Orgain is one of the most popular protein powder brands, especially for vegetarians and vegans, as the brand is one of the premier plant-based protein brands.
But does Orgain protein powder contain an effective protein dose for muscle-building? Does it have any unhealthy additives? Why did our product tester dislike it? And which retailer sells Orgain for the best price?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Orgain protein powder to give our take on whether or not it's effectively dosed, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll share our honest experience trying it, and provide a cost breakdown to show which retailer sells Orgain for the best price.
Key takeaways:
- Effective protein dose
- Dramatically improved formulation
- We do not currently recommend Orgain protein powder
Orgain Protein Powder Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Orgain Creamy Chocolate Fudge protein powder are shown below:
Organic Protein Blend provides 21 grams (g) of protein per serving, which is an effective dose for building muscle.
A medical review on dietary protein established the effective range to be at or above 20 g per serving for maximizing muscle protein synthesis.
Orgain has dramatically improved the formulation of this product, from a health perspective, since our initial review.
Organic natural flavor replaced natural flavor (which has legitimate health questions).
Organic stevia extract replaced erythritol, which is clinically shown to be associated with increased stroke risk, as we documented in our Pure Protein Bars reviews article.
Overall, we consider Orgain Protein Powder to be effectively formulated and there are no ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
We do not currently recommend this protein powder due to the (somewhat "processed") ingredients like rice dextrin and high oleic sunflower oil. We prefer simpler protein powder formulations such as a single-ingredient organic hemp protein
We Tried Orgain Protein Powder Ourselves
One of our product testers named Hannah Westerman tried the Natural Unsweetened flavor of Orgain Protein Powder. Here's her experience:
The powder did not mix well. It made everything very thick and grainy. I tried the powder in overnight oats and a smoothie and both turned out unsatisfactory.
The smoothie was so grainy and frothy that it was hard to drink. The overnight oats got so thick and gloppy they were inedible.
It had a nutty taste and due to the texture it tasted somewhat "peanut buttery." Not my favorite.
I feel like I got enough protein, but due to the texture and taste, it wasn't worth it.
I didn't experience any side effects from this product.
I think this product could be fine if you like to bake with protein powder - make breakfast bars or desserts with more protein, but note that it will impact the texture.
Overall, I'd rate this product a 2/10, and I don't plan to purchase it in the future.
Does Vegan Protein Powder Contain Lead?
A non-profit organization called the Clean Label Project published a landmark study in 2018 which analyzed contaminant data from 138 off-the-shelf protein powders.
The organization reported that plant-based protein powders had higher lead levels than protein powder sourced from animals.
We understand that some consumers are vegan or vegetarian for ethical reasons, and for those consumers, we consider Orgain to be a better-than-average choice.
For omnivores, whey protein powder is (in our view) a healthier option than vegan protein powder due to lead content.
A YouTube creator named "Unnatural Vegan" discusses the lead content of vegan protein powders in a well-researched and engaging video for those interested:
Where to Get the Best Price
Orgain protein powder is sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of updating this article:
Brand website: $37.99 (link)
Walmart: $26.99 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $27.49 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
Orgain protein powder is around 10% cheaper on Amazon than Walmart, and around 30% cheaper on Amazon than the brand's website when factoring in shipping fees.
Our Clean Vegan Protein Pick
Anthony's Organic Hemp Protein is our top vegan protein pick.
It's extremely nutrient-dense, providing 25% of the Daily Value (DV) of iron and 8% of the DV of potassium. This shake contains no additives.
Customers Rate Orgain Protein Powder
Orgain Protein Powder Chocolate Fudge flavor has been reviewed over 50,000 times at the time of writing this article, which is an impressive amount.
The average rating on Amazon is 4.6 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review of this protein powder from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Danny A. Escalante” who claims that the product is a healthy option for consumers with food allergies:
“While it doesn't contain as much protein per scoop as other competitors, it offers a great choice for those who are like me and have severe food allergies, but still want their protein. A good product that has the potential to be great”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Amanda Grey” who is concerned about some of the additive ingredients:
“‘Natural Flavors’ is not freaking organic or healthy or RIGHT! Why does it even need, natural flavoring??? Aren't the ingredients they are using quality and healthy??? Shouldn't they actually taste good as is and not need a chemically produced Sugar Additive called Erythritol”
Orgain Protein Powder Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Orgain protein powder in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective protein dose
- Dramatically improved formulation
- No ingredients of concern
- Should support muscle-building
- High ratings on third-party websites
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- May be higher in lead than whey protein
- Contains "processed" ingredients like sunflower oil and rice dextrin
- Our Product Tester disliked taste and texture
