Protein is imperative for muscle growth. A common issue we see with plant-based proteins is that they do not offer a balanced amino acid profile, or meet the optimal dose of Leucine for muscle protein synthesis. Our formula combines pea and hemp protein, plus added additional Leucine and L-Glutamine amino acids, to yield a high biological value protein blend.

Pea Protein Isolate
Pea Protein is a high quality plant based complete protein that contains all nine essential amino acids. It’s the most popular plant based protein for supplements because it’s uniquely rich in branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine and valine for muscle growth and recovery, plus iron and arginine. If you’ve tried pea protein before and found it to be grainy, chalky, earthy and dry, know that we absolutely did too. Our team tirelessly tested pea protein bases until we came across our premium isolate that offered the smoothest texture and neutral flavor.Unlike a lot of standard protein offerings on the market, our supplier, PURIS™ prides itself on reliability and traceability right back to their farmers in the United States of America, because we believe that transparency is a precursor to trust. 

Organic Hemp Protein Isolate
Similar to pea protein, hemp protein is a high quality plant-based complete protein, but it is uniquely rich in the amino acids methionine and cysteine, which are found in lower amounts in pea protein. Together, our unique protein blend offers a more balanced amino acid profile than pea protein alone, and gives it a protein quality rating more comparable with animal protein. We have sourced high quality organic hemp protein from Canadian soils.

Leucine
Leucine is an essential branched chain amino acid that our body needs to build muscle and promote recovery. Research suggests that muscle protein synthesis can be optimized from a meal when there is around 2.5g of leucine in the meal. Most plant based protein powders do not meet this standard, so we have intentionally added additional leucine to our Plant-Based Probiotic Protein Powder to help fill this gap for optimal post-workout recovery.

L-Glutamine
Glutamine is considered a conditional essential amino acid which becomes essential when our body is particularly stressed. Emerging research suggests that L-Glutamine may help aid in post workout recovery, the gut microbiome, and IBS symptoms. We generally need between 5-10g of glutamine daily, but it can be harder to reach this on a fully plant-based diet and folks who exercise may need more. So we “top up” the glutamine that is naturally occurring in our protein blend.

Not all probiotics are created equal. There are millions of probiotic species and specific strains of species, each with uniquely studied benefits. We selected two spore-based Bacillus strains because they’re well studied for their role in improving IBS, constipation, and bloating, without risk of overgrowth. This is why spore-based probiotics are typically recommended for SIBO patients, when other probiotics can potentially do more harm. Optibiome® Bacillus Subtilis BS50 has been specifically shown to increase protein digestion, and reduce bloating, gas, and burping. And Bacillus Coagulans SNZ 1969 has been shown to improve IBS symptoms, gut motility, and the composition of the gut microbiome. Many probiotic strains don’t survive well in a medium like protein powder, so by the time you consume it, those beneficial bacteria may already be dead. If you’ve ever taken a probiotic and found no difference, this may be one of the reasons why. At neue theory, we chose spore-based probiotics because not only are they hearty enough to survive in a medium like protein powder, but because they’re encapsulated in endospores, they’re much better able to survive the trip to your intestine to quickly colonize the gut. They’re also uniquely fast acting. Most probiotic strains require months of consistent “seeding” at high dosages to see a change in symptoms, but because of spore-formers efficiency, they can get to work immediately on a much lower dose. The result? You won’t have to wait to feel the difference! Because nobody’s got time for that.

Whether you have IBS or not, a proteolytic digestive enzyme that helps improve protein breakdown and bioavailability for muscle protein synthesis just makes sense. OPTI-ZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER™ is a blend of proteases and peptidases (31,875 HUT activity) that has been specifically designed for use with pea protein powder. Getting technical, they include Fungal Protease A2 obtained from Aspergillus oryzae [(CAS No. 9074-07-1], Fungal Protease A obtained from A. oryzae (CAS No. 9025-49-4), and Protease AM obtained from A. melleus (CAS No. 9074-07-1). Their research, recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, suggests that it increases amino acid bioavailability and circulating amino acids by 36% compared with the placebo within 2 hours, releasing 225% more BCAAs and 295% more Leucine compared to their top two competitors. The result is that your body is better able to absorb and utilize protein for building and repairing muscle.

Ashwagandha is one of the most well studied and well respected adaptogenic herbs in the health and wellness community.It’s most studied for its role in reducing symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression, stress and cortisol levels, and for improving cognitive health. Ashwagandha also has been studied extensively for improvements in exercise endurance, and muscle growth and strength, making it an essential component of our exercise-recovery protein blend.

