I have a lot of mums who come to me concerned about the amount of whey & casein protein their gym-going children are consuming so have been on the lookout for an alternative. Protein in the body is primarily used for muscle growth and to repair tissues. Many people buy whey protein powder by the gallon in the hope of building muscle mass. Whey is the watery portion of milk that separates from the curds when making cheese. Like all proteins, whey protein is made of building blocks called amino acids. One of the problems with consuming whey protein is that it is difficult to digest. Protein has to be broken down into amino acids to be beneficial and high-protein supplements require a massive amount of energy to break down. To overcome the problem, your body must work overtime struggling to digest proteins, which, in turn, puts added pressure on the immune system. When your protein source comes from whey it can lead to digestive problems and possible kidney stones. Because whey is sourced from dairy, many people are sensitive to whey protein. You don’t have to be lactose intolerant to feel the effects from lactose. We need to eat protein in a digestible form and a plant-based protein is a much healthier option than a protein derived from whey. The protein in whey is one of the two main proteins in milk, the other is a protein called casein which is also found in many protein powders these days. Caseins are a group of proteins found in cow’s milk and they constitute about 87 percent of the total proteins in milk sold. Dr Colin Campbell's 25 years of research in The China Study shows that casein compounds are a chemical carcinogen and are found to be a deadly cause of cancer. Campbell states: "We could turn on or turn off cancer growth by increasing or decreasing the amount of casein. Lesions that normally remain dormant, with a steady dose of cancer promoters in the diet may override natural defences against the growth of tumours." Caseins also encourage the formation of mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract.   In my search for a safe plant based protein that tastes good too, I have found a  powder called NuZest.   Nuzest  has a less chalky texture and a much more subtle flavour that sunwarrior, my recommendation up until now. It is a plant based  pea protein,  so you can feel confident that it is whey and casein free and is available either in a neutral flavour or in subtle varieties of plain, vanilla, strawberry, cappuccino or chocolate. It’s nut free, soy free, gluten free, vegan, non-GMO, and rich in complete protein.    [caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="320"] The Katemfe Fruit[/caption] The sweetener NuZest uses is thaumatin, harvested from the katemfe fruit (native to West Africa). With a pH of 7.8, Clean Lean Protein is one of the few alkaline proteins available. Supporting the pH balance in your body can help to cleanse your system, improve bone density and delay the build-up of lactic acid during exercise. [caption id="attachment_390" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Typical Nutritional Information for NuZest Clean Lean Protein[/caption] Protein powders are great for people that are very physically active and with Nuzest it's nice to have a go-to option that's allergen-free and 100% natural vegetable protein, great for everybody. Protein is essential for healthy energy levels, and for the recovery and repair of muscle and body tissue. Clean Lean Protein is particularly high in glutamine - essential for post-exercise recovery and the prevention of muscle loss as we age. It also contains  all nine essential amino acids.The powder is obviously high in protein but very low in carbs and fat which supports healthy weight management and helps your body recover faster, so you can get back to your busy life. I love how it has no fillers, additives or preservatives. No added sugar or artificial sweeteners and chemical free processing.   [caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Buy NuZest Today: CLICK HERE[/caption] I always suggest getting your protein from food sources such as sprouted seeds etc but as a mum I understand that once my lot see the latest fitness blogger on Instagram using a protein powder they want in on the action. At least with Nuzest you can rest assured that they are not pumping their body full of nasties like casein and whey as well as all the fillers and chemicals that go into some powders. I have been so impressed with NuZest that I am now stocking it on my site. As you may have already seen I stock a small selection of my tried and tested favourite products. You can check it out HERE