The Huel Black Edition Formula Explained

Huel Black Edition is a nutritionally complete powdered food that is high in protein and fibre, reduced carbohydrate, low in sugar and salt, rich in phytonutrients, with an alternative macro split of 17:40:40:3 (carbohydrate, protein, fat, fibre) and all 26 essential vitamins and minerals.

Additionally, it contains no lactose or any animal products, no soy, and no GMO.

Huel Black Edition meets the UK and EU Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI), Reference Intake (RI) and Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for macro- and all micronutrients[1, 2, 3], providing fewer carbs, higher protein and an alternative macronutritional ratio for those who are looking for something different to Huel Powder v3.1.

Continue reading to find out more about Huel Black Edition.

The Huel Black Edition Formula Explained

Huel Black Edition is 17:40:40:3 Macro Split
Huel Black Edition has reduced Carbohydrate
Fat in Huel Black Edition: Flaxseed, Sunflower and Coconut
Huel Black Edition is High-protein: Peas and Rice
Huel Black Edition is High-fibre
Vitamins and Minerals in Huel Black Edition
Phytonutrients in Huel Black Edition

Nutritional Information and Ingredients of Huel Black Edition

Full List of Ingredients
Full Nutritional Profile of Huel Black Edition
Huel Black Edition Cautions and Allergen Advice

Huel Black Edition is 17:40:40:3 Macro Split

The principle macronutrients that we obtain energy from food are carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre, and in Huel Black Edition we’ve set them at the ratio of 17:40:40:3 respectively; i.e. just 17% of the energy comes from carbohydrate, while 40% comes from fat, 40% from protein and 3% from fibre.

Amino acids are the most basic units of protein, and several amino acids are essential for life, with others being crucial for good health, so any diet should include a significant amount of protein.

There are also fatty acids that are essential for life and good health, so including sources of fat is crucial too.

Carbohydrates, however, are not essential per se. Although carbs do have significant benefits to sustaining even energy levels, some people prefer to have a lower intake of carbs for some meals.

We’ve designed Huel Black Edition at ratios to suit people who are looking for more protein and less carbohydrate in a meal. These levels both provide a sustained release of energy and adequately provide essential macronutrients for optimum health.

Carbohydrate in Huel Black Edition

The carbohydrate content of Huel Black Edition is 50% lower than that of regular Huel Powder to provide an alternative product for those who desire a different carb intake for a meal. Tapioca is a starch that comes from the roots of the cassava plant and we’ve used this as the primary carbohydrate source as it also provides a smooth, rounded mouthfeel. As Huel Black Edition contains no artificial sweeteners, we’ve used a small amount of organic coconut sugar to compliment the natural sweetener stevia to deliver a subtle sweet taste. The inclusion of organic coconut sugar is at a low level and a serving of Huel Black Edition is low in sugar.

Fat in Huel Black Edition: Flaxseed, Sunflower and Coconut

The fats in Huel Black Edition provide 40% of the total energy and are mainly derived from flaxseed and sunflower seeds to ensure that polyunsaturated fatty acids are included in optimum amounts. We’ve also included coconut for very good reasons: the fats in coconut are what are known as medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, and these are treated much like carbs, i.e. they provide an energy-rich, sustained fuel and are perfect for those of us with busy lifestyles[4]. But MCTs have another invaluable quality: they are not susceptible to oxidation and rancidity, meaning that they do not contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In short, MCTs from coconut are a healthy and efficient source of energy. Read more about MCTs here.

Essential nutrients can not be made by the body so must be obtained from the diet. There are two completely essential fatty acids (EFAs) that humans require: linoleic acid (LA – an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA – an omega-3)[5]. Using a blend of flaxseed and sunflower oil powder, we’ve ensured Huel Black Edition contains sufficient amounts of both of these EFAs as well as other omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. Moreover, these natural seed powders provide antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals. Free radicals may be involved in the pathology of cancer, cardiovascular disease and ageing, so it’s desirable to keep their formation to a minimum, and this is the role of antioxidants[6].

