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Most Kachava reviews you see online have one thing in common: a vested interest in selling more Ka’ chava protein powders!

This one is the opposite.

Because we sell our own line of plant-based protein and meal replacement powders. And for that reason, we write honest assessments of our competitors’ products to help our customers understand how they compare to ours.

“How do you remain unbiased when selling a competitive product?” you may be asking. The answer is:

• By focusing on objective criteria in our reviews: ingredients, nutrition facts, and price.
• By analyzing real customer reviews from other websites (including Amazon).

Ingredients-wise, Ka’chava is actually one of the better plant-based meal replacement products on the market.

There are a few things we don’t love about their products too.

Read the rest of our Kachava review to learn more …

Table of Contents

• • What Is Kachava?
  • Kachava Ingredients and Nutrition Facts
  • Kachava Cost
  • Ka’ Chava Reviews on Amazon
  • Ka’chava Side Effects
  • Other Unbiased Ka’Chava Reviews
  • Summary: Pros and Cons of Ka’ Chava Protein
  • Compare Our Kachava Alternative–Pure Food Protein Real Meal
  • Get Our Google Sheet Comparing 30+ Plant Protein Powders

What Is Kachava?

Kachava, also known as “Ka Chava” or “Ka’Chava,” is an “all-in-one plant-based superfood meal,” according to kachava.com.

It’s available in two flavors, Vanilla and Chocolate.

Ka’Chava provides you with all the functional fuel you need to thrive both physically and mentally in a single, ready-to-go meal.

Source: https://www.kachava.com/pages/benefits-all

Kachava Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

Kachava shakes are quite nutrient-dense. They contain:

• 70+ Superfoods & Nutrients
• Protein
• Fiber
• Greens
• Omega 3s
• MCTs
• Probiotics
• Digestive Enzyme Blend
• Adaptogens
• Antioxidants
• 26 Vitamins & Minerals

Ka’Chava serving sizes (62g Chocolate & 60g Vanilla) are larger than most other shakes on the market.

How Many Calories, Carbs, Fiber, and Protein Are In Ka’Chava?

Nutrition-wise, here’s a summary of what you get per 2 scoop serving:

• 240 calories
• 7 grams of fat
• 4.4 grams of saturated fat
• 24-25 grams of carbohydrates
• 9 grams of dietary fiber
• 6-7 grams of sugar (5-6 grams added sugar)

Here are the complete nutrition panels / ingredient lists for each of the two Ka’chava flavors currently available:

Kachava Chocolate Protein Powder / Meal Replacement Nutrition Facts

Kachava Vanilla Protein / Meal Replacement Nutrition Facts

Kachava Coconut Acai Protein Powder Nutrition Facts

Kachava Cost

On their website, Kachava costs $69.95 for a 2-pound bag for a single purchase ($4.67/serving), or $59.95 with a monthly subscription ($4/serving).

On Amazon, Ka’chava costs $85 for a 2-pound bag of Vanilla and $100 for a 2-pound bag of Chocolate. The new Coconut Acai flavor costs $85 per bag and has a 4.3-star rating.

As you’ll see below, Amazon reviewers don’t feel that this is the best value for the money.

Ka’ Chava Reviews on Amazon

Amazon reviewers rate the products as-follows:

Kachava Chocolate Protein Reviews

Here are the three most popular Ka’chava positive reviews on Amazon:

Whether you’re looking for a quick and convenient meal replacement option or simply want to fuel your body with the best possible nutrients, Ka’Chava Meal Replacement Shake has got you covered. Made with a powerful blend of organic superfoods and plant-based protein, this shake is the ultimate all-in-one whole body meal.

If you’re a fan of chocolate, you’ll love the rich and indulgent flavor of the Chocolate Ka’Chava Meal Replacement Shake. Each bag contains 930g of powder, which can be used to make 15 meals with a serving size of 62g.

But it’s not just the taste that makes Ka’Chava so great. This shake is loaded with 70+ plant-based superfoods, including chia seeds, maca root, and acai berries, to provide a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and nutrients. Plus, the protein blend is sourced from peas, chia seeds, and other plant sources, making it a great option for vegans and anyone who wants to avoid dairy.

