KOS Organic Plant Based Protein Powder Review (2024)

KOS was interestingly named after a Greek Island in the Dodecanese chain that has lots of cool history behind it like being the birthplace to ‘The Father of Western Medicine’ Hippocrates, who the company takes much of its inspiration from due to the simplicity and purity of his historical approach to health.

The brand focuses on plant-based nutrition and you can read their story on the website which is quite intriguing. They also have a few other products that are surely worth a look as well.

But today we’re reviewing their vanilla plant-based protein powder which is a no doubt a crowd favorite. So, let’s see what this product has to offer to the health-conscious individual looking to add quality supplementation to their regime…

KOS Protein Review

Pros

• Vegan Organic and non-GMO
• 20 grams of protein (Per Serving)
• Tastes great
• Quality ingredients
• Reasonably priced
• Includes enzyme blend

Cons

• Higher calories and fat per serving compared to others (not necessarily a con)
• Saturated fat may be an issue for some
• Contains tree nuts
• High in sodium & Low in B12

Kos Vegan Protein Nutrition Facts and Ingredient Information

Each serving of the vanilla flavor contains 160 calories, 20g protein, 6g (3.5g saturated) fat, 0mg cholesterol, 7% sodium, 8g (3%) carbs, 1g (4%) fiber, and 3 grams of sugar. There are also a few vitamins and minerals.

The proprietary protein blend consists of pea, organic flaxseed, organic quinoa, organic pumpkin seed, and organic chia seed.

Then you get some additional ingredients infused into the product which include organic vanilla, Himalayan pink salt, organic coconut milk, a little Stevia, and monk fruit.

There’s also a digeSEB (Trademark) enzyme blend of amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, and cellulase. 

Best Price

KOS Organic Plant Protein Powder

KOS Organic Plant Protein Powder

KOS Organic Plant Protein is dairy, gluten, and soy-free is NON-GMO and vegan. Provides energy, heart-healthy, promotes healthy bones & skin, feels fuller for longer.

Click for Best Price

Nutrition Facts and Ingredient Breakdown

Ok, now let’s get into a little more detail about the KOS organic plant-based protein powder formula.

The calories are on the higher end  (170) compared to most protein powders (typically 90-140 calories per serving). However, this is common with plant-based products due to there being several sources of protein and other ingredients. But the additional calories are not that significant by any means. 

The 20g of protein in one serving of KOS is on par with many protein supplements and is sufficient for most users. Although, because the product contains a proprietary blend of protein, you won’t know exactly how much of each is included in the formula.

But this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker since it’s a quality source of protein overall. 

Then you have 6g of fat, 3.5g or 18% of which is saturated fat, and this is higher than average. Consuming a lot of saturated fat is highly advised against as it could raise cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. 

But it is necessary for health although it’s advised that no more than 10% of your fat intake comes from saturated fat. 

Interestingly though, there’s somewhat mixed research on saturated fat consumption and heart health, especially in recent years. While some research has found a link between high saturated fat intake and heart disease, others have not (1).

However, the consensus is that it’s better to keep saturated fats low while consuming more unsaturated fat sources. 

Related:  The Truth: Why You’re Wrong About Saturated Fat

The carbs and fiber content in KOS plant protein is relatively low while 3g of sugar comes from coconut sugar so nothing to be concerned about here for most people. 

As far as vitamins and minerals, there’s a decent list including B12, chromium, iodine, zinc, and a few others which are necessary for general health. 

Stevia and monk fruit are used as natural sugar alternatives, both actually being a bit sweeter than sugar, in fact. However, tolerance to sweetness and taste is very subjective, although most enjoy the flavor of KOS protein powder.

Also, neither of these sweeteners should affect blood sugar either unless combined with other sweeteners which doesn’t seem to be the case here and is more of a concern with standalone Stevia and monk fruit products. 

The enzyme blend contains ingredients that aid in the breakdown and digestion of protein (proteases), carbs (amylase), fats (lipase), and dairy (lactase) which is necessary for the small intestine to absorb these nutrients into the blood for distribution. (2)

The added amounts in the formula may only help to maintain healthy digestion in general, however, it’s not a viable replacement for proper medical treatment of issues related to the digestive system. (3)

And supplementing with enzymes may only be beneficial for people who do not have enough in their bodies which is something to keep in mind. So, in other words, don’t expect there to necessarily be a noticeable difference if the above information does not pertain to you. 

Is KOS a Complete Source of Protein?

You’ve probably heard that plant protein sources are incomplete due to missing one or more essential amino acids which are vital for overall health. Well, that is true (except for soy, which is a complete protein) but it doesn’t mean the plant-based protein is low-quality or an insufficient source of the crucial muscle-building macronutrient.

In fact, research is pretty conclusive regarding consuming a variety of foods including legumes, soy products, grains, nuts, and seeds in order to get all your essential amino acids. (4)

Well, KOS certainly contains a legume, a grain, and seeds although it is missing soy which you can consume from other food products if you are completely vegan and nuts will help you to meet your amino requirements as well. 

But again, with the proprietary blend, we can’t say for sure the total amount of protein you’re getting from each ingredient. Although, no protein powder should be your primary source of nutrition so this shouldn’t be an issue. 

Note: You don’t have to consume all of the different varieties of plant-based proteins each meal. But rather, you can spread the variety across several meals. 

Taste

KOS organic plant-based protein powder has a nutty and satisfying flavor like many similar, favorite options among protein consumers. But because Stevia and monk fruit are sweeter than sugar, you’ll definitely want to mix with a low to no sugar liquid if you’re not a fan of decently sweet protein drinks. 

Cost

$37 for 30 servings doesn’t make KOS organic plant-based protein powder the cheapest option but it’s definitely not expensive for the quality and quantity of ingredients.

The cost per serving comes out to about $1.23 which is certainly reasonable for a plant-based product that typically cost more on average. 

Best Price

KOS Organic Plant Protein Powder

KOS Organic Plant Protein Powder

KOS Organic Plant Protein is dairy, gluten, and soy-free is NON-GMO and vegan. Provides energy, heart-healthy, promotes healthy bones & skin, feels fuller for longer.

Click for Best Price

Overall Value

KOS is definitely a viable choice for plant-based protein supplementation. 

It’s made from a blend of high-quality ingredients including a proprietary blend of plant-based proteins. And while proprietary blends may not be the most ideal, in general, KOS is a reputable brand and we trust they include a quality protein blend in the product. 

The sweeteners used are commonly added to natural products with good feedback from users and neither has shown to negatively affect blood sugar when consumed in typical amounts.

Overall, KOS organic plant-based protein powder seems to be right up there with some of the best options money can buy. Not to mention, we just like the brand as a whole. 

Wrapping Up

We’ll have to give KOS a thumbs up for what it offers as it’s a quality plant-based option for anyone looking to add healthy supplementation to their daily regime. Plus, it tastes pretty good which we can all appreciate!

A quality blend of protein sources ensures you’re muscles stay fed, digestive enzymes improve nutrient use, and most can avoid the stomach discomfort. 

Also check out our picks for the best vegan protein powders in 2021.

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