Ingood by Olga spotlights plant-based pea protein opportunities in sports nutrition

15 Jan 2024 --- Plant-based proteins may offer a viable and more environmentally friendly alternative to animal-derived proteins essential for recovery post-workout. Nutrition Insight speaks with Claire Boniface, the marketing and communication manager at Ingood by Olga, about the nutritional benefits of its Peakara protein derived from upcycled European yellow pea and the growing interest among physically active consumers.

“Peakara is an innovative pea protein that is nutritionally self-sufficient,” Boniface highlights. The product is 55% pea protein and a complete source of amino acids, containing 4% sulfur amino acids per 100 g of protein. The FDA’s Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score for Peakara is one, a score rarely achieved by plant-based proteins.”

Claire Boniface, the marketing and communication manager at Ingood by Olga.“Peakara has a protein composition different from other plant-based proteins found in competing products on the market,” she continues. “It is closer to that of dairy protein with a complete source of essential amino acids. Although pea is known to be low in sulfur amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, it is rich in lysine and hence is recommended to combine with cereal proteins.”

Sports recovery nutrition 
Discussing the benefits of pea protein in post-workout recovery, Boniface explains that “As a complete source of Essential Amino Acids (EAA), at 45.8% per 100 g of protein, Peakara can play a role in muscle recovery.”

She outlines that the efficiency of protein synthesis in the body depends on the quality of the proteins consumed, pointing out that active people and athletes are advised to increase their protein intake. 

“With a recommended daily intake of 1 g per kilogram of body weight, it can reach 2 g per kilogram of body weight per day for athletes,” she explains. “During long and intense exercise, amino acids are consumed and broken down to produce the energy needed for exercise.” 

“They are essential for muscle recovery as they are the key element in rebuilding muscle proteins. For this reason, the amino acid intake is essential to compensate for losses during exercise and to promote muscle recovery.”

Another potential sports benefit of pea protein outlined by Boniface is that it is rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), at 22.4% per 100 g of protein.

“BCAAs, including leucine, isoleucine and valine, are essential nutrients which are vital for muscle repair and recovery. Leucine stimulates protein synthesis, while isoleucine and valine help regulate blood glucose levels to ensure a stable supply of energy during and after exercise.”

She adds that as a pulse, peas are a type of pulse and that pulses are known to be poor in sulfur amino acids, such as cysteine and methionine, but rich in lysine. For this reason, she recommends that they be used in combination with cereal proteins.

She explains that amino acids such as lysine also play a role in regulating tryptophan levels in the brain. “By reducing the amount of tryptophan entering the brain, BCAAs help to reduce fatigue. Thanks to its high BCAA content, Peakara can contribute to a faster and more effective recovery.” 

Boniface argues that Peakara’s omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of one to five may help limit inflammation, which is important to athletes as this group, according to the expert, is most susceptible to inflammatory reactions, such as pain, lesions and fatigue.

Consumer trends 
Boniface shares data from a recent survey conducted by V-label, the Switzerland-based registered seal for labeling vegan and vegetarian products, which highlights the attractiveness of plant-based protein among consumers.

Protein synthesis in the body depends on the quality of the proteins consumed.“According to the V-label study carried out among consumers of sports products in 2021, 71% of consumers say that plant proteins are attractive, placing them ahead of whey protein, which 69% say are attractive. In addition, the study highlights that pea protein is attractive to 59% of consumers.”

“According to the Innova Database, the number of sports nutrition product launches containing dairy proteins decreased annually by 6.8% between 2017 and 2022, while sports nutrition product launches based on plant proteins have seen growth of 9.3%.”

She argues that the growing interest in sports nutrition can be explained by the increase in the number of “active lifestyle” consumers and the expansion of plant-based protein products. “There is a need to develop new protein products for these new targets — vegan products with the same nutritional power but affordable and indulgent.” 

Health vs. taste 
According to Boniface, Peakara is a response to the growing demand for nutritious and plant-based products that do not sacrifice indulgence. “Research conducted in 2022 shows that 56% of global consumers say they have switched from traditional snacks such as chocolate and confectionery to high-protein, low-sugar alternatives in the past 12 months.”

“Although consumers are turning to sports nutrition products, there are still some concerns.”

One of the main concerns of consumers, highlighted by Ingood by Olga, regarding such products, is that organoleptic properties could be improved. “This is highlighted by the fact that 37% of global consumers who buy such products are concerned about the aftertaste of high-protein snacks.”

“Taste is still a barrier to the consumption of plant-based options, which are often eaten out of conviction rather than for pleasure,” Boniface argues. “Peakara can be incorporated into a wide range of protein-enriched products without affecting taste, offering a wide range of potential flavor associations.”

By Milana Nikolova