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This is a sponsored post.
The quest for the perfect protein powder is one that many fitness enthusiasts goal these days. Now, I’m not overly into fitness, but I’m very active, do yoga and tennis, a bit of a running, lots of walking. You know, as much as a busy self-employed mum of two can squeeze into her schedule. Just trying to juggle my best!
Which then brings me to talk about the importance of protein at a certain age. Protein AND all the other nutrients, all equally important. I want to add fibre – especially after 40. Now let’s see how and why. Getting adequate protein and really rich fibre diet is important.
What I, as a vegetarian need to top up is, obviously protein – I’m pretty sure I’m good for fibre, but I’m not always certain I’m getting enough protein. I’m generally trying to pay attention to the balance though. Which is why I’m glad I was asked to review two of the Naked Nutrition protein products: Naked Whey and Naked Pea.
About Naked Nutrition
Naked’s goal is to provide top quality supplements, where every ingredient is sourced with intention, without fillers and artificial additives. The focus is on protein powders (traditional and vegan), but they also have creatine, collagen and glutamine products that are available in the UK. All Naked Nutrition ingredients are sourced from select suppliers, avoid the use of harmful pesticides and farming practices, farms provide Certificates of Analysis, including heavy metals testing, FDA approved and NSF certified.
Naked Whey Chocolate Flavour
Only 3 ingredients: grass-fed whey protein (the cows are grass-fed), organic coconut sugar, and organic cacao powder. Naked Whey comes from grass-fed cows raised so the milk is better quality too. (So is the milk powder.)
Each serving of Naked Whey offers all the essential amino acids needed to build and maintain lean muscle mass. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine, help muscle-protein synthesis to promote muscle growth and recovery after exercise.
It contains 25g protein per serving and 160 calories, zero sugar (no added sugar).
Naked Pea
Naked Pea is made with one ingredient only and that’s yellow split peas grown in Belgium (for the UK market. The Americans are getting home-grown peas for the powder. I’m saying this as I have readers from both sides of the pond). So this product is naturally vegan, sustainable and produced with earth-friendly farming practices. It’s GMO-free (over here in the UK and EU this is not an issue we need to worry about, luckily), additive and gluten free (well, it has just that one ingredient but also no cross contamination possible).
It’s unflavoured, contains 25g protein per serving and 124 calories, zero sugar (no added sugar) and it’s an isolate protein protein powder, so retains roughly 3% to 10% fibre by weight. (Mechanical processing with no chemicals to retain superior amino acid profile.)
It’s easy to digest (it’s just peas!) and we know know that plant protein is just as effective as animal protein.
Why protein and fibre are important part of the diet?
As the body undergoes various changes during this stage of life (peri-menopause let’s name the elephant in the room), understanding the importance of these nutrients can help to make better choices for our bodies.
The importance of protein
Protein is vital for maintaining muscle mass, which tends to decline with age. As women reach their 40s and beyond, it becomes increasingly important to pay attention to our protein consumption to counteract this natural muscle loss. Studies indicate that women can lose up to 5% of their muscle mass per decade after turning 40, leading to decreased strength, mobility, and overall vitality. Adequate protein intake can help mitigate these effects by promoting muscle synthesis and repair. Moreover, protein is crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism. A diet rich in protein can help maintain a higher metabolic rate, which is essential for weight management. This is particularly important as hormonal changes, such as those during peri-menopause and menopause, can lead to weight gain around the abdomen. Protein also plays a role in hormone regulation and the production of enzymes necessary for various bodily functions, including digestion and immune response.
The importance of fibre
Fibre is another crucial nutrient that often doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. It is essential for digestive health, helping to prevent issues like constipation, which can become more common as women age. Fibre aids in promoting regular bowel movements and contributes to a healthy gut microbiome—an important factor in overall health and immune function. Moreover, fibre-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, are low in calories and high in nutrients, making them an excellent choice for weight management. These foods can help control blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes—conditions that become increasingly important to monitor as women transition into their 40s and beyond. High-fibre diets are also linked to lower risks of certain types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. For women over 40, this is particularly significant, as the risk of various health issues tends to rise with age. Aiming for at least 25 grams of fibre per day can help promote health and longevity.
