Regardless of your age or profession, you need protein in order to function, grow, and develop properly. This nutrient makes up nearly 20% of the body and is found in all living cells. These days, you may want to try a cleaner and safer protein supplement. Keep reading our High Impact Plant Protein review to find out if this product is worth paying for.
Choosing The Right Protein Blend
While many of us come across the term ‘protein’ daily, very few of us understand the differences behind the various types of protein. Not only are they classified by their source — animal or plant — but they are also classified by their amino acid content.
Although many people feel animal protein is more beneficial to the human body, plant protein is starting to become extremely popular.
If you were considering the plant protein craze, the is a good chance you have stumbled across Tony Horton’s newest creation — High Impact Plant Protein.
With a name like Tony Horton on the jug, it is easy for someone to feel confident that it is a quality supplement. Still, it is important to know what you are putting in your body, especially since all protein powders are made differently.
What Is High Impact Plant Protein?
As if Tony Horton has not done enough for the fitness community the past 15 years, he has now kicked it up a notch with his latest offerings through Power Life. This is a company aiming to provide effective supplements for fitness enthusiasts.
Best known for creating P90X, the intense home DVD program that got everyone in your family fit back in the day. Horton is also an author, actor, influencer, and high-profile personal trainer.
Horton and his team have come up with several products, including protein powders, such as this one and High Impact Whey Protein, an endurance supplement, a digestion supplement, and more.
If you have been searching for a new vegan protein blend with added benefits, Power Life is a good place to look. The company does not overload you with an unnecessary amount of protein like most supplements, and they also include a variety of extra ingredients to enhance the benefits.
How Much Protein Do We Need Each Day?
There are a wide variety of things that factor into the amount of protein someone needs each day, including their age, metabolism, health status, and level of activity they engage in daily.
For the average person, you should be aiming for anywhere from 0.36-0.60 grams of protein per pound (lb) of body weight. For someone that weighs 200 pounds, anywhere from 72-120 grams of protein each day would suffice.
If you are an active person, you can stretch the amount of protein to 1.0-1.2 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Though this should be under supervision, as high protein intake can strain your kidneys, and other organs, instead of leading to building muscle mass.
With that being said, it is a common myth that the more protein you get, the better. Excess protein does not do anything for us except getting stored as fat. The excess amino acids you consume, which are the true powerhouse behind protein, just get excreted from the body.
If you do not want to waste your money, do not focus on getting as much protein as possible. Focus on getting the right amount of protein each day — no more, no less.
The Difference Between Animal And Plant Protein
In addition to making sure you get the right amount of protein each day, you should also be mindful of what type of protein you are consuming. Animal protein, as the name suggests, is sourced from animals while plant protein is sourced from plants.
In terms of protein supplements, you have likely heard of whey and casein. These are both popular because they are animal-based. Since these types of protein contain all nine essential amino acids, they are often preferred among fitness enthusiasts.
On the other hand, plant protein powders (like pea, soy, flax seed, chickpea, rice, pumpkin, and bean) have to be combined to form a complete protein. This one contains the nine essential amino acids.
Nonetheless, plant-based proteins are also regarded as easier to digest and are better for those with a sensitive stomach. Often, people looking for healthy digestion will choose these powders because they require fewer digestive enzymes.
Are There Any Disadvantages To Plant Protein?
While there are several digestive benefits when choosing a plant-based protein powder, there are also some disadvantages. First of all, you will have to get used to the taste and texture, which is a little less smooth than whey.
In addition to that, plant protein powders are generally more expensive than animal-based proteins and often contain a higher amount of carbohydrates per serving.
If you are not buying a plant-based protein blend, then you will likely be leaving out some important essential amino acids.
High Impact Plant Protein Claims And Guarantees
Before we break down the ingredients and understand the true nature of this formula, we like to take a look at the claims and guarantees the company makes regarding the supplement. It helps us determine whether or not you are getting what you paid for.
