Native to Peru, Sacha Inchi is an ancient grain that produces small peanut-like seeds and is rich in protein content, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Recently joining the ranks of superfood status, Sacha Inchi has recently increased in popularity due to its remarkable health benefits and nutritional properties.

What Is Sacha Inchi Protein

The cultivation of Sacha Inchi traces back nearly 3,000 years. The Peruvian superfood is cultivated in the Amazonas, San Martin, and other high-elevation regions of South America. With a crisp buttery flavor, Sacha Inchi is loaded with the healthy Omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which has been widely associated with improvements in heart, brain, and joint health, and reduced inflammation.

Sacha Inchi is comprised of 93.6% protein and contains all essential amino acids making it a complete source of protein and one of the best plant-based/vegan protein sources found in plant protein supplements.

Health Benefits Of Sacha Inchi Protein

First and foremost, protein has many known benefits from regulating hormones, to supporting athletic goals, such as building more lean muscle mass and promoting better exercise recovery. Protein is comprised of amino acids, which are required to facilitate muscle protein synthesis, or the muscle-building process. Sacha Inchi is considered to be a complete protein, having adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids.

Swolverine combines sacha inchi protein, with quinoa, pea protein isolate, hemp protein, and pumpkin seed protein, in a proprietary blend-free mix, to ensure you’re getting an adequate amount of all the essential and nonessential amino acids you need to improve your performance goals.

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1. Reduces The Risk Of Heart Disease

Foods high in Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) may help reduce heart disease. Studies have found that those with a diet high in alpha-linolenic acid, are less likely to suffer from a fatal heart attack or stroke. Large population studies suggest that for those who include more foods with ALA, deaths associated with heart disease decline [R].

2. Improves Gut Health

Preliminary animal studies have suggested that another benefit of Sacha Inchi may be that it helps balance your gut microbiota, by reversing gut dysbiosis. The gut microbiome plays an integral role in your health by controlling digestion, your immune system health, and many other aspects of your health. An imbalance in your gut, with healthy and unhealthy microbes in the intestines may contribute to weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and other chronic disease states. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain, known as the gut-brain axis, through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being.

3. Reduces Inflammation

High in Omega-3 fatty acids, Sacha Inchi may help reduce inflammation. While some inflammation is necessary to help the body recover from illness or injury, prolonged inflammation has been associated with chronic disease states. Studies have shown that ALA may serve as a potent anti-inflammatory agent in ocular surface inflammation, similar to the effects of corticosteroids which are typically used to treat arthritic disease states [R]. Less inflammation can also be beneficial to those with inflammation-induced joint pain.

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4. Improves Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. The other is high-density lipoprotein or HDL. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to fatty acid buildup in the arteries, which can increase your susceptibility to heart attack and stroke. HDL is considered the “good type" of cholesterol because it can help protect against adverse cardiovascular events.

Recent evidence suggests that Sacha Inchi may have benefits for blood pressure and cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol or LDL, while improving HDL levels and optimizing arterial blood pressure [R].

5. May Improve Brain Function

Several studies suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids are inextricably linked to improvements in brain function, specifically neuroprotective effects again focal and global ischemia. Ischemia can cause an inadequate amount of blood flow and supply to organs, especially the heart. Sacha Inchi has also been shown to improve mood state by reducing the symptoms of depression and improving overall mental health [R].

6. Helps Control Appetite

Another great benefit of Sacha Inchi is its proven ability to help reduce satiation or control appetite.

A study published in the Journal Of Agricultural Food Chemistry found that Sacha inchi has an uncharacteristic amount of tryptophan (an essential amino acid, to balance the production of serotonin, which is involved in regulating appetite [R]. Serotonin also helps control your mood, promotes better quality sleep, and improves overall vitality. There’s a reason why sacha inchi, has been elevated to ‘super’ status.

Health Benefits of Sacha Inchi Protein: Takeaway

If you’re looking for a great source of plant-based or vegan protein, then Sacha Inchi is a definite must-have. Sacha Inchi is a complete source of protein, providing all nine essential amino acids, to help you build muscle mass, and strength, and improve body composition. Additionally, Sacha inchi contains an abundance of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, ALA which has a wide array of health benefits for your heart, joints, brain, and wellness.

Looking for the best plant-based protein to build more muscle, shred body fat, and improve athletic performance?

Plant Protein is the perfect mix of the highest-quality plant-based protein, to provide the nutrients you need to power your performance. Made with Pea, Pumpkin Seed, Hemp, Sacha Inchi, and Quinoa Protein, Plant Protein provides the protein you need to increase strength, build more lean muscle mass, and optimize performance. With a delicious Chocolate Cake flavor, Plant Protein Is the perfect addition to your plant-based diet.

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We believe that everyone can optimize not only their athletic performance but their human potential. The way we believe we can optimize performance is through transparency, clinically effective doses, and clinically proven ingredients with evidence-based outcomes. We provide the nutrients you need to power your active lifestyle.

References

Gonzales GF, Gonzales C. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study on acceptability, safety and efficacy of oral administration of sacha inchi oil (Plukenetia volubilis L.) in adult human subjects. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Mar;65:168-76. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.12.039. Epub 2014 Jan 2. PMID: 24389453.

de Goede J, Verschuren WM, Boer JM, Kromhout D, Geleijnse JM. Alpha-linolenic acid intake and 10-year incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke in 20,000 middle-aged men and women in the Netherlands. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 25;6(3):e17967. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017967. PMID: 21464993; PMCID: PMC3064584.

Erdinest N, Shmueli O, Grossman Y, Ovadia H, Solomon A. Anti-inflammatory effects of alpha linolenic acid on human corneal epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 Jul 3;53(8):4396-406. doi: 10.1167/iovs.12-9724. PMID: 22669722.

Blondeau, Nicolas et al. “Alpha-linolenic acid: an omega-3 fatty acid with neuroprotective properties-ready for use in the stroke clinic?.” BioMed research international vol. 2015 (2015): 519830. doi:10.1155/2015/519830

Tags: Sacha inchi, Supplements