The Ultimate Protein Showdown: How NutriMatch™ Compares to the Most Popular Protein Sources in the World
Anthony BoldinShare
When we created NutriMatch™, we weren’t trying to match the best. We were trying to beat it. That meant taking on everything from whey and meat to soy, legumes, and even eggs. Using our proprietary Match Rate™ metric, which measures how well a protein aligns with the amino acid profile your muscles actually need, we put NutriMatch™ head-to-head with the world’s most trusted proteins.
This is what we found.
Dairy
Dairy protein is trusted, familiar, and a staple in many high-protein diets. It’s found in everything from post-workout shakes to school lunches. While dairy delivers a moderate amino acid balance, it comes with drawbacks like cholesterol, lactose, and inflammation triggers. NutriMatch™ offers a higher-precision alternative without the baggage.
| Dairy Source | Match Rate™ |
| Cheddar Cheese | 58.44% |
| Mozzarella Cheese | 58.46% |
| Cottage Cheese | 75.93% |
| Milk (Whole/Skim/2%) | 79.88% |
| Dry Milk | 71.13% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why people rely on dairy:
- Accessible and well-known
- Often fortified with calcium and vitamins
- Moderately high in protein
- Fits into both snacks and meals
- Long history in performance nutrition
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Higher Match Rate™
- No cholesterol or lactose
- No hormones or inflammatory compounds
- More efficient per gram
- Plant-powered and gut-friendly
Grains
Grains are nutritious in many ways, packed with fiber, energy, and B vitamins. But they aren’t protein specialists. You’d need a very large serving of most grains to meet your protein goals, and even then, the amino acid balance isn’t ideal. NutriMatch™ delivers what grains can’t: concentrated, muscle-ready protein.
| Grain | Match Rate™ |
| Wheat | 45.06% |
| Oatmeal | 62.76% |
| Rice (Brown) | 53.42% |
| Rice (White) | 49.98% |
| Buckwheat Flour | 79.99% |
| Millet Flour | 16.61% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why people include grains:
- Affordable and filling
- Versatile in cooking
- Good source of energy
- Support gut health
- Easy to store and scale
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- 3x+ the usable protein per gram
- No food combining needed
- More protein, less starch
- Formulated for high-impact performance
- Fewer calories for more effect
Soy-Based Proteins
Soy is often praised as the best plant protein, and in many ways, it’s the benchmark. But as good as soy is, it’s still not quite good enough. NutriMatch™ was designed to outperform it on every front, without the estrogenic concerns or allergen risks.
| Soy Source | Match Rate™ |
| Tofu | 65.85% |
| Soybeans | 68.43% |
| Edamame | 74.56% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why soy is respected:
- High in protein by plant standards
- Available in many forms
- Extensively researched
- Affordable
- Easy to incorporate in meals
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Higher amino acid match
- No soy allergens or phytoestrogens
- Lighter taste and cleaner texture
- Designed for real performance goals
- More consistent absorption and recovery
Beans & Legumes
Beans and legumes are nutrient-dense, sustainable, and a great source of fiber. But their protein profile varies widely. To match what NutriMatch™ delivers, you’d need large quantities, and a lot of digestive tolerance. NutriMatch™ streamlines the process with concentrated amino acid precision.
| Legume | Match Rate™ |
| Black Beans | 76.01% |
| Mung Beans | 61.90% |
| Fava Beans | 47.32% |
| Lupin Beans | 41.93% |
| Lentils | 46.49% |
| Lima Beans | 59.00% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why people love legumes:
- High fiber and slow-burning carbs
- Support cholesterol and blood sugar control
- Long shelf life
- Low cost per serving
- Plant-based and globally loved
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Much higher Match Rate™
- Lower volume needed
- Zero gas or bloating
- Fast, clean recovery
- Built for active lifestyles
Meat
Meat has long been hailed as the gold standard of protein, dense, complete, and time-tested across cultures and performance diets. It’s earned its reputation through high biological value and efficient support for muscle mass. But even the best meats don’t achieve full amino acid optimization. They still leave gaps. And NutriMatch™ was built to close them.