Don’t worry, this won’t make your smoothie sour, but it will add a ton of important benefits! Tart cherries are packed with unique anti-inflammatory anthocyanin antioxidants and can help reduce muscle soreness and muscle breakdown, while speeding up recovery post-workout. Our tart cherry powder also contributes a solid dose of Vitamin C (one scoop provides 100% of your daily needs), which can help improve the absorption of the 3 grams of plant-based iron in our formula. Win win!

At neue theory, we know that while performance is important, flavor is really key. No one wants to drink a protein shake that tastes like chalk. So we use real vanilla bean and cocoa powder to provide the optimal flavor experience. To further enhance and compliment the whole food vanilla bean and cocoa powder, we add in a hint of high quality Natural Vanilla and Natural Chocolate flavor. You can read more about Natural Flavors in the FAQ, but in short, unlike standard Natural Flavors that contain ingredients meant to mimic the whole food in question, we chose to use a higher class of Natural Flavors that is made from the actual food it’s intended to taste like. So our Natural Chocolate Flavor is derived from real cocoa, and our Natural Vanilla Flavor is derived from real vanilla. These Natural Flavors are meant to compliment the whole food vanilla bean and cocoa powder in our formula because they are ultimately made from the same base ingredient, rather than another ingredient that simulates that whole food. We have received countless compliments on our flavor profile, so we know this extra attention to flavor makes the difference!

√ Pea Protein-Puris® Pea 870
Country of Origin: USA & Canada
Supplier: Puris

√ Organic Hemp Seed Protein
Country of Origin: Canada
Supplier: Hemp Oil Canada

√ FruitSource® Tart Cherry Powder 
Country of Origin: USA
Botanical Name: Prunus cerasus
Supplier: Advanced Ingredients, LLC

√ Bacillus subtilis BS50 Optibiome®
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Bio-Cat

√ Bacillus coagulans SNZ 1969® 
Country of Origin: India
Supplier: Bio-Cat

√ Optiziome® P³ Hydrolyzer®  
Country of Origin: Japan
Supplier: Bio-Cat

√ ORGANIC COCOA POWDER
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Pure Forbes

√ ORGANIC NATURAL VANILLA POWDER
Counter of Origin: USA
Supplier: Virginia Dare

√ NATURAL CHOCOLATE FLAVOR
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Synergy Flavors, Inc.

√ NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR         
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Synergy Flavors, Inc.

√ COCONUT OIL POWDER
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Balchem Corporation

√ KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract
Country of Origin: India
Botanical Name: Withania somnifera
Supplier: Shri Kartikeya

√ MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Essex Food Ingredients

√ L-Glutamine
Country of Origin: Mongolia
Supplier: Tongliao Meihua Biological Sci-Tech co. ltd 

√ MONK FRUIT / LUO HAN GUO EXTRACT (FRUIT)
Country of Origin: China Botanical
Name: Momordica grosvenori
Supplier: Huancheng Biotech, Inc.

√ L-LEUCINE
Country of Origin: China
Supplier: innoBio

Ginger has been used for centuries as a digestive aid in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and there is now ample evidence to back that up. While there can be multiple co-occurring factors in bloating, poor motility and constipation often do play a role. But among its many benefits, ginger has unique prokinetic effects, meaning it has been shown to increase stomach and intestinal muscle activity to effectively move food along in our GI tract which in turn helps support regularity and digestion. Research suggests that ginger can help soothe nausea, reduce stomach pain, bloating, gas, and cramps, while increasing stomach-protective compounds. We use a ginger rhizome extract with 5% gingerols, which is the active component associated with those digestion supporting effects.

Curcumin is the main bioactive compound that lends turmeric its bright sunny hue- and its impressive anti-inflammatory and antioxidantcapabilities. And while it’s best known for its role in brain and heart health, its polyphenol content has also been shown to support digestion as well by helping reduce IBS-inducing inflammation in the gut. A number of studies have found curcumin to help significantly reduce abdominal pain, bloating and other IBS symptoms while improving quality of life in folks with IBS. And these perks seem to be synergistically enhanced when combined with fennel seed extract (another key ingredient in our Digest & Debloat). According to one randomized control trial in IBS patients, the combination of curcumin and fennel extract helped reduce abdominal pain by 50% in IBS patients. Another study found that the combination significantly reduced IBS severity and improved quality of life. Curcumin is best absorbed with some fat which is one of many reasons why we recommend taking Digest & Debloat with meals.

Fennel seed extract (Foeniculum vulgare) has been used for centuries across cultures as a natural post-dinner digestive aid thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and carminative (gas reducing) properties. Studies in folks with IBS suggest that the combination of curcumin and fennel seed extract can help significantly reduce IBS symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain by up to 50% while improving overall quality of life.