If you’re looking to improve your overall health and well-being, give Ka’Chava Meal Replacement Shake a try. It’s an easy and delicious way to nourish your body with whole food ingredients.

The Ka’chava meal replacement is packed full of excellent nutrients! I actually really like the sweet chocolate taste, yet it also has 9g of sugar (which appears to be naturally occurring from all the added fruits?). However, there are a few things that I would like the company to alter, before I would purchase this meal replacement again:
1. Please use methylcobalamin Vitamin B12, NOT cyanocobalamin Vitamin B12, because the former is natural and the latter is synthetically bound to cyanide! It appears the only damn reason nutrition labs make cyanocobalamin is because the cyanide gives the B12 a slightly longer shelf life, but at what toxic cost to a human body taking it?!
2. Most of the ingredients are organic, which is good, but it would be truly excellent if all the ingredients were sourced organic.
3. The price for the Ka’chava blend is a bit steep. I predominantly purchase the Sunwarrior and Garden of Life meal replacements, because they both have excellent, all organic ingredients at a far better price to quantity ratio.

This is a good product. I grab this on the mornings when I am running late and need to run out the door. This is a quick breakfast and I am able to start my day with good nutrients, etc. Eating gluten free, clean, and healthy is really important to me as I have experienced reactions to food/ingredients in the past. I don’t have any negative reactions with this product at all. I have had both the chocolate and vanilla flavors and I really like them both. I mix with almond milk and some ice and put it in my mini blender and walla – delicious smoothie for breakfast. I enjoy it. The only downside to this product is the price. I debated and debated whether to buy this – I wanted to try. Would love to find something with superfoods/nutrient dense, dairy free, soy free, gmo free, clean, low sugar, good tasting without the big price tag, but don’t know of another option. Price aside, good product.

The three most popular Ka’ chava negative reviews on Amazon are:

I am a pretty easy to satisfy when it comes to food and beverages… definitely not too demanding on flavors. But I must say that the chocolate flavored version of this product is pretty bad tasting. I carry a very low sugar diet and I do not spice up or season too heavy any of my meals, so I am not expecting “healthy” alternatives to taste particularly good or sweet. But this is ridiculous.
Considering how expensive this product is, that most, if not all of the statements claimed by the product are “non FDA evaluated”, that daily nutritional/dietary values are not established, and that the flavor is *extremely* bad, the price should be subject to a steep downward correction. I would not pay more than $19.99 for a product like this. Yet it is priced at $77.99.
I most certainly don’t want a refund or to be contacted regarding my review. I am just being purely honest about my experience with it.

This review is an on the quality of the taste as it was excellent. But for the price amount of sugar it is very pricey. 15 servings for $100. There are other products in the market that are equally as good and not as expensive

Ka’chava Side Effects and Complaints

Kachava has a pretty good track record of reviews online, and seems unlikely to cause side effects in most people. One user on Amazon reported the following complaint / side effects from Ka Chava:

While I know this is a top notch quality product, it bloated and gave me diarrhea as well as weight gain. Hope it works for you, it sucked for me.

Other Unbiased Ka’Chava Reviews

As we mentioned earlier, there’s no shortage of reviews for Kachava online. But most of those reviews are just promoting the product and trying to get you to click on the links so they get a commission.

So, after searching and scouring for unbiased Ka chava reviews, here’s what we found:

Illuminate Labs Kachava Review

Ka’Chava provides an effective protein dose and has a wide range of whole food ingredients. We do not recommend the product overall due to the inclusion of several additive ingredients including digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals and natural flavors.

The price of Ka’Chava is relatively high at nearly $5 per serving, which is the highest price of any meal replacement product we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health to date.

Some customers report a poor taste, and this is something we experienced ourselves when we tried the product.

While we don’t recommend Ka’Chava, we don’t believe it’s likely to cause any side effects. Those set on purchasing this product should do so from the official manufacturer website where it’s significantly cheaper than on Amazon.