| Meat | Match Rate™ |
| Beef | 83.15% |
| Pork | 82.29% |
| Chicken | 81.94% |
| Turkey Breast | 73.53% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why people trust meat:
- Dense in protein and iron
- Highly bioavailable
- Low in carbs
- Supports muscle growth
- Familiar and satisfying
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Higher Match Rate™ for protein utilization
- No saturated fat or cholesterol
- 100% plant-based and clean-label
- Ethically and environmentally sustainable
- More efficient per calorie
Seafood
Seafood is often considered the cleanest source of animal protein, lean, high in omega-3s, and a staple of heart-healthy diets. Fish like tuna and salmon deliver strong amino acid profiles, but they’re not without concerns. Mercury, microplastics, and environmental impact add complexity. NutriMatch™ captures the efficiency of seafood, without the baggage.
| Seafood | Match Rate™ |
| Tuna | 82.30% |
| Salmon | 80.79% |
| Lobster | 80.45% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why seafood is respected:
- Lean and nutrient-rich
- High protein-to-fat ratio
- Good source of omega-3s
- Supports brain and heart health
- Popular in longevity diets
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Higher Match Rate™ with no mercury risk
- No ocean contaminants or allergens
- More shelf-stable and versatile
- 100% sustainable and cruelty-free
- Cleaner plant-powered performance
Seeds & Nuts
Seeds and nuts are nutrient powerhouses, rich in healthy fats, fiber, and minerals. But their protein contributions are often misunderstood. While they contain protein, the quantity you’d need to consume for a muscle-building dose means taking in excess calories and fats. NutriMatch™ delivers more usable protein in a fraction of the weight.
| Seed/Nut | Match Rate™ |
| Chia | 70.05% |
| Cashew | 68.97% |
| Flaxseed | 65.13% |
| Peanuts | 59.35% |
| Pumpkin | 58.25% |
| Sunflower | 56.72% |
| Almonds | 46.83% |
| Sesame | 46.65% |
| Walnuts | 43.29% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why seeds and nuts are popular:
- High in healthy fats and fiber
- Packed with micronutrients
- Easy to snack on
- Widely accepted as plant-friendly
- Great for satiety
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Far better protein-per-calorie ratio
- No excess fat or caloric load
- Optimized for performance
- Easier to measure and absorb
- Clean, efficient, and complete
Vegetables
Vegetables are some of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet. They deliver fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in abundance. And while some veggies have surprisingly good amino acid profiles, they contain so little protein by weight that you’d need to eat pounds to match a scoop of NutriMatch™.
| Vegetable | Match Rate™ |
| Mushroom, Portabella | 82.23% |
| Broccoli | 79.73% |
| Potatoes | 75.19% |
| Spinach | 70.42% |
| Mushroom, White | 63.73% |
| Peas | 56.88% |
| Corn (Yellow) | 55.64% |
| Cauliflower | 52.85% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why people love vegetables:
- Extremely nutrient-dense
- Great for digestion and gut health
- High in antioxidants
- Foundational for longevity
- Low in calories
Why NutriMatch™ is better for protein:
- Higher protein density
- Less volume needed
- No fiber overload
- Designed for recovery
- More convenient and scalable
Eggs
Eggs are often held up as the original complete protein, accessible, versatile, and biologically efficient. They’re a staple in high-protein diets. But even with their strengths, eggs fall short on precision. NutriMatch™ delivers a tighter match with none of the cholesterol or allergens.
| Egg Format | Match Rate™ |
| Egg Yolk | 71.13% |
| Egg Raw (whole) | 64.79% |
| Hard Boiled Egg | 62.74% |
| Egg White | 59.15% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why eggs are so popular:
- Nutritionally dense and affordable
- Great source of choline
- Fast-digesting and easy to cook
- Trusted in athletic diets
- Naturally versatile
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- Higher Match Rate™
- No cholesterol
- Egg-free and allergy-friendly
- No animal products
- Optimized absorption
Whey
Whey protein has dominated the supplement industry for decades. It’s fast-digesting, complete, and popular among athletes. But surprisingly, it scores lower than almost every other major source when measured by Match Rate™. NutriMatch™ was built to outperform whey in every category that matters.
| Protein Type | Match Rate™ |
| Whey | 48.48% |
| NutriMatch™ | 96.24% |
Why whey was the old gold standard:
- Fast absorption post-workout
- Widely available and affordable
- Convenient in shakes and bars
- Complete protein
- Long history in sports nutrition
Why NutriMatch™ is better:
- More than twice the usable protein
- No lactose, no bloating
- No insulin spikes or GI distress
- Plant-based with no compromise
- Built for sustained strength and performance