Huel Black Edition is High-protein: Peas and Rice

The RI for protein is 50g per day, but this only covers our very basic needs and prevents protein deficiency[1, 2, 3]. Huel Black Edition is high in protein for those who desire a higher intake of protein for some meals. All essential amino acids are included in adequate amounts from two vegan protein sources: pea and brown rice protein. Based on an average 2,000-calorie intake, you’ll be consuming 200g of protein per day from Huel Black Edition. This is an adequate amount for optimal health as well as building and maintaining a healthy body. Furthermore, protein is more satiating (appetite suppressing) than other macronutrients[7], and we've designed Huel Black Edition to stop unwanted hunger pangs.

Amino Acid Profile of Huel Black Edition

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are over 500 amino acids in nature, 20 of which are known as the standard amino acids, as these are the ones that are coded for genetically and are subsequently involved in primary protein synthesis in animals. Of these 20, nine are essential as they cannot be synthesised from other amino acids.

The nine essential amino acids are:

Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine

The other 11 are:

Alanine
Arginine
Asparagine
Aspartic acid
Cysteine
Glutamine
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Proline
Serine
Tyrosine

Amino Acid Content of Huel Black Edition (based on v1.2 Vanilla - amounts will differ slightly for other flavours)

Amino Acid (mg)	Per 90g	Per 2000kcal	PRI*	% of PRI/ Serving
Tryptophan	423	2114	347	122%
Threonine	1386	6932	1302	106%
Isoleucine	1535	7675	1736	88%%
Leucine	3055	15276	3385	126%
Lysine	2415	12073	2604	93%
Methionine	531	2653	1302**	76%
Cysteine	457	2287
Phenylalanine	2028	10140	2170***	160%
Tyrosine	1448	7240
Valine	1938	9692	2257	86%
Histidine	1174	5870	868	135%
Arginine	3101	15503
Alanine	1714	8569
Aspartic acid****	4176	20881
Glutamic acid*****	6766	33828
Glycine	1605	8026
Proline	1625	8126
Serine	1931	9655

*WHO (2007) Population Reference Intake (PRI) for essential amino acids
**Combined total for methionine + cysteine
***Combined total for phenylalanine + tyrosine
****Figure includes asparagine
*****Figure includes glutamine

All protein sources are not equal: some are classed as ‘complete proteins’ and some are not. A complete protein is one that contains sufficient quantities of all nine essential amino acids. Generally, proteins derived from animal foods (meat, fish, poultry, milk and eggs) are complete. Indeed, some proteins derived from plant foods (legumes, seeds, grains and vegetables) are often complete as well; examples include quinoa, buckwheat and soya. Many plant foods have insufficient amounts of one or more of the essential amino acids. Some are notably low, such as corn protein, which is low in lysine and isoleucine.

The protein in Huel Black Edition comes from three of the main ingredients: pea protein, brown rice protein and flaxseed. This ensures a good range of all amino acids and that there are sufficient amounts of the essential amino acids. Rice protein is high in the sulphur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine, plus it contains good amounts of all the others, but is very low in lysine. Pea protein is low in cysteine and methionine but high in lysine. This is why we selected these two sources, ensuring everything was covered whilst keeping Huel Black Edition vegan. Plus there’s additional protein from the flaxseed.

Huel Black Edition is High-fibre

A 2,000-calorie serving of Huel Black Edition contains 135-162% (varies between flavour) of the recommended daily amount of fibre. The fibre in Huel Black Edition is a mixture of soluble and insoluble forms all naturally supplied from the food ingredients, mainly from flaxseed, and provides more than most modern solid diets. The high-fibre content of Huel Black Edition helps to ensure the formation of normal, solid stools in healthy users.

Fibre acts like a sponge, so it’s important to consume lots of water when using Huel Black Edition[8]. The Huel Black Edition recipe has been designed to support digestive system health.

Vitamins and Minerals in Huel Black Edition

A bulk of the vitamins and minerals – also known as micronutrients – in Huel Black Edition are from natural ingredients. However, in order to meet the demands of a Western lifestyle, we've added a unique vitamin and mineral formula to provide, in some cases, more than 100% of the recommended amounts per 2000kcal while still remaining within safe upper limits.

Since the UK Dietary Reference Values were compiled in 1991[1], there have been numerous studies in the past 20 years demonstrating that, for many micronutrients, levels higher than the RNI may have beneficial effects to health.

