Let’s start this debate with this thought: food before protein powder… always. 

If you or a family member is going to use a protein powder then you should be aware of the following:

• Whey isolates extracted from grass fed dairy using cold filtering processes are what I like to refer to as ‘Clean protein powders.’  Many protein powders that are on the market are full of fillers and making people have digestive, skin and hormonal issues- sugar, artificial sweeteners and things I cannot even pronounce are often found in these large containers.
• Too much protein – whey or food – will cause the body to become acidic.  Acidity causes an inflamed body and that causes illness.

Pea protein offers a viable alternative.

• The advantage over whey products is primarily for those who may have a lactose intolerance (which is actually a surprisingly high percentage of the population; they just don’t know it). It is obviously also suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
• Pea protein is more alkaline and less acid on the kidneys.
• Peas and pea protein isolates are two different animals. One is the whole food which has the carbohydrates and more. The other is just the protein which has been extracted. In fact humans cannot even access the protein in legumes so the protein in peas on their own is really a waste of time. The inhibitor is overcome in the isolation process which makes the pea protein isolate bioavailable.
• Some clean proteins use isolation processes that are patented water based enzyme process which does not denature the protein at all. They have certification of 86%+/- 2% protein content in the pea protein isolate.
• The amino acid profile of some pea protein isolate is very similar to whey and in some cases higher. It has the same high digestibility of 98%.
• The lectin free status is great news for those on a Paleo diet because legumes are usually high in phytic acid and lectin. In the isolation process however all the lectins and almost all of the phytic acid are removed.
• Overall it is the hypoallergenic nature of pea protein that appeals. It is gluten free, soy free, dairy free, lectin free and non GMO.

See A Healthy View for ‘clean’ protein powder recommendations.