My protein shake makes me nauseous

---

My protein shake makes me nauseous – In this article, you will learn why protein shakes cause nausea, and how to avoid this common side effect. This article was written by Jack Schrupp.

Protein shakes and nausea

What is nausea?

---

Nausea is the feeling of discomfort that makes you feel as though you might vomit, but may or may not lead to vomiting. It is a feeling that everyone experiences it at some point – perhaps while reading in a moving vehicle, or after drinking too much coffee.

There are many causes of nausea, including motion sickness, medication, viral infections, and food. The timing of the nausea often indicates the causes, so if you feel nauseous shortly after drinking a protein shake, it is likely that the protein shake is causing the nausea.

How long nausea lasts depends on the cause. Nausea from eating food will usually start to improve after a few hours. Nausea from other causes can last a lot longer. Call your doctor if your nausea lasts more than a week.

Can protein shakes make you nauseous?

---

If your protein shake makes you nauseous, you are not alone. Many people report that their protein powder makes them nauseous. 

I myself have wondered why my protein shake makes me nauseous, and it was not until I started reading ingredient lists that it started to make sense. Most protein supplements are made with so much processing and added junk that they look nothing like real food.

Why do protein shakes make you nauseous?

---

Protein shakes and powders can cause nausea for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the most common:

Food additives

Emulsifiers, thickeners, sugar substitutes, and other additives look nothing like real food, which makes them hard to digest. Foods that are hard to break down feed your gut bacteria, which release gas as they eat. Too much intestinal gas can cause bloating, stomach pain, and nausea. 

Regularly 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 known to make you nauseous. 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

Dairy

Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can make you nauseous. This is in part because they contain lactose, a sugar most adults cannot fully digest.

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. This can cause digestive issues and may even disrupt your gut microbiome. 

In addition to being hard to digest, protein concentrates and isolates have a chalky aftertaste . When paired with the intense, often sickly sweetness of sugar substitutes, this can make many people gag.

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. Keep reading to learn more about why we make our protein powder will not make you nauseous.

drink wholesome will not make you nauseous

---

Our protein powder will not make you nauseous 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.