Huel Black Edition Protein Review (2024)

Hello there, our fellow Warriors… You probably heard about Huel company and their products. They are nutritionally rich foods, drinks, supplements and all kinds of products designed to meet very specific needs. They have plenty of products that are vegan friendly, gluten-free, lactose-free, full of vitamins, minerals and much more… 

Today we will be diving into the realm of proteins and meal replacements once more. As you probably already know, proteins are fundamental in our diets, often overlooked but most of the time they should be prioritized. 

The amount of protein powders and meal replacement products in the market can be absolutely overwhelming and many, especially athletes, fail in meeting their protein needs through whole foods alone. With the huge variety of protein supplements available, choosing the right one is not an easy task.

That’s where our reviews come in handy. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Huel Black Edition.

From what we can see on the Huel website, Huel Black edition offers a healthy and balanced nutritional profile meal replacement, tailored for folks who need a proper protein boost without compromising essential ingredients like fatty acids, micronutrients etc. like it often has a place in many products of their competitors. Let’s go deeper into the Huel Black Edition review.

Checking the label, the first noticeable thing is the nice 40g of protein per 90g serving. This protein content is sourced from a blend of pea and brown rice protein, providing a well-rounded amino acid profile. 

Carbohydrates and fats are also present, with 24g of carbs and 18g of fats per serving. 400 calories in serving and this macronutrient balance and plenty of vitamins and minerals included, on the first sight makes Huel Black Edition a really solid meal replacement option.

Deeper Look - Ingredients and Formulation 

Let’s take a deeper look into the Huel Black ingredients. The whole formula is built with a 17:40:40 ratio, meaning the 17% of calories in serving comes from carbs, 40% from fats and another 40% from proteins. If you are wondering about missing 3% - it’s fiber. Lactose free, gluten free and no artificial sweeteners. Looks great, but is Huel black Healthy? Let’s see…

1. Carbs

That split makes it a great option for folks looking to limit carb intake somehow but not completely like in case of keto or carnivore diets. 4g of added sugars (mainly coconut sugar) is not that big considering that it would be 4% of total kcal found in a serving.

It does not contain any artificial sweeteners if this is something you’d like to avoid. Coconut sugar and Stevia are used to make it more sweet.

It also contains 8g of fiber which is nice because not every meal replacement product has that. To look more deeply into the topic why fiber is important for your health - check studies: here and here.

A quick note for those looking to lose (or gain) some weight is that carb:fat ratio is not as important as total daily calorie intake. Most health benefits when people are losing weight are not related to a specific diet but most of the time to a weight reduction itself. 

You don’t need to fear carbs per se ( I don’t mean eat as much processed sugar as you want tho). The diet type does not play such a big role as adherence (here and here).

I personally like the idea of this specific meal replacement not being lower in carbs because from an athletic performance perspective carbs are highly important. 

2. Protein

The Huel Black protein blend of pea and brown rice protein ensures a complete amino acid profile, which is critical for muscle growth and recovery. Ideally you’d like to keep your protein intake between 1.6-2.2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight or ~1g of protein per 1lbs of bodyweight (desired). 

I know that we are mostly seeking for more protein from muscle hypertrophy and recovery from training perspective, but proteins are involved in nearly every process in the human body. 

Moreover - the majority of proteins consumed does not end in muscle protein synthesis. 

Here is a list of some roles of proteins (and amino acids, peptides):

• Regulation of gene expression, 
• cell signaling, 
• nutrient transport, 
• metabolism regulation, 
• RNA and DNA synthesis, 
• reproduction, 
• immune responses, 
• hormone secretion, 
• synthesis of hormones, 
• anti-inflammation, 
• recovery, 
• neuroprotective reactions, 
• blood flow regulation and much more… 

There are many reasons why people want to avoid animal based protein like whey - however, if you don’t mind, I will always say that whey usually has a better amino acid profile and better mixability. 

If you check this interesting study carefully you will see that gram-for-gram animal protein is surprisingly still better for muscle building than even a mix of plant based protein with the same amino acid profile. 

That being said, you will be absolutely fine with plant based protein especially if you’d stick to the numbers we mentioned above. 

3. Fats

The addition of healthy fats, primarily from flaxseed, will provide anti-inflammatory benefits.  Sunflower seeds have an “incredible” omega-3 to omega-6 ratio but fortunately Huel provides nice info about how much O-3 and O-6 is in one serving and it is in favor of omega-3s. 

This is actually great info considering that most people in western world consume too much omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3s. 10 points for label transparency.  Addition of MCTs - Medium-Chain Triglycerides makes it even better!

4. More

Huel Black Edition also includes a really comprehensive range of vitamins, minerals in nice amounts making sure that you’re not just getting protein but actually a balanced meal replacement supplement. 

If you’re wondering why they are below 100% of your RDI in one serving, keep in mind that it is a meal replacement supplement not a substitute for your daily vitamin/mineral intake. 

