Top 10 Hemp Protein Powders of 2020: Buyer’s Guide for the Best Supplements

Protein powders have been around for decades, with most consumers more familiar with the use of whey proteins. However, the use of cannabis Sativa plants, hemp protein has become more popular, offering a higher amount of amino acids for individuals that want a meat-free option as their choice for protein.

Along with its vegetarian-friendly status, it contains very little sugar and high amounts of fiber, which makes it the perfect pairing for individuals looking to lose weight along while working out. The amino acids also make it a helpful ingredient for anyone that wants to improve their brain's cognitive performance in the process.

For anyone that is looking to lose weight and improve their mental strength in the process, here’s a list of some of the top hemp protein supplements available today.

The Rankings: 10 Hemp Powder Supplements to Watch

Let’s take a look at 10 hemp protein powders that stand out on the protein supplement market today, starting with the #1 ranked product – Organic Hemp Pro Fiber from Manitoba Harvest.

Manitoba Harvest: Organic Hemp Pro Fiber

Manitoba Harvest’s Organic Hemp Pro Fiber powder easily mixes with many fruits, greens, and vegetables to create a smoothie or another recipe in which protein is needed. To give the purest source possible, the only ingredient that consumers will get out of this product is hemp powder. There are no other ingredients or additives unless users purchase the chocolate or vanilla option. With 13g of fiber in each serving, users will improve their digestive health and reduce their hunger pangs.

This brand is associated consistently with high-quality supplements, and they don’t drop the ball with their hemp blend either. In fact, all of the hemp protein comes from cold-milled seeds with 100% wind energy, making it just as good for Mother Nature as it is for their customers.

The Organic Hemp Pro Fiber, now called Hemp Yeah!, can be found on Amazon, offering a 27-serving bag of the unsweetened version for $26.13.

Terrasoul Superfoods: Hemp Protein Powder

Terrasoul Superfoods’ Hemp Protein Powder uses a cold-pressing technique to get the most nutrients from every particle. Other companies have used hexane (a chemical solvent) that has been found in soy protein powders, but the cold-press method prevents any unnecessary chemicals from entering the user’s body.

Formulated primarily for use in post-workout recovery, it has a high content of essential amino acids, which are necessary to build proteins. The formula offers magnesium, iron, zinc, and healthy fats, as well as fiber, making it a well-rounded supplement with more than just protein to offer.

You can find this item while it is in-stock at Amazon. If it is sold out, the official website carries both one-pound and three-pound bags for $14.99 and $35.99, respectively. Plus, consumers can get a 15% discount by ordering five value-sized packages.

LeanHemp: Hemp Protein Powder

Directly from LeanHemp, this protein powder includes a total of 20 amino acids, using 100% organic ingredients. Along with the use of hemp powder, consumers can also find maca root powder in the formula for a well-rounded formula. All of the hemp powder comes from the seeds of the plant, and there’s no THC found in this remedy (which is required by law).

With plenty of fiber, consumers will be able to reduce sugar cravings and feel full after less food than they ordinarily do. This satiety will keep consumers from overeating, inherently causing weight loss. The only downside about this product is that it includes coconut sugar for sweetness, which adds 8g of sugar with every 20g of protein consumed.

The LeanHemp powder can be purchased from Amazon, where consumers have their choice of chocolate, peanut butter, or pure hemp flavors for $24.99.

Nutiva: Hemp Protein

Nutiva’s Hemp Protein powder, straight from Canada, comes back to the purity of hemp, using no other ingredients to give the nutritional benefits hemp has to offer. For anyone that wants a no-frills product, that’s what they’ll get from Nutiva. Advertised as a pre-workout and post-workout solution, consumers will find both omega-6 and omega-3 to get a well-rounded effect that the muscles need.

All of the hemp from this powder is extracted from raw hemp seeds, which have been cold-pressed to preserve their nutrients and to circumvent the use of chemicals instead. With a nutty flavor, consumers will easily be able to find recipes that work with it, including smoothies, shakes, yogurt, and more.

The easiest way to purchase the Nutiva Hemp Protein is by visiting Amazon, which offers up to 48 ounces of the powder in a canister for $34.24. Cheaper sizes are available, but the sizes are smaller.

