What is the best protein powder for prediabetes?
If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, you should avoid protein powders with lots of simple carbohydrates (Added Sugars), as they can trigger blood sugar spikes. Try to limit Added Sugar to only a few grams per serving. Naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are safe to eat. According to recent research, there is no link between natural sugar and prediabetes because naturally occurring sugars are digested and absorbed more slowly, and are therefore less likely to cause blood sugar spikes.
You should also avoid protein powders sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Several studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, which can lead to binging and feelings of withdrawal. Other studies have associated artificial sweeteners with a higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes.
You should avoid protein powders made with protein concentrates and isolates too. While high-protein, low-carb foods like these are low on the glycemic index, they can still measure high on the insulin index. For this reason, protein concentrates and isolates can cause hyperinsulinemia (abnormally high levels of insulin). In other words, while protein concentrates and isolates do not spike blood sugar the way that most carbohydrates do, they can still result in an insulin spike because they have an insulinotropic effect (they promote insulin secretion).
Finally, when buying protein powder for prediabetes, look for a short list of simple ingredients. The fewer food additives there are in your protein powder, the less likely it will be to cause gut health problems, which have been linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes. Keep reading to learn more.
drink wholesome is the best protein powder for prediabetes
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for prediabetes is that we do not use food additives like gums, lecithin, flavors, and artificial sweeteners. Even in small amounts, ingredients like these can cause painful side effects.
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
Food additives look very little like food, making them challenging for your digestive system to break down. In some cases, this causes your colon to absorb excess water, leading to diarrhea. In other cases, the digestion resistant food additives feed your gut bacteria, which generate gas as they eat. Too much gas and cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Gas can also slow colonic transit – the amount of time it takes food to pass through the colon – leading to constipation.
In the long term, regularly eating food additives can disrupt regulatory pathways in your intestines, setting the stage for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Some additives, especially artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also disturb your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. This can trigger massive amounts of inflammation and the development of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.