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to support digestive health, likely due to its anti-inflammatory flavonoids that help protect the lining of the gut. Like chamomile, it also has been shown to have antispasmodic effects that help relax the muscles of the upper stomach (which is important for allowing for optimal digestion with stomach acids and digestive enzymes), while increasing the antral contractility (to help ensure food is effectively broken down and emptied from the gut.) These gut activities together help explain research supporting the use of DGL for reducing symptoms of functional dyspepsia like abdominal pain, bloating and heartburn. We only use deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract (DGL) in our formula which retains its other beneficial flavonoid and polyphenol compounds while removing its glycyrrhizin content which can cause side effects.

Chamomile is a powerful, yet gentle herb that offers a number of important digestion-supporting benefits. It’s most widely used in supplements for its antispasmodic effects, helping to relax the muscles in the GI tract to reduce abdominal cramps, gas, diarrhea and other common symptoms of IBS.  Research also shows that chamomile has prosecretory action, meaning it can help support regularity. Please note that while chamomile is very well tolerated, safe and widely used, people with an allergy to plants in the Daisy family should avoid it.

Alpha-galactosidase (α-GAL) is the digestive enzyme responsible for breaking down complex carbohydrates called galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) like raffinose and stachyose into simpler sugars. This is the key active ingredient in popular anti-gas supplements like Beano. Galacto-oligosaccharides are part of the FODMAP class of carbohydrates found in foods like beans, lentils, cruciferous vegetables and whole grains, which when poorly digested, end up fermenting in the gut to cause severe gas and bloating for folks with IBS or sensitive guts. Research shows that supplementing with supplemental α-GAL helped to significantly reduce bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms and decrease bloating. Because we want you to enjoy plants - without the pain.

Lactase is a naturally occurring digestive enzyme that is designed to help break down the sugars in dairy (called lactose) into simpler sugars, glucose and galactose. It’s the active ingredient in commonly used products like Lacteeze and Lactaid, as well as lactose free dairy. While 99.998% of infants are able to effectively break down lactose, by adulthood our own natural capacity tends to wane, resulting in some level of lactose intolerance (or lactase insufficiency) in 65% of adults on average, with some races and ethnic communities almost 100% affected. And if youre part of the majority, you know the struggle of an ice cream sundae all too well. When undigested lactose makes its way to the colon, it is fermented by our gut microbes resulting in bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. But at neue theory, we want you to have that milkshake, or whole milk latte, or cheese board if it brings you joy (and let’s be real, cheese is pure joy). Not to mention, lactose containing foods are an easy and convenient source of important nutrients like protein, calcium, vitamin D, and more. Thankfully, supplemental lactase has been shown to be an effective and safe solution to enjoying dairy by decreasing both clinical markers of lactose intolerance (i.e. breath hydrogen test) and unpleasant digestive symptoms like bloating, pain, gas, and diarrhea. According to an expert panel at the EFSA, there is a cause and effect relationship between lactase supplements and lactose digestion in folks with lactose intolerance, making it one of the most widely used digestive enzymes on the market. Because life is too short to say no to cheese.

We know from ample research that as a prebiotic fiber, inulin offers massive benefits for gut health, heart health and blood sugar management. The downside is that it's notorious for causing painful gas, bloating and abdominal cramps in sensitive folks. As part of the FODMAP fructan family, inulin is naturally found in foods like garlic, onions, green banana, chicory root and sunchokes, but it’s also a mainstay in various low carb bars, drinks, and snacks to help boost their fiber content and reduce their “net carbs”. It’s seemingly everywhere, and even small amounts can cause digestive distress. This is where inulinase comes in, the enzyme that breaks down inulin. Research suggests that inulinase can help break down triggering inulin fiber into short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides that provide prebiotic perks with lower risk of digestive distress.

√ Lactase
Country of Origin: Japan
Source organism: Aspergillus oryzae
Supplier: Bio-CAT

√ Alpha-Galactosidase
Country of Origin: Japan
Source organism: Aspergillus niger
Supplier: Bio-CAT

√ Inulinase
Country of Origin: Japan
Source organism: Aspergillus tubingensis
Supplier:Bio-CAT

√ Gingerols Ginger Root Extract 5%
Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale roscoe
Country of Origin: China
Supplier: Jiaherb

√ Fennel Seed Extract 10:1
Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare
Country of Origin: China
Supplier: Elite Ingredients

√ Chamomile Extract 10:1
Country of Origin: Matricaria recutita
Botanical Name: Egypt
Supplier: Jiaherb

√ Turmeric Extract 95% Curcuminoids
Botanical Name: Curcuma longa
Country of Origin: India
Supplier: Cepham Inc.

√ DGL Licorice Root Extract 4:
Botanical Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Country of Origin: India
Supplier: Jiaherb

√ Microcrystalline Cellulose
Country of Origin: India
Supplier: Ankit Pulps & Boards Pvt Ltd.

√ Cellulose Capsule Shells
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: AlphaCaps

√ Calcium Laurate
Country of Origin: USA
Supplier: Nutrisol