This post was created as part of a paid partnership with Naked Nutrition. The content and opinions are my own.
As a dietitian who loves lifting weights and living an active lifestyle, I’m a big fan of the benefits of vegan protein powder and always keep a tub stocked in my pantry.
While I eat plenty of tofu, beans, and nuts for protein, I love being able to easily add a scoop or two of protein powder to my morning smoothies and overnight oats for a balanced breakfast. When I meet friends for dinner after a strength training workout and have trouble finding a high-protein option, I’ll often supplement with a protein shake when I get home.
While plant-based foods can provide us with more than enough protein, I appreciate the flexibility that protein powder offers when trying to meet certain nutrition goals.
To help you choose the right protein for your needs, I tested and reviewed the Naked Nutrition Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake and have shared my thoughts below.
A brief overview: Naked Nutrition Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake
Naked Nutrition is known for its simple, effective supplement formulations, including plant-based protein powders.
They also offer Naked Shakes, which are basically flavored versions of the Naked Pea protein powder meant to be blended with water or milk to make a tasty protein shake.
I tried the Pumpkin Spice protein powder flavored with a combination of coconut sugar, cinnamon, and natural flavors. Each serving provides 20 grams of pea protein and 130 calories, making it an easy way to meet your protein goals.
This shake is non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free, making it a good fit for a variety of dietary preferences.
Nutrition profile
I was really impressed by the nutrition profile of this powder.
I typically recommend choosing a protein powder with at least 20 grams of protein if your goal is to build muscle, and the Naked Shake meets this guideline.
Why do I recommend this? The International Society of Sports Nutrition1 (ISSN) recommends getting 20-40 grams of protein per meal and snack in order to optimize muscle growth.
They also recommend getting 700-3000 milligrams of leucine, a branched-chain amino acid. Naked Shake provides 1775 milligrams of leucine per serving, falling well within these recommendations.
RELATED: Vegan Sources of BCAAs
The rest of the macros are excellent as well, being low in carbs and fat. This is great for people looking to increase their protein intake while also trying to burn excess body fat, as it provides an excellent protein boost without a ton of extra calories.
To be clear, I’m in no way saying that carbs or fat are bad for you. We need to consume a balanced diet with protein, carbs, and fat for optimal health. That said, protein supplements that are low in the other two macronutrients are particularly helpful when eating a higher protein diet required for building muscle or losing body fat without losing too much muscle.
I was also happy to see that the saturated fat content is still low even with the addition of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
Another thing that stuck out to me was the iron content. Plant protein powders are some of the best iron-rich vegan foods, and Naked Shake is no exception. With 7 milligrams of iron per serving, it’s one of the highest sources I’ve seen.
Ingredients
Some protein powders contain ingredients I find unnecessary, such as fruit and vegetable extracts and digestive enzymes. I don’t need all of that when I’m just looking for a convenient source of protein, so I appreciate the simpler ingredient list in the Pumpkin Spice Naked Shake.
It’s made with:
- Pea protein
- Coconut sugar
- Natural plant-based flavors
- MCT powder (MCT oil and acacia)
- Cinnamon
- Potassium chloride
- Fermented cane sugar (Rebaudioside M, a non-caloric natural sweetener typically found in stevia leaves)
Naked Nutrition adds MCT powder to help with satiation and support weight loss goals. Honestly, I could take or leave the MCTs. There are only 3 total grams of fat per serving, so most of the satiating benefits of this shake come from the protein content rather than the small amount of MCTs.
Coconut sugar adds needed flavor and sweetness. Rebaudioside M, adds more sweetness without extra calories or the need for artificial sweeteners.
RELATED: Pea Protein vs. Soy Protein: How Do They Compare? – Thyme to Go Vegan RD
Taste & consistency
I loved the balance of flavors in this pumpkin spice protein powder. I could definitely tell that it was meant to taste like pumpkin spice. When blended with water, the cinnamon and other spices really shine.
The spices didn’t come through as strongly when I blended it with soy milk, but it still had a nice pumpkin flavor.
This protein powder is slightly grittier in consistency compared to some other brands, but that’s to be expected with the simplified ingredient list. It wasn’t unpleasant at all, just noticeable. If you want a creamier consistency, I’d recommend blending it with non-dairy milk instead of water.
Final thoughts
Overall, I was impressed with the excellent protein content, low added sugars, and high iron content of the Naked Nutrition Pumpkin Spice Naked Shake. I appreciated the simplified yet effective ingredients list and loved the versatile, festive spiced flavor.
It wasn’t the creamiest protein powder I’ve tried, but that’s okay. Considering its impressive nutrition profile and great flavor, I’d definitely consider purchasing it in the future. It’s easy to get bored with plain vanilla or chocolate protein powder, so a pumpkin spice option would provide much-needed variety.
I’d recommend it for vegans and plant-based eaters who:
- Are trying to build muscle
- Want to minimize muscle loss while trying to lose weight
- Need a tasty, convenient option for adding protein to oatmeal, smoothies, baked goods, and more
Curious about other protein supplements? Check out Are OWYN Protein Shakes Healthy? (An RD’s Review)
The scientific information in this article was accurate at the time of publishing but may change over time as new research becomes available.
References
- Jäger R, Kerksick CM, Campbell BI, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:20. Published 2017 Jun 20. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8
