| Cited research matches our actual ingredient | The closest fava-bean trials tested a peptide hydrolysate, not our protein isolate — not applied to our product |
| Third-party testing | None held on this product |
Questions people ask
How do I find a good plant protein?
There's no single answer, but there is a consistent way to check any candidate — run it through the six items above. A label that states protein per serving plainly, discloses every ingredient, only claims "complete" if it shows the amino acids, compares honestly to the trial doses, cites research on the actual ingredient it contains, and is priced and tested transparently has done what it can do.
What are good sources of plant protein?
As whole food: legumes (soy, lentils, chickpeas, fava beans), grains (quinoa, oats), and nuts and seeds (hemp, pumpkin) all contribute meaningful protein. As a powder, the "best" source depends on what you're checking it against — see the six criteria above rather than any single ingredient name.
Which plant protein is best for muscle gain?
Soy has the most direct head-to-head research matching animal protein for strength and lean-mass gains. Other plant sources, including fava bean and pea, have less direct comparative data — see our plant protein benefits review for what's actually been tested.
Where can I buy plant protein?
Our Plant Protein (Chocolate) is available at electrictigernutrition.com, as low as $54.47 on a three-bottle subscription.
Sources
- Effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. PMID 28698222.
- Vicia faba Peptide Network Supplementation... Increases Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates During Remobilization. PMID 37277162.
- Improved Strength Recovery and Reduced Fatigue... Following Supplementation of a Vicia faba Hydrolysate. PMID 36839344.
- Electric Tiger Plant Protein (Chocolate) Supplement Facts: product page.
Sources
- A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults In 1,863 adults doing resistance training, extra protein (mixed forms/doses) added about 0.3 kg more lean mass and 2.5 kg more strength than training alone.
- Vicia faba Peptide Network Supplementation Does Not Differ From Milk Protein in Modulating Changes in Muscle Size During Short-Term Immobilization and Subsequent Remobilization, but Increases Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates During Remobilization in Healthy Young Men In 30 young men, a 20 g/day fava bean peptide network (an enzymatic hydrolysate, not the protein isolate we sell) matched milk protein at preserving muscle during 7 days of immobilization and raised muscle protein synthesis during recovery.
- Improved Strength Recovery and Reduced Fatigue with Suppressed Plasma Myostatin Following Supplementation of a Vicia faba Hydrolysate, in a Healthy Male Population In 30 healthy men, a 2.4 g/day fava bean hydrolysate (a different, more concentrated ingredient than the protein isolate we sell) improved strength recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
