Why do protein shakes make me feel sick?

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Why do protein shakes make me feel sick? I used to wonder the same thing, until I started reading ingredient lists. In this article, you will learn about what is in your protein powder, and why it might be upsetting your stomach. This article was written by Jack Schrupp.

Protein shakes and feeling sick

Can protein shakes make you feel sick?

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Protein shakes are notorious for making people feel sick (nauseous). Nausea can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and understanding why it occurs can be tricky. Sometimes, it is simply a question of eating too much or eating too fast, but it can also be related to the type of food you ate, and how it affects your digestion. 

Most protein supplements are not easy to digest. There are several reasons why this is so, and I will get into those shortly. All you really need to remember at this time is that foods that are hard to digest cause a number of unpleasant side effects, one of which is nausea. 

What to do if protein shakes make you feel sick

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If you just drank a protein shake and feel sick, here are a few tips that may provide relief:

1. Hydrate. Water plays an essential role in the digestion process, and being dehydrated can cause nausea and cramping.
2. Eat ginger. Ginger tea, ginger ale, and even fresh ginger can help calm an unsettled stomach.
3. Drink peppermint. Peppermint tea can help relax muscles and allow painful gas to pass.
4. Use over-the-counter medication. Medications such as antacids, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen may help relieve digestive discomfort. Always follow the recommended dosage.
5. Try heat therapy. Applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to your abdomen can help relax muscles and relieve cramps.
6. Rest. Stress and anxiety can aggravate stomach pain. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help calm your mind and body.
7. Consult a healthcare professional. If your digestive issues are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or bloody stools, seek medical attention promptly. It could be a sign of a more serious condition that requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

Although the tips above can help relieve symptoms, the best course of action is to learn how to avoid feeling sick in the first place. Keep reading to learn more.

Why do protein shakes make me feel sick?

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There are two types of protein shakes: ready-to-drink (store-bought) protein shakes and homemade protein shakes made with protein powder. Both are known to make people feel sick, and often for the same reason: they are hard to digest.

There are three types of ingredients in protein shakes that make them hard to digest: food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates. 

Avoid food additives

Emulsifiers, thickeners, sugar substitutes, and other additives look nothing like real food, which makes them hard to break down. Foods that are hard to break down can pull extra water into your colon, causing diarrhea. They also feed your gut bacteria, which release gas as they eat. Too much intestinal gas can cause bloating, stomach pain, and even constipation.

Eating certain food additives can also alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. This can lead to gut dysbiosis, which is linked to a number of chronic digestive issues. 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 diarrhea. This is in part because they contain lactose, a sugar most adults cannot fully digest.

Avoid protein concentrates and isolates

Most protein powders are made from protein concentrates and isolates, which have been mechanically and or chemically stripped of everything but the protein, including the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down. As a result, they can cause digestive issues and possibly even disruptions to the gut microbiome. 

Finding a protein powder free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates is hard. In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients. This is why we created drink wholesome.

drink wholesome will not make you feel sick

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Our protein powder will not make you feel sick because we use a short list of simple ingredients free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates.

our ingredients: 

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 powder than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see for yourself and avoid extreme stomach pain after protein shake once and for all.