Here are the various claims and guarantees made with High Impact Plant Protein:
- A unique blend of plant-based proteins
- All nine essential amino acids in a complete protein
- Safe for daily use
- More ingredients for enhanced digestion and lean muscle maintenance
- Added antioxidant benefits to promote overall wellness and support healthy digestion
- Improved amino acid transportation throughout the body for muscle development
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Better body composition, muscle strength, and muscle recovery
- Non-GMO, free of hormones, and free of antibiotics
There is a lot to like about this supplement from what we see listed above, but that does not exactly give us the whole story with this formula.
We have to dig deeper and understand what is inside the formula that contributes to these claims.
High Impact Plant Protein Ingredients
High Impact Plant Protein is not like most protein powders. They give you a little extra pizzazz in each serving, aside from just the plain old protein we are used to seeing.
The added ingredients are meant to make the protein easier to digest and improve our body’s ability to use the protein as well.
Here we are going to take a look at the five main ingredients inside this formula — Plant-Based Protein Blend, HMB, Vitamin D3, Prohydrolase, Chlorella, and Chromium.
Let’s get started.
Plant-Based Protein Blend
The plant-based protein blend in High Impact Plant Protein contains five different types of protein. These include pea protein, mung bean protein, pumpkin protein, sunflower protein, and flax protein.
Like we mentioned above, each type of protein has its amino acid composition and therefore has its benefits.
Flax Protein
A nutrient-rich, high in omega-3s, and rich in fiber and lignans type of protein. It improves cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and regulates blood sugar.
Sunflower Protein
This one reduces inflammation, helps lower cholesterol, helps repair muscle tissue, and aids the digestion process. It also contains omega fatty acids and vitamins and minerals.
Pumpkin Protein
A nutrient-rich protein with tons of omega-3’s and omega-6’s. It also regulates blood sugar and blood pressure, improves sleep, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and promotes a healthy heart.
Pea Protein
It has high amounts of all essential amino acids minus methionine, improves digestion, aids in muscle repair, and has a good taste to it.
Mung Bean Protein
Another nutrient-rich protein that is loaded with antioxidants, and lowers cholesterol, regulates blood pressure, and aids the digestion process as well.
This blend is vegan-friendly with high-quality protein and is digested by the body much easier than whey protein. It will also contain all nine essential amino acids, just like an animal-based protein would.
HMB
Benefits: Improves muscle growth and helps maintain lean muscle mass, helps you control weight, and enhances protein absorption in the body.
Source: Beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate occurs naturally in the body during the breakdown of leucine, an amino acid present in most types of protein.
Recommended Dosage: 1,000-3,000 mg per day.
Side Effects: no known side effects when recommendations are followed.
Vitamin D3
Benefits: Essential for bone growth and remodeling, helps regulate calcium and phosphate levels, is required for neuromuscular and immune function, and reduces inflammation.
Source: also known as cholecalciferol, this is a type of Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin that we get from sunlight exposure, but is also found in fatty fish, cheese, and eggs, among others.
Recommended Dosage: 600-800 IU per day (15-20mcg).
Side Effects: upset stomach, weakness, and frequent urination when taken in high doses.
Prohydrolase
Benefits: Promotes a healthy nutrient absorption particularly with protein, enhances the availability of amino acids and reduces discomfort we feel when consuming protein.
Source: a digestive enzyme blend that contains Bacillus subtilis and Ananas comosus.
Recommended Dosage: 10 mg for every gram of protein consumed.
Side Effects: nausea, diarrhea, cramps, headaches, neck pain, congestion, swelling, and rashes when taken in high doses.
Chlorella
Benefits: Full of antioxidants, boosts detoxification and the immune system, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, regulates cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Source: a form of algae that grows in freshwater, most likely from Taiwan or Japan.
Recommended Dosage: 2,000-3,000 mg per day.
Side Effects: nausea and stomach discomfort when taken in high doses.
