There are a lot of vegan protein powders out there (you can check out our favorites in our best vegan protein powders roundup), but Innermost does things a little differently. Instead of making plain protein powders, the company has four specialized options (The Fit Protein, The Strong Protein, The Lean Protein, and The Health Protein) that are targeted toward different health goals.
Here, we’ll be digging deeper into The Health Protein, which, according to the brand, is designed to support your immune system, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidants that can help support general health and overall wellness. In this Innermost The Health Protein review, we’ll share our thoughts on the formulation and highlight our personal experience with the protein powder.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
We’ve Tested More Than 100 Protein Powders
We’re a group of certified nutrition coaches, certified personal trainers, and professional athletes, and, collectively, our testers have personally tried more than 100 protein powders. When testing these powders, we put them through a rigorous supplement testing methodology that includes rating them on several different factors, including quality and dosage of ingredients, company transparency, third-party testing, taste, and solubility (among other things). In addition to our personal testing, we rely on expert advice from dietitians, certified nutritionists, and other subject-matter experts. The bottom line? We never recommend anything we wouldn’t take ourselves.
Innermost The Health Protein
Innermost The Health Protein
Product Highlights
- Multi-source vegan protein powder
- Added ingredients for immune support
- Formulated by nutritionists
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Added ingredients to to support immune system
- Vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, soy-free, and halal
- Packaging 100% recyclable
Cons
- Added ingredients to to support immune system
- Vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, soy-free, and halal
- Packaging 100% recyclable
Bottom Line
Innermost The Health protein powder is an expensive vegan protein powder with high protein content and great taste.
A Quick Look at Innermost The Health Vegan Protein Powder
As mentioned, Innermost has four targeted protein powders and The Health is the general wellness blend. Its main ingredients are pea and brown rice protein, but it also has added superfoods like acai berries and medicinal mushrooms that are designed to provide more nutrients.
It has 31 grams of protein per serving, which is a good amount for a plant-based protein powder, but one important consideration is that a serving is defined as four scoops, while most protein powders have one- or two-scoop servings. In addition to protein, it provides 2.5 grams of carbohydrates, 1.4 grams of fat, and 1.1 grams of fiber.
RELATED: Plant-Based Protein Powder vs Whey
Before You Buy
- Each bag only provides 13 servings at the recommended dose, making this a costly option.
- There are three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
- It contains sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener known to cause GI distress in some people.
- You can save 20 percent by subscribing to recurring deliveries.
Is Innermost The Health Protein Worth It?
At $3.46 per serving, The Health is one of the most expensive protein powders we’ve tried. We do think it’s a good option for plant-based eaters who are looking for a lean protein, but whether or not it’s worth it really depends on what you’re looking for.
You can certainly stretch your dollar by cutting your portion in half. In doing so, you’d get about 15.5 grams of protein per serving, which is more in line with other vegan protein powders. But that can lessen some of the appeal for those looking for a high-protein supplement.
If you just want a little protein boost with some added superfoods, this could be a good option, but we do think there are more cost-effective protein powders that are just as good (if not better).
Great for:
- Those who want a lean vegan protein
- Anyone who wants additional nutrition support from the superfood ingredients
- People who don’t mind paying a higher price
Not recommended for:
- Those who prefer smaller serving sizes
- People on a tighter budget
- Anyone who wants to avoid artificial sweeteners
Innermost The Health Protein Specs
| Price per serving | $3.46 |
| Serving size | 40 g (4 scoops) |
| Calories per serving | 150 |
| Flavors | Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry |
| Protein content | 40 g |
| Fat content | 1.4 g |
| Carb content | 2.5 g |
| Notable ingredients | Pea protein, brown rice protein, glutamine, shiitake, maitake, reishi, cordyceps, bilberries, camu camu, acai berries |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
Experience Using Innermost The Health Protein
Lauren Strong, certified personal trainer and GGR staff writer, tested the Innermost The Health Protein and rated it on several factors—including formulation, taste, solubility, side effects, third-party testing, and price—all of which are laid out in detail in our extensive supplement testing methodology. Here are her thoughts.