Sunfood Superfoods: Raw Organic Hemp Protein

The Raw Organic Hemp Protein from Sunfood offers 15g of protein in every single serving, as well as 7g of fiber, 2g of omega-6, and less than a gram of omega-3. The formula is easy to digest, made with cold-processing, and offers a similar nutty flavor to Nutiva’s option. With a boost for the metabolism and even the heart health, of the user, this remedy can replace any protein powder that the user presently has in their diet.

The creators recommend several recipes, particularly stating that the use of this powder is delicious with cashew milk, bananas, maca, and other sweeteners to help create a balanced and palatable flavor. However, consumers don’t have to restrict their use of the hemp protein to these options, since it can be mixed with nearly any recipe for a protein boost.

Consumers can purchase the protein powder from Amazon, which offers the 8-ounce bag for $12.99. Individuals that want to stock up a little more can purchase the 2.5-pound canister for $47.60.

Just Hemp Foods: 50% Hemp Protein Powder

The 50% Hemp Protein Powder from Just Hemp offers very little information online about their product, apart from 100 percent Canadian sourced hemp processed and packaged in a GFSI certified facility. Manufactured in Canada, the Just Hemp brand does state that the hemp supplement is certified as gluten-free also so it may or may not be the product for consumers that prioritize these types of sources. A call to the company may be able to answer further product questions before choosing to purchase.

While Amazon does not presently have the Just Hemp Foods powder available at the moment, it can be found through several other retailers as well (like Walmart and iHerb) for $6.98.

Bob’s Red Mill: Hemp Protein

This Hemp Protein Powder has 14g of plant-based protein in each serving. It's stated on the official website that “organic ingredients are used whenever feasible and by definition, foods that are Certified USDA Organic are made only with ingredients that have not been bioengineered”, which means that the processing may involve chemicals that consumers won’t want to ingest. Either way, users will still support their body’s need for protein with a source that is exclusively a great source of iron and dietary fiber and is vegan-friendly, Vegetarian, Paleo Friendly, High in Fiber and as Kosher Pareve.

The brand – Bob’s Red Mill – is incredibly particular to details, taking immense care in the way that they source and process every ingredient to protect consumers from cross-contamination. As an added note to consumers, Bob's Red Mill hemp protein powder is manufactured in a facility that also uses tree nuts, soy, wheat, and milk but with the care they take, they are able to significantly reduce the risk to consumers with food allergies and exposure to common allergens.

For $11.59 and up, consumers can find it on Amazon in 16 oz. bags.

Nature’s Way: EfaGold Hemp Protein and Fiber

Nature’s Way is a well-known supplement brand that has created individual vitamins, as well as multivitamins and formulas for prenatal support, immunity, and more. Their creation of the EfaGold Hemp powder makes the use of hemp a little more mainstream with a brand that consumers are rather familiar with.

The product is incredibly high in fiber, which is most likely due to the source of the hemp seeds. Still, that being said, individuals that are more focused on getting enough protein from their remedy instead of fiber may not get what they need.

From Amazon, the total cost of the 16-ounce canister is $12.51.

Evo Hemp: Hemp Protein Powder

Evo Hemp is one of the newer brands on the market today, launching its own hemp protein power to keep up with the demand from the rest of the supplement market. Like a few others on this list, the source is not certified to be organic, but it will offer equal amounts of 15g of protein in each serving. There are no other ingredients, however, ensuring that consumers are able to get the benefits of the raw enzymes that are naturally present in hemp.

While it is a good source of hemp regardless, some customer reviews state that the powder doesn’t mix well with drinks. For individuals that don’t mind this texture, they can purchase it from the official website for $11.99, or you can purchase from Amazon.

Foods Alive: Hemp Protein

The last hemp protein brand on the list – Foods Alive – has been around since 2002, and they’ve centered around many high-quality foods and creating sustainable practices. While the brand isn’t specific to hemp-based foods, they still try their luck with the hemp protein powder that they’ve developed. The powder can be integrated into smoothies and shakes, though it also a great mix-in for baked goods, oatmeal, and cereal.

To purchase this supplement for $12.70, consumers can visit Amazon.

Who Can Benefit from Hemp Protein Powder?

The quick answer to that question is – everyone! Hemp protein powder is an excellent source of nutrients for most people, especially individuals that want to lose weight. While whey protein powder has the disadvantage of being based on animal sources, anyone that follows a vegan lifestyle will get the hemp that their body needs without compromising their diet.

