What Protein Powder is Best for the MIND Diet?

The MIND Diet is a hybrid of the Mediterranean Diet and the DASH Diet.

The main concept of the Mediterranean Diet is to eat non-processed foods.

The main concept of the DASH Diet is to consume a diet for Hypertension (High Blood Pressure).

Lets do a quick review of foods that are good for the MIND Diet and Foods to Avoid:

Tips on Finding a Protein Powder for the MIND Diet:

1.) Avoid protein powders with sweeteners:

When it comes to protein powders, most protein powders you find will contain a form of a sweetener – either natural (e.g. Stevia) or artificial (e.g. Sucralose, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Saccharin, Xylitol, etc.).  To optimize the MIND Diet – you don’t want your protein protein powder to contain any of these sweeteners!

2.) Try to find protein powders without additives:

Most protein powders will contain flavors, fillers, or ‘enriched’ ingredients to make their nutrition facts labels look better.  Be sure to look at the ingredients label.  You should only being seeing a few ingredients of foods you know and recognize.

3.) Try to find protein powers with minimal processing:

Many protein powders are heavily processed to remove parts of the original food item that don’t have as much protein as other parts of the food item that are heavy in protein.  If you take a look at a whey protein isolate powder, here is typically how it is made:

1. Start with Milk (whey comes from dairy)
2. “Whey” is 1 part of the milk that is processed out through similar processes of making cheese.
3. This is then dried and turned into a powder.

4. Whey protein “isolate” is just processed even further than whey protein concentrate.

4.) Find Protein Powders made of approved MIND Diet Foods

Find protein powders that are made from the very ingredients that you are supposed to be eating with the MIND Diet (e.g. Beans, Nuts/Seads, Whole Grains, etc.)

So What Protein Powder is Best for the MIND Diet?

The protein that works the best for the MIND diet is called Smoothie Protein from My Nutrition Advisor [link].

Smoothie Protein contains four ingredients that are all approved for the MIND diet.  In other words, this protein powder is perfect for the MIND diet.

1. Pea Protein powder
2. Amaranth flour
3. Quinoa flour
4. Sacha Inchi powder

2 scoops of Smoothie Protein contain 22 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrate and 0.5 grams of fat.

Pea Protein Powder

Peas are considered legumes, which are approved foods in the MIND diet.  Pea protein is easy to digest and is hypoallergenic.  Peas are a vegetarian protein source and are packed with branched chain amino acids.

Amaranth Flower

Amaranth is considered a superfood grain that was cultivated and eaten as a staple food by the Aztecs.  It has a good protein content is high in amino acids.  Amaranth does NOT contain gluten.  It is full of antioxidants which give health benefits including cancer prevention, supporting cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, diabetes (type 2) and gastrointestinal support.

Quinoa Flour

Quinoa is known as a superfood grain that was cultivated and used as a food staple by the Incas in South America.  It was grown in high altitudes and has high levels of antioxidants.  It is considered a complete protein.  Quinoa is linked to the prevention of breast cancer, diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation and headaches.  Quinoa does NOT contain gluten.

Sacha Inchi Powder

Sacha Inchi is from South America and is from the peanut family.  It contains omega 3 fatty acids and has a high protein density.  Sacha Inchi is associated with lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, cardiovascular problems, diabetes (type 2) and inflammation.