We consider Ka’Chava to be a healthier option than another popular meal replacement shake called Huel, although it’s significantly more expensive per-serving.

Fitness & Finance Review

Summary: Pros and Cons of Ka’ Chava Protein

Pros (What We Like About Kachava):

• Solid organic plant based protein blend.
• Balanced macronutrient profile for a meal replacement.
• Quality superfoods, adaptogens, and probiotics.

Cons (What We Don’t Love About Ka’ Chava:

• Get rid of the 6-7 grams of added sugar! Use a bit more organic monkfruit instead.
• Ditch the “natural” flavors, gums, and added vitamins.
• Find an organic source of pea protein.
• Disclose if there’s corn or other allergens on the label.

Compare Our Kachava Alternative–Pure Food Real Meal

Here’s a quick comparison of Ka’ Chava Meal Replacement Powder vs. Pure Food Real Meal:

Save 20% on Pure Food when you sign up for our emails. 

The majority of KOS protein powder reviews you’ll find online (and this applies to most brands) are biased because they get commission.

This one is different.

Because, in full disclosure, we sell our own line of plant-based supplements.

And for the last several years, we’ve been publishing honest reviews of our competitors’ products to help our customers understand how they compare to ours.

This KOS protein powder review will focus on objective criteria like ingredients, nutrition facts, and price and analyzing verified customer reviews on Amazon.

Read on to find out more.

Who Owns KOS Protein Powder?

KOS is a privately owned company started by a couple of entrepreneurs based out of Washington.

Where Can You Buy KOS Protein Shakes?

KOS organic proteins and shakes are available for sale at Whole Foods, Target, Vitamin Shoppe, and Amazon.

KOS Organic Plant Protein Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

Is KOS protein powder healthy? Here’s what they say on their website:

KOS’ suite of superfoods are designed to give your engine the high-octane punch it needs — and without the fuel contaminants found in today’s dysfunctional food system. We want to infuse you, and your community, with vibrant, sustainable, organic health and well-being. At the risk of sounding saccharine, we really want to do good by the world, and by you. Blame it on our moms. Food has a problem. KOS is approaching the issue at its energy base, building a brick-by-brick model of individual sustainability that can’t help but scale to the larger world. Because the larger world is All of Us.

Ok, pretty cool, we can definitely get down with that philosophy which closely mirrors our own.

But let’s dig into the numbers a bit deeper and see what we find …

KOS Chocolate Protein Powder Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

KOS Vanilla Protein Powder Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

Overall, I think KOS appears to offer some of the higher quality plant protein powders on the market.

I like that their protein blend is organic and contains a mix of several different plant proteins (bonus points for this because you get more amino acids / better absorption with multi-source plant-based powders).

Here’s a complete list of pros and cons:

KOS Protein Powder Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Complete organic plant based protein blend.
• Balanced vitamin and mineral profile.
• Contains organic superfoods and enzymes.

Cons:

• Get rid of the 2 grams of added sugar and boost the fiber intake. Most people already get more than enough sugar, and it’s one of the biggest causes of weight gain. Even though organic coconut sugar is a lower glycemic sweetener choice compared to others, we’d like to see them use a bit more organic monkfruit instead.
• Ditch the “natural” flavors and gums (although they do use organic versions, which are much better than non-organic flavors, which are often loaded with mystery chemicals)
• It’s not clear where their ingredients are sourced from. Most plant proteins are grown in China, where standards aren’t as stringent and soils are often more polluted due to industrial contimination–so it’s always a good idea to ask where the ingredients in your protein shake are grown (not just produced).

KOS Flavors

KOS now offers protein powders in these flavors:

• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Blueberry Muffin
• Chocolate Chip Mint
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Salted Caramel Coffee
• Unflavored

KOS Protein Cost Per Serving

On their website, KOS offers several different pricing options, depending on the serving size. Here is current pricing for their chocolate protein powder:

• 10 servings: $24.99
• 14 servings: $34.99
• 30 servings: $49.99

They also have a Subscribe & Save program that can save you 15%.