Review: what I thought about Naked Whey and Naked Pea
Known for its minimalist approach to ingredients, Naked claims to offer a clean and effective source of protein without unnecessary additives. In this review, I offer closer look at Naked Whey in Chocolate flavour and the unflavoured Naked Pea. So, I’;m going to share all about the flavours, benefits, and overall value.
Ingredients breakdown
Naked Whey Protein is sourced from grass-fed cows and contains no artificial sweeteners, flavours, or colours, like mentioned above.
The Naked Whey Chocolate has these ingredients: grass-fed whey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, cocoa powder.
The Naked Pea Protein, on the other hand, is derived from yellow peas and is entirely plant-based, has no flavour, so it’s just the one ingredient.
The absence of fillers and additives sets Naked Protein Powder apart from many of its competitors in my view. Other brands often include a quite a lot of ingredients that can perplex us not so scientific humans and to be honest… too many ingredients are ALWAYS a bad sign.
So a brownie point for this.
The flavours
This is obviously deal breaker for many people. Let’s face it, if it’s a daily struggle to get through that 300ml vile tasting something, then it’s not viable, is it?
I tried both of them with just cold water. The unflavoured Pea Powder Protein dissolves better in water, the Naked Whey Protein Chocolate doesn’t really like cold water and remains a tiny bit lumpy, but you just need to whisk it a little bit longer and then it dissolves. I don’t have that fancy little electric handheld foamer thingy, I just used an ordinary kitchen whisk….
Good news is: both the Naked Whey Protein Chocolate and the unflavoured Pea Powder Protein are pleasant for me. People are different. I do have a palate that prefers strong flavours, I love herbal teas, all vegetables, dark chocolate, spicy food, all that. So I am probably in advance.
To me Naked Whey Protein Chocolate was proper tasty, like chocolate milk. Really nice, not too sweet but chocolatey taste, no problem whatsoever. If you have trouble with tastes, go for this one.
Then the Pea Powder Protein. I have no problem drinking this. I’ve heard from others, it can be tricky to consume it for some people, not for me. Totally fine, not saying it’s yummy, but it’s totally fine, like herbal teas, oat milk etc. I’m used to these flavours, I like them. Those, who think plant based milk is not for them because of the flavour – this isn’t for you either. But, vegans and veggies are totally used to these flavours and like them. Me too, obviously.
Now, if you want to jazz the flavour up, it’s possible: you can add it to smoothies, juices and shakes too.
So, another brownie point for the flavour.
Nutritional value
We are looking at different things that are not so different because of sicnece.
Naked Protein Powder is robust regarding nutritional content. For instance, a standard serving of Naked Whey Protein typically contains around 25 grams of protein, the Naked Pea Protein contains 25g of it and negligible fats and carbohydrates. So you can increase your protein intake without adding excessive calories or sugars.
People who are focused on muscle recovery, lean muscle building, or overall protein supplementation, the high protein content paired with low fat and sugar levels is what you want. The presence of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in these protein powders also adds to their value, as BCAAs are essential for muscle growth and recovery.
Brownie point granted – I don’t argue with science proven facts.
Benefits
So we have a good amount protein in these products to top up before or after exercise or just causally adding some of it to our diets (every other day) to keep the protein intake in check. What’s not to like about that?
But, what really stands out to me as a benefit of Naked Protein Powders is their clean ingredient profile. This is especially beneficial for those with sensitive stomachs or those who experience digestive issues with conventional protein powders.
I also value the brand’s commitment to quality sourcing. The grass-fed whey protein also supports sustainable farming practices.
Brownie point again.
Value for money
While Naked Protein Powder may sit at a slightly higher price point than some traditional protein powders on the market, many users find the quality justifies the investment. But the potency of protein per serve and the purity of its contents contribute significantly to its value.
Breaking the price down as
- Naked Whey Protein – £1.07 per serving
- Naked Pea Protein – £1.06 per serving
puts all about the price point into perspective.
So all in all, it’s the same as any good quality vitamins or supplements per serving. The products are available for one time purchase or as a subscription (I think it’s good to offer both).
Would I buy them?
Yes, I would. They taste nice, do what they promise and a pain-free, simple way to add more protein into your diet.