Hemp has many benefits as a protein, primarily focusing on recovery from a workout, though the boost for the metabolism is enough for most people to be enticed. It also includes support for the brain, improving cognitive performance for better memory and better focus.

Consumers with a medical condition may not want to use a hemp supplement. Even though the law requires no more than trace amounts of THC to be present, there is not enough research to show the impact that hemp can have on children and pregnant women.

Anyone that presently has to take medication as part of their regimen will need to speak with their doctor to ensure that this formula won’t change the effectiveness of their prescription.

How the Rankings Work

When it comes to ranking the best hemp protein powders on the market, sugar content is considered first. Most hemp powders have to include a sweetener because they lack the same pleasant flavor that most whey protein powders offer. Still, the majority of these products use less sugar, which is more helpful for weight loss.

Purity was the next factor to be considered since there are far too many products on the market that are filled with unnecessary ingredients and chemicals that compromise how effective the remedy is. None of the formulas on this list have unnecessary ingredients.

Finally, organic certification was considered. Though no certification was not causing for being eliminated from the list, it did affect how high on the list that these formulas were placed.

Benefits of Using Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is offered as a vegan option for so many consumers because of the immense benefits it offers, starting with the fiber content. When individuals are working to lose weight, they need protein and fiber to achieve this correctly, and hemp protein offers an adequate supply of both. While some sources of protein are far too high in sugar, hemp protein hardly has any sweetness at all, which is helpful to the weight loss process and keeping blood sugar levels down.

As stated above, another key benefit of hemp is the impact it has on cognitive performance, as it contains tyrosine. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is commonly used as a way to increase mental performance, especially when the body is dealing with highly stressful circumstances. Tyrosine has been linked to improved memory retention, making it extremely helpful as a morning remedy as well.

Side Effects of Hemp Protein

For the most part, hemp protein powder is considered to be just as safe as other protein powders. Even in high amounts for elite athletes, there have been no side effects recorded.

The only risk that consumers will typically deal with is due to the potential THC content found in hemp, though in amounts of less than 0.3% THC. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA, and CBD is still being researched, so there isn’t any way of screening these formulas necessarily for THC before they hit the market. Though these products on the list are vetted as best as possible, there’s a risk of a small amount of THC.

Considering the low amount of THC permissible by law, actually consuming enough to experience an effect from the THC is almost impossible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hemp Protein

Q. What is hemp protein powder?

A. Hemp protein powder is a nutritional source of protein that is less concentrated than whey protein at 50% of the weight, though it is exceptionally high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Q. Why is hemp protein powder effective in weight loss?

A. Hemp protein has nearly equal amounts of fiber and protein, which is the ideal balance to promote weight loss. It also contains less sugar than other sources, reducing the glucose levels for the user that would otherwise become new stored fat.

Q. Can hemp protein be safely used with other medications?

A. Anyone that is taking medication would be better off in discussing the use of hemp protein powder with their doctor since the risks have not been broadly researched. That sentiment also applies to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Q. Is it safe for children?

A. Since children don’t require the same amount of protein as adults, they likely won’t need to supplement their proteins. However, consumers that want to give their children this protein may want to speak to a pediatrician first.

Q. What are the risks of consuming too much hemp protein powder?

A. There’s a high amount of fiber in hemp, which is likely what will affect the body the most if the user has more than what is recommended. Too much fiber will likely cause distress to the GI tract, while too much protein can put nearly every organ at risk. The hemp itself, however, carries no inherent risk. Follow the exact instructions of all of the supplements on this list to avoid these unwanted effects.

Q. When is the best time to take hemp protein powder?

A. For the best results, take the hemp protein powder two hours after a workout for recovery, or first thing in the morning for the mental performance benefits.

The Bottom Line

Hemp protein has the unique ability to improve protein and fiber intake amounts in the body in a way that is helpful for weight loss. The ten hemp powdered supplements on this list are some of the best products on the market and using them in smoothies and other recipes make it an easy and tasty way for consumers to get all of the benefits of a hemp protein. These meat-free, hemp protein solutions work for individuals who are trying to lose weight, though it can be consumed by anyone who needs more protein in their diet.