Price Per Serving
This protein powder is expensive. If you stick to the recommended serving size (which is a hefty four scoops, by the way), the cost breaks down to $3.46 per serving. Because of this, Lauren gave it a 1 out of 5 for price.
Formulation
As mentioned, this particular protein powder is formulated for well-being, according to the brand. Overall, we really like the formulation.
This is a high-protein vegan protein blend that comes from pea protein and brown rice protein. It also contains 3 grams of glutamine, plus medicinal mushrooms (shiitake, maitake, reishi, and cordyceps), bilberries, Camu Camu, and acai berries.
Lauren gave it a 5 out of 5 for formulation, saying “If you’re counting macros, this is a super lean protein; you get 31 grams of protein per serving. Only 150 calories, too.”
Most of the calories come from protein, which is why we named it the best vegan protein for muscle growth. It also contains all of the essential amino acids and 12 grams of branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, which may help support muscle growth and post-workout recovery, according to Laila Ouldibbat, RD.
We also like that it’s gluten-free, GMO-free, and soy-free. We could do without the artificial sweeteners, though; it’s sweetened with sucralose but we think they could have easily used a natural option like stevia or monk fruit, especially at this price point.
Taste and Solubility
Let’s face it: It can be hard to find a great-tasting plant-based protein powder. Many of them are earthy and grainy, and unless you’re a vegan or vegetarian who’s used to the taste, you may not like it as much as a smoother whey protein powder.
This one is no different, and Lauren gave it a 3 out of 5 for taste.
“This brand is not the worst plant-based protein I’ve tried. It has an earthy flavor but it’s not offensive. I mixed this with cold water and didn’t gag drinking the entire 8 ounces,” she says.
We know that’s not the highest praise, but a 3 isn’t so bad compared to some of the other vegan protein shakes we’ve tried. And for what it’s worth, Lauren says she finished the bag of Innermost and it was not left in the back of the pantry for a rainy day.
As for solubility? Lauren gave it a 4 out of 5, saying that it was a little grainy at first, but when she shook it more, it was fine. It got pretty smooth and wasn’t too thick or thin (even just with water).
Side Effects
This protein went down smoothly and Lauren said there were no issues, giving it a 5 out of 5. Both pea and brown rice proteins are typically well-tolerated, but check for allergens or personal sensitivities before taking Innermost The Health Protein to make sure it works for you.
Third-Party Testing
Innermost says they test all products during the manufacturing process, getting full certificates of analysis (COAs) for everything. But they don’t specify who does their testing and we can’t find any lab results on their website. Because of this, Lauren gave them a 2 out of 5 for third-party testing.
Innermost The Health vs KOS Organic Plant Protein
KOS Organic Plant Protein
KOS Vegan Protein Powder
Product Highlights
- Multi-source vegan protein powder
- USDA-certified organic, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO
- Digestive support via DigeSEB to help maximize absorption
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Manufactured in the USA
- Superfood-infused
- 20 g protein per serving
- Chocolate flavor is rich
- Enhanced with digestive support enzymes
- Under $1.50 per serving
Cons
- Customers say it has a gritty/chalky flavor
- Some users reported protein gave them stomach issues
- Reports of strong sweetness and bad aftertaste
Bottom Line
KOS is a vegan protein with a lot of positive reviews, but a number of people experienced stomach issues using this protein powder.
The KOS Organic Plant Protein scored a little higher during our testing than The Health protein (it got a total score of 4 out of 5, while The Health got a 3.6). The biggest driver here was the price—KOS is about half the price per serving. Each serving only provides 20 grams of protein compared to the 31 grams in The Health.
The macros are also significantly different. The Health is much leaner, with 31 grams of protein, 1.4 grams of fat, and 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per serving. The KOS Plant Protein has only 20 grams of protein, but 7 grams of fat and 9 grams of carbs. Based on this, The Health is a better option for those following a low-carb lifestyle.
