Are Fairlife protein shakes good for you?
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
Are Fairlife protein shakes good for you? Fairlife Core Power protein shakes are not good for you. Keep reading to learn more about the ingredients in Fairlife protein shakes, and why they can cause uncomfortable side effects.
Fairlife protein shake review.
What are Fairlife protein shakes?
Fairlife Nutrition Facts.
Fairlife ingredients.
Are Fairlife protein shakes good for you?
What are Fairlife protein shakes?
Fairlife is a brand of ultra-filtered milk distributed by the Coca-Cola Company. Their protein shakes, which can be found at most gas stations in the United States, are cheap, convenient, and one of the most popular protein supplements. With 26 grams of protein per serving, Core Power protein shakes are certainly a great way to boost your intake, but are they healthy? In this article, we will take a close look at Fairlife’s ingredients so you can decide for yourself.
Fairlife Nutrition Facts.
Fairlife milk contains more protein and less sugar than ordinary milk. A 14oz Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake contains 170 calories, 26 grams of protein, and 5 grams of sugar. From a Nutritional Standpoint, it looks like a good source of dietary protein. Just because the nutrient content looks good does not mean that a protein supplement is good for you, however. The ingredients matter just as much, if not more, and in this category, Fairlife fails miserably.
Fairlife ingredients.
Filtered Lowfat Grade A Milk
The first ingredient and main source of protein in a Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake is Filtered Lowfat Grade A Milk. To make filtered milk, milk is passed through a semipermeable membrane, which removes some of the water and lactose (sugar). What is left behind is milk with more protein and less sugar than ordinary milk. This might sound like you can have your cake and eat it too, but hold your horses.
Because Fairlife protein shakes still contain some sugar (lactose), they can cause digestive issues, especially for people with lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not make enough lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. It is estimated that roughly two thirds of the world’s population has some degree of lactose intolerance, which makes sense because humans no longer “need” the ability to digest milk after breastfeeding. Common symptoms include bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
food additives
A Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake contains almost a half dozen food additives. Additives may improve characteristics like taste, texture, and shelf stability, but they can also cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut damage. Basically, because they look nothing like real food, food additives are hard to digest. They therefore sit in your gut for longer than food should, which gives your gut bacteria more time to eat. As they eat, these bacteria produce gas, causing bloating and stomach pain.
Gas also slows colonic transit (the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon), which can lead to constipation. Over time, food additives can add up (especially if you drink a protein shake every day), and disrupt regulatory pathways in the intestine. Eventually, this can lead to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic inflammatory disorders.
Here are the food additives in a Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake:
Natural Flavors, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum
natural flavors
A quick note about natural flavors…Most people are aware that artificial flavors are synthesized 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 as they alter the composition of your gut microbiota (the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food). This can lead to serious, chronic GI problems, widespread inflammation, and permanent damage to the gut microbiome.
Some sweeteners are also poorly absorbed by the gut (meaning they feed those hungry gut bacteria), and cause diarrhea because they draw water into your intestine. Now you finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom!
Here are the artificial sweeteners in a Fairlife Core Power Vanilla Protein Shake:
Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose
stevia
The final Fairlife 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 from the stevia rebaudiana plant 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 good for you because they are made with ingredients that can can cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut damage, which research shows can play a role in the development of a number of chronic diseases. This is why you should choose a simple protein supplement like drink wholesome.
Unlike Core power protein shakes, our protein powders are additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein isolates. They are perfect for people with gut issues and sensitive stomachs, as well as for people just looking to boost their protein intake without the processing and added junk.
Fairlife ingredients:
Filtered Lowfat Grade A Milk, Contains Less Than 1% of: Natural Flavors, Monk Fruit Juice Concentrate, Stevia Leaf Extract, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Lactase Enzyme, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates like most protein supplement companies, we make our protein powders with whole foods like egg whites and almonds. Egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried before becoming protein powder. Almonds are just roasted, pressed to remove some of the oil, and ground. Whole foods like these are an easy to digest, gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.
Whole foods contain a variety of enzymes and other digestive aids that help to break down the food, making it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients. Protein isolates and concentrates, on the other hand, have been stripped of these digestive aids, making them harder for the body to digest and absorb. Moreover, minimally-processed plant-based foods like almonds are rich in fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
Unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to eggs, egg white protein is the best protein for your gut. Egg whites are low in fiber, low-FODMAP, naturally alkaline, and have the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) of any whole food. Our customers have experienced fewer digestive issues with egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein powder.
If you cannot eat eggs, try our vegan almond protein powder. We prefer almonds to other plant protein sources because they are more gut-friendly. Research suggests that almonds possess prebiotic properties that can improve the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome.
★★★★★
“I’ve had Crohn’s disease for 20+ years and it’s always been hard to find a protein powder my stomach can handle. I’ve had no problem digesting drink wholesome AND it tastes great. I highly recommend this protein powder if you have IBS or Crohn’s.” – Jesse
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Fairelife Core Power protein shakes are not good for you.
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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.