Science backed blends.

Here's the research behind our flagships blends, what it shows, and where the evidence is still developing.

Plant protein can do the job

Every serving gives you 25g of plant protein from pea, brown rice and pumpkin seed.

Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass and to the maintenance of muscle mass. This is one of the few protein claims authorised for use in Great Britain, and it's why protein sits at the centre of how we formulate.

The research on plant protein is encouraging:

  • Pea: In a double-blind trial, 12 weeks of resistance training with pea protein produced greater gains in biceps muscle thickness than placebo, with no difference between pea and whey. Babault et al., 2015 nih

  • Pea again: In a smaller 8-week functional-fitness study, pea and whey produced similar outcomes for body composition, force and strength. Banaszek et al., 2019 nih

  • Rice: In a trial of resistance-trained men taking 48g after training, rice and whey protein isolate both improved body composition and performance, with no difference between them. Joy et al., 2013 nih

Why a blend?

Individual plant proteins each run a little short on certain amino acids. Pea tends to be lower in methionine, and rice tends to be lower in lysine. Blending them, with pumpkin seed alongside, gives a more complete amino acid profile than any one source alone. Our 25g serving also contains 5g of BCAAs.

Curcumin and black pepper: ingredients researchers are watching

Our blend includes turmeric extract (curcumin) and black pepper extract (piperine).

Curcumin is one of the most studied plant compounds in sport nutrition. A meta-analysis of 10 randomised trials found curcumin supplementation was associated with lower markers of muscle damage and soreness, and with improvements in strength and joint flexibility, after exercise. Systematic review and meta-analysis, 2022 nih

Curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own, which is why we pair it with piperine from black pepper. A small 1998 study in volunteers found piperine substantially increased curcumin levels in the blood. Shoba et al., 1998 nih

Being transparent, the curcumin trials were small and varied in design, and later work on piperine's effect in humans has been less consistent than that first study. We include these ingredients because the early evidence is promising.

Fibre: most of us are falling short

Each serving of IRONKIND has 5g of fibre.

Most of us don't get enough. In the UK, the government's latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2019–2023) found 96% of adults and of children aged 11 to 18 did not meet the fibre recommendation, which is 30g a day for adults. Across Europe, EFSA has set an adequate intake of 25g a day for adults, and average intakes in European adults are estimated at 16 to 29g a day, so many people sit below the line. wwwnih

What the research says about gut health
Inulin is a soluble fibre that passes through the small intestine and is fermented by bacteria in the colon. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, healthy adults with mild constipation took 12g of chicory inulin daily for four weeks. Stool frequency increased significantly, and the researchers also saw modest changes in gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium. Vandeputte et al., Gut, 2017 nihsourdough

How to get the most from it

  • Mix 40g with 250ml of water or non-dairy milk, 1–2 times a day.

  • Protein works best alongside consistent training and a balanced diet. No powder replaces either.

  • For adults over 16. Not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle.

Our sources

Babault 2015 · Banaszek 2019 · Joy 2013 · Curcumin meta-analysis 2022 · Shoba 1998