What is the best protein powder for digestive issues?

How to pick a protein powder for digestion problems

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

Why are protein powders so hard to digest? 

Many protein powders are hard to digest, and if protein shakes upset your stomach, you are not alone. Every day, thousands of Americans experience gastrointestinal (GI) side effects after drinking protein shakes. 

There are two main reasons why protein powder causes digestive issues. The first reason has to do with the type of protein. Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, which are the most common types of protein used in protein powder, are notorious for causing side effects.

The second reason why protein powder causes digestive issues has nothing to do with protein. If you read the ingredient list on the average protein supplement, you will notice that it contains a number of added ingredients. These ingredients, known as food additives, can upset your stomach and cause long-term gut damage. 

What is the best protein powder for digestive issues?

If you suffer from a digestive disease, or have trouble digesting food on a regular basis, you need to be careful about which protein powder you choose. As a rule of thumb, look for a short list of simple ingredients, the shorter the better. More ingredients generally means more side effects.

As long as it is dairy-free and you are not allergic to it, any type of protein can help you boost your protein intake. Some types of protein may agree with your stomach more than others, but the real thing to worry about is food additives like emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors. Keep reading to learn more.

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for digestive issues

drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for digestive issues is that we do not use food additives. Even in small amounts, additives can trigger a range of unpleasant symptoms, including abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea, excessive gas, and stomach pain.

These symptoms occur because additives look nothing like naturally occurring real foods, and are therefore hard to digest. This leads to one of two outcomes: either water is drawn into your intestines, resulting in diarrhea, or the additives feed your gut bacteria, which produce gas. The accumulation of gas can lead to bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even hinder the passage of food through your colon, ultimately resulting in constipation.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:

acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, aspartame, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dextrose, erythritol, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, “natural” flavors, maltodextrin, rice syrup solids, soy lecithin, silica, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum, xylitol

The long-term consequences of eating food additives are even more concerning. Over time, additives disrupt crucial regulatory pathways within the intestines, contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Ongoing research indicates that food additives, especially artificial sweeteners, also have the potential to disturb the delicate balance of the gut microbiome—the complex community of microorganisms responsible for food digestion. This can, in turn, significantly impact your long-term gut health.

our ingredients: 

egg whites, coconut, maple sugar, vanilla

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

drink wholesome is dairy-free.

Another reason why we make the best protein powder for digestion problems is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. As you just learned, whey and casein, which are byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt, are known for causing digestive discomfort. This is especially relevant for individuals with lactose intolerance, as they lack the enzymes needed to fully break down lactose, the sugar in dairy. As mentioned earlier, undigested food can result in a variety of undesirable effects.

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best protein powder for digestive issues is that we use real food protein sources, not protein concentrates or isolates. Virtually all other protein powders are made with one or both of these protein sources.

Now, the issue with protein concentrates or isolates is that they have been stripped down to just the protein, making them look very little like real food. Your digestive system is designed to break down real, minimally or unprocessed foods, not protein concentrates and isolates. For this reason, refined ingredients like these throw off the balance of your gut microbiota. An imbalanced gut microbiome is the last thing you want if you have pre-existing digestive issues.

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for digestion problems with egg whites and almonds. These minimally-processed alternatives to protein concentrates and isolates are not only easy on your digestive system, but also beneficial for your gut health.

In contrast to protein isolates and concentrates, whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds contain enzymes and digestive aids that make them easy to break down. Additionally, egg whites are low in fiber and FODMAPs, help balance the pH levels in your gut, and support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Our satisfied customers have reported fewer digestive issues when using our egg white protein powder than with any other protein supplements.

For those who follow a vegan diet or have dietary restrictions that exclude eggs, our vegan almond protein powder stands as an exceptional plant-based alternative. Almonds have prebiotic properties, improving the diversity of your gut microbiome. They also promote regular and healthy bowel movements. In essence, by using simple ingredients, we have created protein powders that will not upset your stomach. 

★★★★★

easy to digest

“This is the only protein powder that doesn’t give me digestive issues. I love this product, the chocolate flavor tastes great and mixes well. ” – Emilio

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