NOW Sports - Pea Protein

I heard people like Truvani's and Just Ingredients vegan protein powders.... but they are too expensive in my opinion to justify getting them (like $60 for i think 20 servings). I personally prefer unsweetened and unflavored protein powder [https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Nutrition-Absorbing-Unflavored/dp/B00JL6ZKFE?th=1](https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Nutrition-Absorbing-Unflavored/dp/B00JL6ZKFE?th=1) at least that way I am in control of the other ingredients I am using. If you are a smoothie/ milkshake fan and don't want to add protein powder, you can add seeds/ nuts to your stuff and maybe some PB powder if you like the flavor? If I am having an upset tummy day, I just keep it simple and add pumpkin seeds, chia, flax, and walnuts (and any other nut I may have on hand) to my shakes and that makes me feel pretty full.

I feel so boring, but I like using just plain ole pea protein powder (unflavored) either from NOW Nutrition or Anthony’s, and mix it with frozen banana, and alternate what I add to it based on what I have on hand like : cacao powder, peanut butter, homemade hemp milk , etc.

Plain pea protein for me. I can make anything from spicy veritable shakes to mango smoothies.

This was the last one I bought: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JL6ZKFE](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JL6ZKFE) I've tried a bunch of different brands, and they're all pretty much the same as far as I could tell. I like it because it's so flexible ... I can make it sweet if I want to, but that's not the default. The hopelessly GenX in me even made spicy Bloody Marys with it (no vodka). :D

Owyn is delicious, but there was quite a bit of shadiness about lead/heavy metals when I was looking into protein powders so I ultimately just use the plain pea protein from Now vitamins. Maybe mixing that equal parts with sugar and a cocoa powder of your choice?

Well, I told my doctor I’ve been having roughly 3 portions of Now foods pea. protein every day for the last seven years she suggested I come in for a blood test…. So I’ll be getting that on Monday.

Yes. At that level you are consuming much lead. I have been consuming Now foods pea protein powder about 3 servings a day for 7 years and recently added their sprouted brown rice powder to balance the lysine and methionine ratios (basically what Naked’s Mass that Consumer Reports actually tested does.) the article cites pea protein as being generally worse. You are likely consuming close to 15 mcg of lead per day. I am more in the dark since Now was not tested. I wrote my doctor but have not heard back yet. Considering a blood or hair test. I also wrote Now Foods. I doubt they will disclose so I will perhaps send some of my own supply to a lab . In the meantime I am back on more chicken and salmon and laying off the powder. Yesterday I drank a ton of milk and ate so whey based bars. I like whey a lot but it makes me cough a bunch . Plus vegetable protein is easier on the planet. I might try Casein and see if I tolerate that better. This really sucks

My lead blood tests came back clean I heard back from Now and they wrote boilerplate without any numbers, which of course might vary some from lot to lot but I would still like to know… I am still curious to get some powder samples tested, but I am no longer worried about it > From: ProductInfo \ Sent: Monday, October 20, 2025 2:04 PM\ Subject: JG RE: Pea and Brown Rice Protein heavy metals   > > Thanks for sharing your concern. >We test every product in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and laboratories. Over 31,000 tests/analyses are performed every month on raw materials/ingredients, in-process ingredients, and finished goods. Strict specifications are set for each test performed to ensure clean and safe quality products. We test for identity, purity, E coli, listeria, salmonella, yeast, mold, and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury). Pea protein is quite low in lead,  as is the Sprouted Brown Rice Protein.  However, we do not have lot specific information to provide consumers due to the massive volume of testing performed each day (>1,000 tests) on all our many products.     > See attached response and more info here: [Quality & Safety at NOW | NOW Foods](https://www.nowfoods.com/quality-safety)

I am more in the dark since Now pea protein was not tested, but it seems pea in general accumulates heavy metals when it grows. Probs part of its metabolism. SMH. I have been consuming about 3 servings of Mow pea that for 7 years. Recently added some sprouted brown rice to balance methionine and lysine. No telling what those levels of lead have done I wrote my doctor but have not heard back yet. [EDIT: my doctor put me in for a blood test. I haven’t had any pea protein for the past 36 hours, so I guess I’ll have some tonight and tomorrow and then go in for the test and see what I’m doing to myself], I also wrote Now Foods. I doubt they will disclose so I will perhaps send some of my own supply to a lab . In the meantime I am back on more chicken and salmon and laying off the powder. Yesterday I drank a ton of milk and ate some whey based bars. I like whey a lot but it makes me cough a bunch . Plus vegetable protein is easier on the planet. I might try Casein and see if I tolerate that better. This really sucks [Edit: Link to my update. https://www.reddit.com/r/workout/s/MqPWwbo2ur ]

I have been consuming roughly 3 helpings of Now Foods Pea protein (unflavored) daily for the past 7 years. This product was not tested by consumer reports. I wrote Now foods and my doctor with my concerns. My doctor ordered a blood lead test for me. The results came back < 2.0 mcg/dl which is below the “normal” level by Kaiser standards. There is no safe level, but the US CDC’s reference level is 5 mcg/dl. Now Foods wrote this back to me > We test every product in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and laboratories. Over 31,000 tests/analyses are performed every month on raw materials/ingredients, in-process ingredients, and finished goods. Strict specifications are set for each test performed to ensure clean and safe quality products. We test for identity, purity, E coli, listeria, salmonella, yeast, mold, and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury). Pea protein is quite low in lead, as is the Sprouted Brown Rice Protein. However, we do not have lot specific information to provide consumers due to the massive volume of testing performed each day (>1,000 tests) on all our many products. Not super useful without knowing how their specifications translate into mg of lead per portion, but in conjunction with my low levels consuming a lot of portions daily, I feel confident in the product.

I’ve been using the Now Sports pea protein! I do unflavored and add cocoa/stevia if I drink it on its own, but usually do a scoop in my smoothie each morning! The flavor isn’t wonderful, but the fruits mask it well!

AFAIK, these are good for lower/no metals - * Garden of Life / Garden of Life RAW Organic Protein * Naked Nutrition Pea Protein * NOW Sports * NutriGold * Orgain / Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein * Vega