Solein Protein Powder: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits
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Perplexity Revolutionary protein made from air using hydrogen fermentation technology. Complete amino acids, naturally high B12 and iron, zero land use, 100x lower emissions than beef.
Quick Nutrition Facts
Per 100g Powder
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 371 kcal |
| Protein | 78g |
| Carbohydrates | 2g |
| Fiber | 10g |
| Sugars | 0g |
| Fat | 6g |
| Iron | 110mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 5mcg |
| Calcium | 110mg |
Beta-Glucan: 4g (40% of fiber) BCAA Content: 20% of protein Essential Amino Acids: 43% of protein PDCAAS: 1.0 (highest quality)
Macronutrient Breakdown
NUTRITIONIST INSIGHT
Solein achieves PDCAAS 1.0 matching whey protein quality while naturally providing B12 (5mcg/100g) and iron (110mg/100g) critical for vegan diets. The 40% beta-glucan fiber content supports blood sugar control and heart health.
Myth Busters
MYTH #1: Air-Based Proteins Are Incomplete or Low Quality
TRUTH: Solein contains all 9 essential amino acids with PDCAAS 1.0 matching whey protein and whole eggs, 43% essential amino acid content identical to whey, and 20% BCAA content approaching whey's 24%. Quality equals or exceeds conventional proteins.
MYTH #2: Plant-Based Proteins Can't Provide B12
TRUTH: While traditional plant proteins lack B12, Solein naturally contains 5mcg B12 per 100g through microbial fermentation—no fortification needed. A 28g serving delivers 22% of daily B12 requirements, solving a critical vegan nutrition gap.
MYTH #3: High-Protein Foods Lack Fiber
TRUTH: Solein delivers 10g fiber per 100g (40% as beta-glucans) alongside 78g protein. Beta-glucans reduce glycemic index by ~4 units per gram and lower cholesterol, making Solein uniquely beneficial for metabolic health.
MYTH #4: Sustainable Proteins Sacrifice Nutritional Quality
TRUTH: Solein produces 100x lower emissions than beef and 5x lower than plant proteins while matching whey's PDCAAS 1.0, providing superior iron (110mg vs whey's 0.3mg/100g), and adding naturally occurring B12. Sustainability enhances nutrition.
MYTH #5: Fermented Proteins Taste Bad or Are Gritty
TRUTH: Solein exhibits mild, delicately umami flavor with buttery notes, dissolves completely in cold water within 30 seconds, and creates smooth creamy texture without grittiness characteristic of pea or rice proteins.
MYTH #6: Novel Proteins Aren't Safe or Approved
TRUTH: Solein achieved Singapore regulatory approval (2022), US self-affirmed GRAS status (2024), with FDA and EU approvals anticipated in 2026. Extensive safety testing confirms it meets rigorous food safety standards.
NutriScore by Health Goals
| Health Goal | NutriScore | Why This Score? |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Loss |  | 371 cal/100g with 78g protein creates exceptional protein-to-calorie ratio; 10g fiber including beta-glucans promotes satiety; 2g carbs supports low-carb approaches. |
| Muscle Gain | | 78g protein with 20% BCAAs including 8g leucine per 100g triggers mTOR pathway; PDCAAS 1.0 ensures complete amino acid availability; 110mg iron supports oxygen delivery to working muscles. |
| Diabetes Management | | Only 2g carbs per 100g; high-protein diets reduce 24-hour glucose by 40%; 4g beta-glucans per 100g slow glucose absorption and improve insulin sensitivity. |
| PCOS Management | | High protein supports insulin sensitivity; minimal carbs avoid blood sugar spikes; 110mg iron addresses common PCOS-related anemia. |
| Pregnancy Nutrition | | Complete amino acids support fetal development; 110mg iron prevents pregnancy anemia; 5mcg B12 essential for neural development; safe protein source. |
| Vegan/Plant-Based | | Naturally provides B12 (5mcg/100g) and iron (110mg) typically lacking in plant diets; complete amino acids eliminate need for protein combining; superior to all conventional plant proteins. |
PERSONALIZED NUTRITION
Track your meals with NutriScan for personalized NutriScores based on your specific health goals!
Blood Sugar Response to Solein
Solein's macronutrient composition produces minimal blood glucose impact, making it ideal for diabetes management and metabolic health.
Typical Glucose Response Curve
*This chart shows typical blood glucose response for Solein protein powder. Individual responses may vary. Not medical advice.*
Why Solein Controls Blood Sugar
High-protein diets reduce postprandial glucose by 40% through delayed gastric emptying and reduced glucose absorption. Solein amplifies these benefits:
- 🥄 2g carbs per 100g - Virtually zero glucose load
- 🌾 10g fiber with beta-glucans - Slows any glucose absorption
- 💪 78g protein - Delays gastric emptying and reduces glucose spikes
- 🩸 Superior insulin response - Protein stimulates insulin without glucose surge
Solein can be added to any meal to moderate overall glycemic impact, or consumed alone as a nearly zero-glycemic protein source.
Cultural Significance & Innovation
Solein represents a paradigm shift in human food production, decoupling protein from traditional agriculture for the first time in history.