Chromium Picolinate
Benefits: Enhances the body’s response to insulin and nutrient absorption, might help you lose weight, reduces hunger, and regulates blood sugar levels.
Source: an essential trace mineral commonly found in broccoli, grape juice, turkey breast, potatoes, green beans, liver, and brewers’ yeast.
Recommended Dosage: 20-35 mcg per day.
Side Effects: stomach problems, low blood sugar, and kidney or liver damage when taken in high doses.
High Impact Plant Protein Nutrition
The back of the label has all the nutrition facts, ingredients, and directions for use listed. However, you can also take a look at the nutrition facts since we have already gone through the ingredients one by one:
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
Dosage
Each jug contains 15 servings (28-gram servings), and each serving is one scoop. For best results, the supplement company recommends you take it every day. Particularly on days that you exercise, as muscles require protein to grow and maintain.
Pricing
You will need two jugs to last you a month, with each jug costing you $70. You can save 10% by purchasing three jugs at $134.85 ($44.95/jug) or save 16% by purchasing 6 jugs at $254.70 ($42.45/jug).
Additionally, you can use this link to save up to 40% on your order. Remember that you can always return the product if you are not happy, but make sure to do so 90 days from the day it was shipped.
High Impact Plant Protein Pros vs. Cons
With so many different protein powders on the market today, it is common for consumers to have a difficult time finding the right one.
If you came across High Impact Plant Protein, you will definitely have some pros and cons to consider, as it is common with all supplements.
Pros
- Tony Horton and his Power Life brand come with credibility
- Enhances strength, muscle mass recovery, body composition, and endurance when working out
- Although it contains plant proteins, it is also a complete protein as a whole
- Utilizes pumpkin, yellow pea, flax seed, mung bean, and sunflower protein
- Non-GMO, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free
- HMB helps improve muscle growth and recovery
- Vitamin D3 is essential for bone health
- Chlorella reduces oxidative stress and improves the immune system
- This protein contains digestive enzymes designed to aid in absorption and digestion
- Low in calories, fat, carbs, cholesterol, sodium, and sugars
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- 15 grams of protein per scoop
- Free shipping on orders above $50
- Safe for daily use
Cons
- Extremely expensive, especially for a protein powder, even for a plant protein powder
- We would like to see more research on HMB to fully get behind its effects
- Need two jugs to last you one month (waste of material)
Claims vs. Reality
Earlier in this review, we talked about the various claims and guarantees of High Impact Plant Protein. There is certainly a lot to like about it, but we also wanted to view the ingredients behind all the hype.
Now that took a look at that and have a pretty clear idea of what to expect from this protein powder, it is safe to say that they stuck to what science has been showing us.
This powder is in fact a complete protein thanks to the five different plant-based proteins it contains. It is safe to use and has various added benefits thanks to Chlorella, Chromium Picolinate, Prohydrolase, Vitamin D3, and HMB.
At the same time, High Impact is easier to digest than most protein powders and provides the body with extra antioxidants and nutrients.
To top things off, the company honors its 90-day money-back guarantee.
Overall, it is a quality protein powder that does what it is intended. We do not have any complaints there.
High Impact Plant Protein Review: Final Verdict
The world of protein powders continues to grow every year as more companies create formulas that are ‘better than the rest.’
The truth is there is no secret, one-size-fits-all protein powder, and they all have their downfalls.
In terms of quality protein powders, this is definitely one of them. High Impact Plant Protein utilizes a plant-based blend that most powders do not use. It is also a complete protein, so you do not have to worry about that.
The added ingredients are truly what you are paying for because that is the main reason the price is so high. In addition, you pay for Tony Horton’s name on the front.
We think these “extra” ingredients help improve the benefits of the powder, but it is still more expensive than alternatives.
If you have the money and are a Tony Horton follower, it is worth a try. Start with one jug to see if you like the formula. If you enjoy it, you can save money by purchasing multiple jars in advance.