For example, it’s widely considered that the amount of vitamin C we’re recommended to consume is too low[9-11], so we've reflected this in the formula. Benefits of consuming more vitamin C include a healthy immune system, healthy skin and antioxidant properties[10-12]

With calcium, the US recommended amount is more than the UK RNI (1,300mg vs 800mg per day)[1, 2, 13], and we feel the US recommendation is more than sufficient to protect against osteoporosis. With some of the trace elements, the levels are far higher than the recommended amounts. This is because we only need tiny amounts of them, but the natural ingredients in Huel Black Edition are a rich source.

Choline is a conditionally essential B vitamin, and although, strictly speaking, it can be synthesised in our bodies, it’s more efficient to obtain it from our diets[14]. It’s of particular importance for post-menopausal women[15, 16]. As Huel Black Edition is all about optimum health, the inclusion of choline was felt to be fundamental.

There has been some concern about phytic acid: a naturally occurring substance in some seeds including flaxseed. Phytic acid can chelate (bind) some minerals meaning that they’re less bioavailable[17]. As flaxseed is a large contributor to the nutrition of Huel Black Edition, we've ensured that there are adequate levels of some minerals, like iron and zinc, to accommodate any issues with phytic acid chelation. Furthermore, the high level of vitamin C in Huel Black Edition will also further promote iron absorption[18].

Phytonutrients in Huel Black Edition

Phytonutrients are substances found in plant foods which, whilst not essential, may exhibit some health benefits like disease risk prevention[19]. Junk food diets and many synthetic liquid diets that aren’t based on real food are deficient in phytonutrients, and thus consumers miss out on invaluable health benefits and antioxidant effects.

Because Huel Black Edition’s fundamental ingredients are plant-based foods, and some of these are already phytonutrient-rich, the benefits are passed onto anyone consuming Huel Black Edition. However, we've also added some additional phytonutrients to optimise the Huel Black Edition formula and to complement the antioxidant nutrients vitamins C and E and selenium.

The following beneficial phytonutrients have been added to Huel Black Edition:

Lutein: we've added additional lutein in our vitamin and mineral blend. Although not essential, there is concern that diets low in lutein may lead to macular degeneration of the eye in the elderly, as lutein is involved in eye pigment development[20, 21]. Lutein is also an antioxidant.
Zeaxanthin: another antioxidant, this has been added as it also has a role in long-term eye health[20].
Green tea catechins: green tea extract is included as it is rich in catechins especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are polyphenols with antioxidant activity[23, 24].

Huel Black Edition contains the probiotic Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856. Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria which, when consumed in adequate amounts, may have health benefits, particularly for gut health[25-27].

Huel Black Edition and FODMAPs

FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed and consequently ferment so can be irritant to some people's intestines[29]. Huel Black Edition is low in FODMAPs constituents so is suitable for people who follow a low-FODMAP diet. Read more about Huel and FODMAPs here.

Summary - Huel Black Edition is Food

As you can see, Huel Black Edition has far superior nutrition compared to most conventional diets. Huel Black Edition can be consumed as individual meals or even as a between-meal snack. In this way, it can be an add-on improvement to your diet to ensure you’re giving your body what it needs.

Ingredients of Huel Black Edition

Please note: we are currently making changes to our Huel Black Edition recipe to improve its taste, texture and sustainability. You may therefore receive either v1.1 or v1.2 in your order.

Ingredient information for both versions can be found below. Make sure to check your pouch’s packaging for accurate nutritional information.

Cookies & Cream v1.1

Pea Protein, Ground Flaxseed, Brown Rice Protein, Tapioca Flour, Sunflower Oil Powder, Cocoa Powder, Natural Flavourings, Coconut Sugar, Micronutrient Blend*, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut), Stabiliser: Xanthan Gum, Sweetener: Steviol Glycosides, Green Tea Extract Powder, Kombucha Powder, Bacillus Coagulans.

*Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Corn Starch, Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Lutein, Lycopene, Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Plant-Derived Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol), Potassium Iodide, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Calcium-L-Methylfolate.

Allergy advice: For allergens see ingredients in bold. May contain: Mustard.