food additives
A Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake contains almost a half dozen food additives. Additives improve characteristics like taste, texture, and shelf stability, but they can also cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut health problems.
Here are the food additives in Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shakes:
Natural Flavors, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum
Basically, because they look nothing like real food, food additives are hard to digest. They therefore sit in your gut, feeding your hungry gut bacteria. As they eat, these bacteria produce gas, which causes bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Gas also slows colonic transit (the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon). This can lead to constipation.
Over time, regularly eating certain food additives can disturb regulatory pathways in your intestines, triggering the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Some additives can also alter the function and composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. An altered gut microbiome is a leading cause of inflammation and linked to the onset and progression of several chronic diseases.
natural flavors
A quick note about natural flavors…Most people are aware that artificial flavors are made in laboratories, but many are surprised to learn that natural flavors are also made in labs. ‘Natural flavor’ is more or less a catch-all term for everything that a manufacturer would rather not spell out on the ingredient list. While food manufacturers are required to disclose their ingredients, natural flavor manufacturers are not. They can add solvents, preservatives, emulsifiers, carriers and other additives to a flavor that qualifies as “natural” under current regulations.
artificial sweeteners
All Fairlife Core Power protein shakes are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, which are among the most harmful additives in the long term given their impact on your gut microbiota.
Here are the artificial sweeteners in Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shakes:
Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose
It is worth noting that some artificial sweeteners cause diarrhea because they draw water into your intestines. Now, you may finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom!
stevia
The final ingredient that I would like to discuss is stevia. Stevia is an inexpensive zero calorie sweetener derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant. It is over 100 times sweeter than table sugar, and is considered by many to be a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners like sucralose.
That said, stevia is often extracted using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol. This, one could argue, makes it barely more natural than the artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace. In fact, a recent class action lawsuit filed in California reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that the company in question falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as natural.
Are Core Power protein shakes good for you?
Fairlife protein shakes may seem like a tempting option for your daily nutrition, but beware! These protein supplements are not as good for you as they claim to be. Fairlife protein shakes are not healthy because they are made with a cocktail of food additives that can cause painful side effects and long-term gut health problems.
If you have a sensitive stomach, or are simply looking for a protein boost without extra processing and added junk, try drink wholesome. Unlike Core power protein shakes, our protein powders are additive-free, dairy-free, and made with whole food protein sources. Order samples to see if they are right for you.