What is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause gas?
If you are looking for a protein powder that doesn’t cause gas, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn how to easily increase your protein intake without upsetting your stomach. This article was written by Jack Schrupp.
Protein powder and gas
Does protein powder give you gas?
If protein powder makes you gassy, you are not alone. Bloating, farts, and stomach pain are common side effects of protein powder, but protein powder should not make you gassy, and if it does, you need to find a new protein powder. Before you go ahead and switch brands, however, you need to understand what is causing protein powder gas in the first place.
There are many reasons why protein powder causes gas, but in all cases, protein powder gas is produced by bacteria in the gut. The gut, also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or digestive system, is a pathway from your mouth to your colon. It is full of bacteria that help you digest food.
To put it simply, gut bacteria eat the food that you cannot digest, and produce gas in a process known as fermentation. Fermentation in the gut is similar to the process of turning grapes into champagne. In both cases, bacteria break down carbohydrates and release gas. In the gut, however, smelly farts, not delicious bubbles, are the byproduct.
The average person passes gas several times a day, so burping or farting from time to time is perfectly normal. Excessive gas or painful bloating, however, may be a sign that your protein powder is hard to digest. If you feel bloated or gassy every time you drink a protein shake, it is time to take a closer look at the ingredient list. Most protein powders contain one or more ingredients that are hard to digest and feed your hungry gut bacteria.
Again, the harder a food is to digest, the more your gut bacteria have to eat, and the more gas they produce. This rule applies to everyone, but is especially true for people with gut issues that prevent them from digesting food efficiently.
How to avoid protein powder gas
There are three types of ingredients in protein powder that cause gas. The first is food additives, including sugar substitutes. The second is dairy-based proteins like whey and casein. The third is added fiber. It follows that if you are sick of protein powders that make you gassy, avoid these three types of ingredients.
Avoid food additives
Most food additives are so processed that they look nothing like real food. This makes them hard to digest.
Regularly eating digestion-resistant emulsifiers, thickeners, sugar substitutes, and other additives not only causes gas, but also alters the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. This can lead to gut dysbiosis, which is associated with chronic bloating and flatulence. Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:
acacia fiber, acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, ascorbic acid, aspartame, calcium carbonate, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dicalcium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, erythritol, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, maltodextrin, mono- and diglycerides, ‘natural’ flavors, rice bran extract, rice dextrin, rice hulls, rosemary extract, silica, silicon dioxide, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, soluble corn fiber, soy lecithin, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, tocopherols, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, xylitol, zinc oxide
Avoid dairy-based proteins
Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can cause side effects like bloating and gas. This is in part because they contain lactose, a sugar most adults cannot fully digest.
Avoid added fiber
Some companies “spike” their protein powders with high fiber ingredients like guar gum. One popular brand, for example, adds a whopping 20 grams of fiber per serving this way. Not only is this way too much fiber for one sitting, but it is also an utterly unnatural form of dietary fiber that is particularly hard to digest and known to cause digestive distress.
Finding a protein powder free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and added fiber is hard. In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients. This is why we created drink wholesome. Keep reading to learn more about why we make the best protein powder that doesn’t cause gas..
drink wholesome is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause gas
We make the best protein powder that doesn’t cause gas because we use a short list of simple ingredients free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and added fiber.
egg whites, coconut, vanilla, monk fruit
the alternative:
Protein Matrix Comprised of (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Micellar Casein, Milk Protein Isolate, Egg Albumen, Glutamine Peptides), Polydextrose, Sunflower Creamer (Sunflower Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Caseinate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols), Natural and Artificial Flavor, MCT Powder (Medium Chain Triglycerides, Nonfat Dry Milk, Disodium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide), Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Salt, Yellow 5, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Papain, Bromelain
Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like collagen, egg whites, and almonds. Simple protein sources like these are easy to digest and absorb. They also each bring a unique set of digestive benefits to the table.
Collagen has been shown to reduce bloating and improve digestive symptoms. Almonds are rich in prebiotic fiber and improve the composition of your gut microbiome. Egg whites are alkaline, meaning they balance the pH levels in your gut, and promote the growth of good gut bacteria.
Our customers thus experience fewer digestive issues with our protein powders than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see for yourself.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. drink wholesome is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