Inclusion of extra phytonutrients like for example Lutein is a nice addition, however 1.2mg is not something that will be a game changer. Often Lutein supplements offer 10-20 mg in a single dose. 

Probiotics found in Huel Black edition - Bacillus Coagulans MTCC 5856 - are found to be effective with IBS, functional gas and bloating, but usually in studies they are in much higher doses - 10x more. 200mn might not be enough for effective colonization but it will depend on the individual and the overall context. Regular consumption may help though.

Overall the extra nutrients aside from macros you’re getting with Huel Black Edition looks nice!  

Flavor, Taste, and Form

Huel Black Edition comes in many flavors, with Chocolate being one of the more popular options and one of the best Huel Black flavours. Reviews generally praise the taste, which is a significant plus considering many plant based protein powders struggle in this area.

There are 8 flavored options to choose from and even one unflavoured & unsweetened one. Variety extraordinary for plant based protein products. 

Great option for those not looking for a powder is that Huel Black Edition also offers a Ready-to-Drink option.

It’s very similar to its powdered friend offering almost the same things in a ready to drink product. Most important ingredients are included - macro split is very similar, omega-3 and omega-6 ratio still nice, high in protein and with a solid dose of micronutrients as well.

The macro split slightly differs, 23% of calories are from carbs, 39% from fats and 35% from proteins (and the same 3% for fiber). So with the same 400 kcal serving you’re getting 5g of protein less compared to powdered form, but you don’t need to mix a thing… probably just shake it a bit. 

Price and Value 

The cost of Huel Black Edition is around $2.50 per 400 kcal serving (with subscription), which actually looks quite nice for meal replacement supplements. Considering its comprehensive nutritional profile the value for money is actually justified. It’s not just a protein powder but a nutritionally balanced shake that can replace a meal.

The macro profile of Huel Black Edition makes it good for many diet types. High protein content and low sugar make it a great and healthy pick and it’s vegan friendly so this is your meal replacement if you are looking for one and like to avoid animal-based products.

Taste is generally nice, but it’s worth noting that flavor preferences are subjective and highly dependent on the individual. 

The price point might be potentially a barrier for some, especially without subscription, but the overall nutritional value compensates for the cost. 

For a Ready-to-Drink option you would pay 58$ (72$ without subscription) for 12 bottles so you will pay more for that extra convenience (and less protein). 

If you are not really into for vegan-friendly, lactose-free supplements and looking for a solid and healthy meal replacement that has much more than 400 kcal be sure to check Transparent Labs Mass Gainer. 750 kcal in one serving, 53g of protein from grass-fed whey, and 110g of carbs makes it something you should consider if you’re looking to put some muscles. 

One thing that needs to be said is 110g of carbs in one serving and there are no added sugars and artificial sweeteners or coloring. Much less micronutrients but if you compare prices you may be positively surprised taking into consideration that there is almost 2x more calories, extra 13g protein and… 3g of Creatine Monohydrate as well.  

Add to that for 1$ a day TL Multivitamin with impressive amounts of vitamins and minerals plus extra CoQ10 and 300 mg of Ashwagandha and you are having a solid stack that has your back.

Conclusion

To sum up, Huel Black Edition looks solid with its solid protein content and comprehensive nutritional profile. It is 100% vegan, low in sugar, and high in essential nutrients, making it a worthy consideration for anyone looking to enhance their protein intake while maintaining balanced nutrition, especially if you are vegan (but not only).

For folks looking to enhance muscle protein synthesis and overall recovery, Huel Black Edition provides enough protein - 40g of protein per serving, combined with a balanced intake of carbs and fats, supports both muscle hypertrophy and general health. The low sugar content and high fiber presence makes it a good supplement choice from a metabolic health perspective.

What is your favorite meal replacement supplement? Do you think plant-based proteins can match up to whey? Have you tried the Huel Black Edition? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments!

References:

1. Dietary Fiber Is Beneficial for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5731843/
2. Associations between dietary fiber intake and cardiovascular risk factors: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trial https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9511151/
3. Effects of weight loss from a very-low-carbohydrate diet on endothelial function and markers of cardiovascular disease risk in subjects with abdominal obesit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652323539X?via%3Dihub
4. The Effects of Isocaloric Intermittent Fasting vs Daily Caloric Restriction on Weight Loss and Metabolic Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled or Comparative Trials https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(22)00992-3/abstract
5. Steroid hormone synthesis in mitochondria https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303720713001597
6. The Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to the Ingestion of a Plant-Derived Protein Blend Does Not Differ from an Equivalent Amount of Milk Protein in Healthy Young Males https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36170964/
7. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation in the management of diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a double blind randomized placebo controlled pilot clinical study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26922379/
8. The effects of Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 on functional gas and bloating in adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36862903/
9. Photos by Torokhtiy Media Team.