If you want to learn more, read our KOS Vegan Protein review.
| Innermost The Health | KOS Plant Protein | |
| Price per serving | $3.46 | $1.79 |
| Serving size | 40 g (4 scoops) | 39 g (2 scoops) |
| Calories per serving | 150 | 160 |
| Flavors | Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry | Chocolate, vanilla, chocolate peanut butter, salted caramel coffee, unflavored |
| Protein content | 31 g | 20 g |
| Fat content | 1.4 g | 7 g |
| Carb content | 2.5 g | 9 g |
| Third-party tested? | Yes | Yes |
Customer Experience
Innermost isn’t the most generous with its return policy, but the company does give you 14 days to return the protein if you’re not happy with it. As long as you notify them within 14 days of getting your shipment, they’ll give you a full refund to your original form of payment.
Many reviewers say that, overall, the customer service has been excellent, too. Because of this, Lauren gave it a 4 out of 5.
Ordering Innermost The Health Protein
There are two options when ordering from Innermost’s website: a single purchase or a subscription. If you sign up for the subscription, you’ll get 20% off all deliveries. If you opt for a one-time purchase, you’ll pay full price.
Shipping is surprisingly hefty. If your order is less than $150, you’ll pay $15 for shipping. Spend more than $150 and shipping is free. With so many companies offering free shipping—or at least much lower-cost shipping—we think this is a bit unreasonable.
Customer Reviews
The customer reviews for this protein powder are overwhelmingly positive, but it’s not currently available on Amazon so we could only see the reviews that are published on the brand’s site (liveinnermost.com). You can’t see them all, though, and there’s no option to filter to the less-positive reviews either, so we’re taking this with a grain of salt.
That being said, reviewers say they love the flavor and that it has a high amount of protein for a vegan powder. They also say it has a great texture when added to smoothies.
We think this review sums up most of our own thoughts nicely: “Really nice protein powder, the taste is great, blends well (on high settings). Only downside is the small package size; there are only 13 servings in this 520g pack. Would be good to have bigger options available to order.”
Final Verdict of Our Innermost The Health Protein Review
Overall, we think the Innermost The Health Protein is a pretty decent protein powder. It’s not the best protein powder out there, but it does the trick. If you want the additional superfoods and don’t mind paying a higher price, it could work for you.
Full Rating
Innermost The Health Protein
Innermost The Health protein powder is an expensive vegan protein powder with high protein content and great taste.
Product Brand: Innermost
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 44.95
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.6
Innermost The Health Protein: FAQs
What are the ingredients in Innermost The Health Protein?
The active ingredients in Innermost The Health Protein are pea protein, brown rice protein, glutamine, shiitake, maitake, reishi, cordyceps, bilberries, camu camu, and acai berries. It also contains guar gum, sucralose, and natural flavors.
What protein powder is best for weight loss?
High-protein diets have been connected to weight loss1, so in theory, any protein powder could help. But research also shows that whey protein is more bioavailable than vegan proteins and may be the most effective at improving overall body composition2. Ideally, you’ll also want to choose a protein powder that doesn’t have added sugar or other ingredients that can work against your weight loss goals.
At the end of the day, protein powder is only one part of the equation. You also need to make sure you’re eating a healthy diet and exercising.
What vegan protein powder does Barry’s use?
According to a TikTok video posted by the fitness studio in November, Barry’s exclusively uses the Promix protein powder. They have both vegan and whey options available.
What’s the difference between lean and whey protein?
The Lean Protein from Innermost Health is formulated for weight loss. It’s slightly lower in protein (29 grams compared to 31 grams) but has similar macros otherwise. The main difference is in the other active ingredients. The Lean Protein has inulin (a prebiotic fiber) and acetyl L-carnitine, a compound that’s been shown to help reduce fat mass and body weight3. It also contains bilberries and yerba mate, which has also been shown to help decrease body fat percentage4.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
1. Moon, J, Koh, G. Clinical evidence and mechanisms of high-protein diet-induced weight loss. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2020;29(3):166-173. doi:10.7570/jomes20028
2. Sepandi, M, Samadi, M, Shirvani, H, et al. Effect of whey protein supplementation on weight and body composition indicators: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022;50:74-83. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.05.020
3. Talenezhad, N, Mohammadi, M, Ramezani-Jolfaie, N, Mozaffari-Khosravi, H, Salehi-Abargouei, A. Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;37:9-23. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.03.008
4. Kim, SY, Oh, MR, Kim, MG, Chae, HJ, Chae, SW. Anti-obesity effects of Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015;15:338. doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0859-1
