Not all protein is created equal: why gfBar PROTEIN uses hemp
Most protein bars are built on milk. We went for hemp from a farm in Devon. Here’s why – including what hemp protein can’t do.
Marek Veselý
founder of gfBar
Say “protein bar” and most people picture something dense, very sweet, with a big number on the wrapper. Inside, usually whey or casein – proteins from milk – plus sweeteners to make it edible.
We put something else into gfBar PROTEIN: hemp protein.
Where it comes from
Our hemp protein comes from Good Hemp, from their farm in Devon in the south-west of England. They work with seeds from industrial hemp, the varieties with no psychoactive effect.
The process is simple. The seeds are pressed to release their oil, and what’s left is finely milled into a green-brown powder full of protein. No chemical isolation.
What hemp protein does well
It has all nine essential amino acids. Those are the ones the body can’t make itself and has to get from food. There aren’t many plant sources that have all nine.
It isn’t one of the major allergens. EU rules list 14 allergens that must be highlighted on the label, and hemp isn’t among them. The protein contains no milk, lactose or soy, so it suits people who don’t get on with whey.
It brings fibre along. Whey protein is almost pure protein. Hemp protein carries some of the seed’s fibre with it.
It actually tastes of something. Nutty and earthy. With wild blueberries and 100% cocoa, it makes sense.
What it doesn’t do
To be fair: hemp protein has less lysine than whey, so its amino acid profile is a little weaker by comparison. If you eat a varied diet and get protein from pulses, grains, eggs or dairy as well, you don’t need to worry about it.
How much protein is in gfBar PROTEIN
Hemp protein makes up 22% of the bar. gfBar PROTEIN contains 21.7 g of protein per 100 g, which is high in protein. That’s 6.2 g per bar and 12.4 g per box.
Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass. After training, 20–30 g of protein is the usual recommendation, so a box of PROTEIN is a good start rather than a whole meal. What to eat before and after training is covered in Fatigue in sport.
The rest of the bar is what every gfBar is built on: wild blueberries from Nova Scotia, dates and chicory syrup. PROTEIN has a dark coating made with Felchlin chocolate from 100% cocoa from Suhum in Ghana. No added sugars, gluten-free.
