Faye & Shmel
Faye Faye
Hey Shmel, I’ve been looking into plant‑based proteins that help muscle recovery without all the heavy processing, and I heard some eco‑friendly brands might actually boost performance. Got any thoughts on balancing sustainability with the kind of gains you chase?
Shmel Shmel
Yeah, I’ve tried a few of the eco‑friendly lines. Pea protein’s a solid start – it’s pretty clean, no weird additives, and the amino‑acid profile is decent, but it’s still lower in leucine than whey, so you’ll need to push the grams up. Hemp can be great for omega‑3s, but the taste can be a bit earthy and it’s less concentrated. Brown‑rice protein is another option if you want something that’s high in BCAAs, but it’s a bit more gritty. The trick is to keep the overall macro ratio on point and to track how your recovery feels. If you’re mixing plant proteins, I usually blend pea with hemp or a small scoop of brown‑rice to hit a better amino‑acid balance. Just keep an eye on the protein quality, avoid any over‑processed blends, and stick to brands that source locally or use renewable packaging. That way you get the performance edge and the sustainability win.