KOS Protein Powder Reviews

As discussed, it’s hard to find unbiased reviews on the Internet … but Amazon is still a pretty solid source (despite their many other shortcomings).

Here’s what reviewers on Amazon say about KOS protein shakes:

Here’s the most liked KOS protein positive review on Amazon:

Alright, I’ll start off by saying this is the BEST protein powder I have ever had. I have tried multiple brands (big and small, MLM or bought at target) and a lot I have trashed. I have a degree in nutrition and fitness, I’m a wife, a boy mom chef, a very busy online nutrition and fitness professional.

I don’t have time for crappy products. I don’t want to be eating or drinking them, I won’t recommend them to my clients and I certainly won’t give them to my kids or family. Thankfully this product hit the amazing mark in everything.

1. The plant protein sources; pea, flax, quinoa, pumpkin and chia. Pea protein is an awesome source of protein along with the carbs we want. Flax and chia are great sources of omega 3’s (which we all need more of since we are typically high in omega 6 which causes inflammation), Chia seeds are perfect for adding in additional fiber into our diets with very little effort. Quinoa is the perfect mix of protein and good carbs and pumpkin is amazing for our reproductive health – women and men!

2. The awesome enzyme blend; amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, and cellulase. Protease which digests protein.
Amylase digests carbohydrates. Lipase for fats and oils digestion. Lactase which digests dairy products. And cellulase that converts glucose. Who wouldn’t want this in their protein shake?

3. The sweet stuff. Organic agave, Organic Coconut Sugar, Stevia, Monk Fruit. Perfect blend of sweet without being too sweet and a bonus because it doesn’t upset any of the little bellies in my home.

4. The fruit and vegetable blend they have formulated is perfect! It leaves no grit, even with foods like quinoa and seeds being in it. It blends perfectly, super smooth, cooks well, freezes in other foods well, isn’t clumpy, and it’s $39? People pay $200+ for a shake that doesn’t taste half as good and is loaded with things that can cause a lot of GI distress. I would easily pay $200 for this shake. They batch test their own products..no weird, sketchy other company needed. If something is too high – the ditch it!

5. This one is pretty important. Their customer service is amazing! I work in an industry where client relations is SO important and these guys nailed it with their team. They’ve answered tons of questions for me and have been so kind!

I ordered the Vanilla to try first – but I love it so much I know that the chocolate will be just as good if not better! I’ll be ordering that tonight. Happy to say I will never have to try or search for another protein powder again! I will 100% be recommending this to ALL of my clients, family, friends and anyone I know because I love it that much!

The most popular negative review of KOS on Amazon is:

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2019

With all the positive reviews I thought this was the ONE! Boy was I wrong! Disgusting! If Amazon had a negative star I would say -10!
And no returns at all! Way bad intestinal issues as well!

Compare Our KOS Alternative–Pure Food Real Meal

Here’s a quick comparison of KOS Organic Plant Protein Powder (Chocolate) vs. Pure Food Real Meal:

Plnt is a plant protein powder brand created by Vitamin Shoppe. Upon first glance, it looks like a viable plant-based protein for those looking to avoid dairy and other animal proteins.

However …

When I quickly browsed Vitamin Shoppe Plnt Powder reviews on their website and Amazon, I was surprised to find that most people who have tried it are not big fans.

And in this review, I’m going to share another (totally different) reason why you might want to avoid it: the junk ingredients they put in it!

I haven’t tasted Plnt, nor do I plan to, because one glance at the nutrition facts label and ingredient list is all I needed to determine that this protein powder is complete crap.

To find out more, read on …

*Disclaimer: I sell a protein powder. So naturally, I am a bit biased. But I keep my reviews as unbiased as possible by focusing on two objective pieces of information: the nutrition facts and ingredients list. These reveal a lot about Plnt and Vitamin Shoppe as you’re about to see.

What Is Plnt?