Revolutionary Technology:
- Produced through hydrogen fermentation using only air, electricity, and minerals
- Microbes perform chemosynthesis (not photosynthesis) converting CO2 and H2 into protein
- 5-10x more efficient than photosynthesis underlying all conventional agriculture
- Zero agricultural land required; Factory 01 produces 160 tonnes annually on 13.5 hectares
Environmental Innovation:
- First protein achieving 0.4kg CO2 per kg protein (vs 45kg for beef)
- Enables rewilding of agricultural land currently used for livestock and feed crops
- Eliminates pesticide, fertilizer, and freshwater consumption from protein production
- Scalable to 50,000 tonnes annually by 2030 with planned factory expansions
Global Impact:
- Singapore first regulatory approval (2022); US GRAS status (2024); EU approval anticipated 2026
- Potential to displace conventional proteins and reduce emissions by 10 million tonnes CO2-equivalent annually
- Addresses food security in water-scarce, land-constrained, and climate-vulnerable regions
- Represents genuinely sustainable solution to projected 2050 protein demand doubling
Compare & Substitute
Solein vs Conventional Proteins (Per 100g)
| Nutrient | 🌬️ Solein | 🥛 Whey Protein | 🌱 Pea Protein | 🥩 Beef (cooked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 371 kcal | 350-400 kcal | 380 kcal | 250 kcal |
| Protein | 78g | 80g | 80g | 26g |
| Carbs | 2g | 8g | 6g | 0g |
| Fiber | 10g | 0g | 6g | 0g |
| Fat | 6g (mostly unsaturated) | 5g | 9g | 15g (saturated) |
| Iron | 110mg (611% DV) | 0.3mg (2% DV) | 7.5mg (42% DV) | 2.6mg (14% DV) |
| B12 | 5mcg (83% DV) | 0mcg (needs fortifying) | 0mcg (needs fortifying) | 2.4mcg (40% DV) |
| PDCAAS | 1.0 (perfect) | 1.0 (perfect) | 0.82-0.93 | 0.92 |
| BCAAs | 20% | 24% | 17% | 18% |
| CO2/kg | 0.4kg (100x lower than beef) | 2.4kg | 0.7kg | 45kg |
| Best For | Vegan complete protein, B12 | Fast absorption | Plant-based budget | Traditional meat source |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Solein protein powder?
Solein is a revolutionary single-cell protein produced by Solar Foods through hydrogen fermentation technology. Microbes consume hydrogen (from renewable electrolysis), CO2 from air, and minerals to synthesize complete protein. Contains 78g protein per 100g, all 9 essential amino acids, 20% BCAAs, PDCAAS 1.0 matching whey, naturally occurring B12 (5mcg) and iron (110mg), with zero agricultural land use and 100x lower emissions than beef.
Is Solein good for muscle building?
Yes, Solein is exceptional for muscle gain. Delivers 78g protein per 100g with 20% BCAA content including 8g leucine per 100g—exceeding the 2-3g leucine threshold for mTOR pathway activation and muscle protein synthesis; complete essential amino acid profile with PDCAAS 1.0 ensures all substrates for muscle building are available; 110mg iron per 100g supports oxygen delivery to working muscles; rapid dissolution and expected fast absorption kinetics support post-workout recovery.
Does Solein contain vitamin B12?
Yes, Solein naturally contains 5mcg vitamin B12 per 100g through the microbes' natural metabolic processes—no fortification required. A standard 28g serving provides 1.3mcg B12 (22% DV), addressing the primary nutritional gap in vegan and vegetarian diets where B12 is virtually absent from non-fortified plant foods. This makes Solein uniquely valuable for plant-based eaters requiring reliable B12 sources.
How does Solein compare to whey protein?
Solein matches whey's PDCAAS 1.0 perfect score, contains identical 43% essential amino acid composition, and comparable BCAA content (20% vs whey's 24%). Solein surpasses whey by adding 10g fiber per 100g (including 4g beta-glucans), 110mg iron vs whey's 0.3mg, and 5mcg naturally occurring B12 vs whey's zero. Solein eliminates lactose, cholesterol, and saturated fat while producing 0.4kg CO2 per kg protein vs whey's 2.4kg—6x lower environmental impact with equivalent or superior nutrition.
Is Solein suitable for diabetics?
Yes, Solein is excellent for diabetes management. Contains only 2g carbs per 100g creating negligible glucose load; 10g fiber including 40% beta-glucans that slow glucose absorption; 78g protein shown to reduce 24-hour integrated glucose by 40% in diabetics; beta-glucans reduce glycemic index by 4 units per gram and improve insulin sensitivity. Solein can be added to carbohydrate meals to moderate overall glycemic response or consumed alone as virtually zero-glycemic protein.
What is the environmental impact of Solein?
Solein produces 0.4kg CO2-equivalent per kg protein—100x lower than beef (45kg) and 5x lower than plant proteins (0.7-2.0kg); requires zero agricultural land eliminating deforestation and habitat loss; uses negligible freshwater vs 2,145 cubic meters per tonne for plant proteins and vastly more for livestock; eliminates pesticide and fertilizer requirements; enables potential rewilding of agricultural land for carbon sequestration. Production uses only air, renewable electricity, and minerals through hydrogen fermentation in industrial facilities.
How much Solein should I consume daily?
Protein needs vary: sedentary adults need 0.8g/kg bodyweight (54g daily for 68kg person = 2-3 servings); athletes and active individuals need 1.6-2.2g/kg (109g for 68kg = 5-6 servings combined with food); weight loss applications benefit from 20-30g protein per meal distributed across day; diabetics should incorporate 15-30g per meal to moderate glucose; pregnant women need 1.1-1.3g/kg (75-88g = 4-5 servings with food). One serving typically provides 20-25g protein depending on product formulation.
Can I use Solein if I'm pregnant?
Yes, Solein is suitable and beneficial for pregnancy. Complete amino acid profile supports fetal growth and maternal tissue expansion; 110mg iron per 100g addresses increased pregnancy iron requirements (18mg to 27mg daily) preventing anemia; 5mcg B12 per 100g supports neural development; PDCAAS 1.0 ensures efficient protein utilization. Balanced protein supplementation during pregnancy improves birth weight by 95-324g and reduces low birth weight incidence. Consult healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
