Orgain Protein Powder Review

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

Is Orgain Protein Powder good for you?

Read my in-depth Orgain Protein Powder review to find out if you should add it to your diet.

Last Updated
Jan 27, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Kayla Kamen, MS, RD

Kayla Kamen is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Fossett, PA-C

Jennifer Fossett is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Orgain Protein Review

Orgain makes several different types and flavors of protein powder. For the sake of simplicity, I am going to review their best-selling Organic Sweet Vanilla Bean Protein Powder.

Orgain Nutrition Facts

Orgain makes several different types and flavors of protein powder.

For the sake of simplicity, I am going to review their best-selling Sweet Vanilla Bean Protein Powder.

And because it is a nutritional supplement, I am going to start my Orgain review by talking about the Nutrition Facts.

1 serving of Organic Sweet Vanilla Bean Protein Powder contains 150 calories, 4g of total fat, 15g of total carbohydrates, 0g of sugar, and 21g of protein.

From a nutritional standpoint, Orgain protein powder looks like a great source of vegan protein.

It does contain a lot of carbohydrates compared to other brands, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

One serving also contains 150 milligrams of sodium, which may be surprising given that it’s made from plants.

Most pea proteins are actually high in sodium, however.

Pea protein powder is made by extracting protein from green or yellow split peas, which is often done using a dilute salt solution as the extracting agent.

Sodium from the salt solution stays with the extracted protein.

Overall, Orgain’s Organic Sweet Vanilla Bean Protein Powder, despite containing more carbohydrates and sodium than other protein powders, would be an effective protein supplement.

To really understand whether or not Orgain is a good for you, however, you have to take a close look at the ingredients.

Orgain Ingredients

The ingredients list is by far the most important indication of whether or not a protein powder is good for you.

And generally speaking, the fewer the ingredients, the better.

Unfortunately, there are over 15 ingredients in Organic Sweet Vanilla Bean Protein Powder.

This is not a good sign, so let us take a deep dive into what they are and how they are made.

Keep in mind that Orgain is Certified Organic.

Although this is a good thing, just because something is organic does not mean that it is good for you.

Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

Protein Blend

Orgain uses a blend of plant proteins in its vegan protein powders that includes pea protein, brown rice protein, and chia seed protein.

Ingredients are always listed in descending order by weight, so the primary source of protein is pea protein.

Once again, pea protein, or pea protein isolate, is made by extracting proteins from green and yellow split peas.

This process involves several steps, including:

1. Cleaning and soaking: The peas are cleaned to remove any dirt or debris. They are then soaked in water to soften them and make them easier to process.
2. Grinding and separation: The soaked peas are ground into a paste, and then the protein is separated from the starch and fiber using a centrifuge.
3. Acid or alkaline extraction: Pea protein is then extracted from the liquid using either an acid or an alkaline solution. The solution changes the pH of the liquid, causing the protein to separate from the water. This step is repeated several times to extract as much protein as possible.
4. Filtration and drying: The pea protein is finally filtered to remove any remaining dirt and debris and dried to create a powder. The drying process can be done using a spray dryer, which sprays the protein solution into a hot chamber, evaporating the water and leaving behind a fine powder.

Although it is made from a plant, pea protein is ultra-processed, which is, generally speaking, not a good thing.

For instance, ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates have been stripped of everything but the protein, including the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

This is why studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates can disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Nutrients, 2018; Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

Food Additives

Thickeners

Orgain contains four thickeners: acacia gum (which appears twice), guar gum, inulin, and xanthan gum.

Thickeners are notorious for causing digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea.

They are also associated with disruptions to the composition and function of the gut microbiome (Nat Microbiol, 2022).

Erythritol

Orgain sweetens its protein powders with erythritol, a controversial sugar alcohol.

A recent study linked erythritol consumption to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke (Nat Med, 2023).

Natural Flavors

While food manufacturers are required to disclose their ingredients, natural flavor manufacturers are not (The New York Times, 2019).

They can add solvents, preservatives, emulsifiers, carriers and other additives to a flavor that qualifies as “natural” under current regulations.

Stevia

Orgain also sweetens its protein powders with stevia, a sweetener derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant.

Although stevia is considered by many to be a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners like sucralose, it is not nearly as “natural” as many people make it out to be.

Stevia is extracted using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol, which, one could argue, makes it barely more natural than the artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace.

In fact, a recent class action lawsuit filed in California reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that a company falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as natural.

Overall, the ingredients in Orgain protein powder leave a lot to be desired.

They are ultra-processed and half of them are food additives.

So if I were you, I would look for a healthier alternative.

Orgain Taste and Texture

Taste is so subjective that I hesitate to include it in this Orgain protein powder review.

A protein powder that one person loves might make another person gag, and if you read product reviews on Amazon, you will find both 5 star reviews and 1 star reviews of the same exact recipe.

For the sake of this Orgain plant-based protein powder review, however, I will share my thoughts on how Orgain tastes and mixes.

Orgain mixes really well; I mixed it in a shaker bottle, and did not notice any clumps or grit.

It also has a nice creamy texture, and if you follow the serving suggestion, makes a thick shake.

The flavor, on the other hand, is not my favorite.

It is way too sweet, and has the chalky aftertaste characteristic of most protein powders.

In order to stomach a full serving, I had to blend it with other ingredients.

That said, plenty of people seem to like Orgain, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Sources

1. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
2. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions.. 2024.
3. Nature Microbiology (Nat Microbiol). Mechanistic insights into consumption of the food additive xanthan gum by the human gut microbiota.. 2022.
4. Nature Medicine (Nat Med). The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk.. 2023.
5. The New York Times (The New York Times). Are ‘Natural Flavors’ Really Natural?. 2019.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.