From Vitamin Shoppe’s website:

Welcome to the world of plnt®: an array of earth-friendly herbs, supplements and whole foods independently tested to ensure purity, potency and consistent quality. The plnt line of products is gluten-free and dairy-free, with ingredients sourced in nature. That’s why we leave out the “a” in plnt, to represent the absence of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or sweeteners. The result is nutrition that you can believe in.

Sounds great on paper.

Like I said before though, we have access to two pieces of information that help us determine if these warm and fuzzy marketing claims are really true: the nutrition facts and ingredients.

I’ll be analyzing each of these for Vitamin Shoppe’s two Plnt products:

1. Plnt Protein (available in Vanilla and Chocolate)
2. Plnt Protein Meal Replacement (available in Vanilla and Chocolate)

Let’s get to it …

Plnt Protein Powder and Meal Replacement Nutrition Facts and Ingredients Analysis

1. Plnt Protein

Things don’t look so bad upon first glance. Until you get to the “Other Ingredients”.

This is where things get dicey.

Scroll down to the “Red Flag Ingredients” section to learn more about the ones that are most troublesome.  

Vanilla

Read more below about “natural” vanilla and caramel flavors, gums, and maltodextrin.

Chocolate

2. Plnt Meal Replacement

I’ll be honest: there are some really impressive ingredients here. I like the protein blend, the digestive blend (they use the same probiotic strain as we do), and the fermented whole food blend (even though there’s just a speck of it at 50 mg)

But same story for the meal replacement product … it’s those pesky “Other Ingredients” that ruin an otherwise decent product.

See what I’m talking about …

Vanilla

Chocolate

Red Flag Ingredients

Now we’ll take a deeper dive into some of those ingredients I flagged above …

“Natural” Vanilla, Chocolate, Caramel, and Chai Flavors

Natural flavors are far from natural. Here’s what scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) say about them:

When you see the word “flavor” on a food label, you have almost no clue what chemicals may have been added to the food under the umbrella of this vague term. In addition to the flavor-adding chemicals themselves, flavor mixtures often contain natural or artificial emulsifiers, solvents and preservatives that are called “incidental additives,” which means the manufacturer does not have to disclose their presence on food labels. Flavoring mixtures added to food are complex and can contain more than 100 distinct substances. The non-flavor chemicals that have other functional properties often make up 80 to 90 percent of the mixture.

If you see any type of “flavors” on a food label, that’s a big warning sign … 99% of companies won’t disclose what’s in them because they don’t have to.

Corn-based Thickeners (Maltodextrin, Corn Starch)

Maltodextrin is a corn-based thickener/filler used in processed foods. A 2012 study found that consuming maltodextrin increased bacterial adhesion to human intestinal epithelial cells and enhanced E. coli adhesion, which is associated with autoimmune disorders and dybiosis in your gut.

Another study found that maltodextrin impairs cellular antibacterial responses and suppresses intestinal antimicrobial defense mechanisms, leading to inflammatory bowel disease and other GI conditions that arise from an inappropriate immune response to bacteria.

For people with grain allergies and intolerances, maltodextrin can exacerbate any current unpleasant symptoms you’re experiencing.

If you have any GI issues or suffer from joint pain and inflammation, avoid products with corn-based fillers like maltodextrin and corn starch.

Gums

All Plnt proteins contain xanthan gums, which are popular food additives used to thicken processed foods.

Xanthan gum can cause some very unpleasant side effects though (gas, bloating, cramping, etc.). And people who are exposed to xanthan gum powder might also experience flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation, and lung issues.

Again, if you have any gut health or inflammation issues, it’s best to avoid gums.

Non-organic Ingredients

Most of the ingredients in both Plnt protein powder and meal replacement are not organic. The problem with any plant-based food that’s not organic is there’s a strong probability it was grown with the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

Nobody wants pesticides in their protein shake.

Vitamin Shoppe Plnt Reviews Summed Up

Vitamin Shoppe’s Plnt is a run-of-the-mill protein powder that has a lot of red flag ingredients.

Stick with an organic plant-based protein powder with real food ingredients instead of the processed thickeners, fillers, gums, and “flavors”.