Wondering how to stop feeling sick after protein shake?


How to stop feeling sick after protein shake – 10+ tips to reduce symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and stomach pain. Plus, an investigation of the reasons why protein shakes make you feel sick in the first place. Learn more about protein supplement ingredients, and what to avoid for side-effect-free protein boost.

can a protein shake make you sick

How to stop feeling sick after protein shake.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

Why do protein shakes make me feel sick?


If you just drank a protein shake and feel sick to your stomach, you have come to the right place. I am here to help you understand why your protein upset your stomach, and offer a protein shake stomach ache remedy. Please keep in mind that everyone’s stomach is different, and what works for one person might not work for the next. These are therefore just best practices that anyone can try if they are feeling under the weather. 

Your average protein powder is not easy to digest for 3 reasons: 1) it contains dairy 2) it contains food additives, and 3) it is heavily-processed. Dairy, additives, and processing can cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and stomach pain (more about this later). Let us first discuss what to do if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. 

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How to stop stomach pain from a protein shake.


How to reduce nausea. 

Drink lots of water. The body needs water to efficiently digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages. Dehydration makes digestion difficult, which increases the likelihood of an upset stomach.

Sit or stand. People with an upset stomach should avoid lying down or going to bed.

Eat ginger. Ginger may help reduce nausea.

How to reduce bloating and gas. 

Exercise. Physical exercise can help you pass gas and reduce bloating.

Drink peppermint tea. This easy home remedy also has a long history of reducing bloating and gas.

How to deal with diarrhea. 

Drink water, broth, or sports drinks. Staying well hydrated and getting lots of electrolytes is important if you have diarrhea

Eat plain foods. There is no particular food or food group that can reduce diarrhea, but bananas, white rice, applesauce, and toast are all safe things to eat.

How to get rid of constipation. 

Drink warm water. Drinking lots of water, especially warm or hot water, can help you poop.

Exercise. Movement can stimulate the muscles in your digestive system.

Eat more fiber. Fiber increases the size of your stool, which helps it move through your digestive tract. It also softens your stool, making it easier to pass.

Drink coffee. Caffeine can stimulate the muscles in your digestive system.

Depending on who you are, and what your symptoms are, these tips and tricks may help you feel better. Fortunately, most gastrointestinal symptoms go away after a few hours, so if nothing seems to help, just take deep breaths, meditate if you know how, and do your best to relax.

Unfortunately, if your protein shake upset your stomach once, it is probably going to upset it again. This is because most protein supplements contain a) food additives b) dairy-based proteins and c) protein isolates, all of which are hard to digest. Basically, if you want to stop feeling sick after drinking protein shakes, you need to start reading the ingredients list. 

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Why drink wholesome


drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why our protein powder will not make you sick is that we do not use food additives. The majority of other protein powders take a different approach by incorporating a mix of additives into their formulas. As you just learned, added ingredients like emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners, and flavors can cause undesirable gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, including bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence, particularly for individuals with pre-existing gut issues.

Additives are so processed they look nothing like real food, and do not fully break down during digestion. Consequently, they sit in your gut for longer than food should, leading to one of two outcomes: either your intestines absorb excess water, causing diarrhea, or the additives feed the bacteria in your gut, resulting in a surge of gas production. Excessive gas in your GI tract can trigger symptoms like bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even 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 main reason for avoiding food additives is their potential long-term consequences. The regular consumption of additives can interfere with regulatory pathways in your intestines, increasing the chances of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Additionally, food additives, especially artificial sweeteners, have the ability to upset the balance of your gut microbiome. This can affect your digestion and the absorption of essential nutrients, and trigger widespread inflammation.

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 our protein powder will not make you sick is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. On the other hand, many protein powders contain whey and/or casein protein, which are byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt. These dairy-based proteins have a reputation for causing digestive issues, especially for the one-third of adults who have lactose intolerance.

People with lactose intolerance lack the enzymes to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products. As you just learned, this incomplete digestion of food can lead to unpleasant GI symptoms.

vegan vanilla protein powder serving suggestion
vanilla protein powder lifestyle image 1

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make protein powder that will not make you sick is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein powders are made from these protein sources, which are essentially foods stripped down to only the protein. This requires extensive mechanical and chemical processing, at times involving solvents like hexane. As a result, what you put into your body is not real food.

Your digestive system is naturally designed to handle unprocessed or minimally-processed foods, rather than these heavily-processed protein concentrates or isolates. This is precisely why an increasing body of research is discovering that the regular consumption of ingredients like these can disrupt your gut microbiome, which serves a far more significant role than just digesting food.

Your gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in safeguarding your body against harmful pathogens, educating your immune system, and directly or indirectly influencing a myriad of bodily functions. It is crucial to recognize that an imbalanced gut microbiome, known as gut dysbiosis, is a matter that should not be taken lightly.

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chocolate protein powder 14 servings serving suggestion

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make a protein powder that will not make you sick using simple protein sources like egg whites and almonds. These minimally-ingredients are exceptionally gentle on the digestive system, and contain enzymes and other digestive aids that help you break them down. Protein isolates and concentrates, on the other hand, have been stripped of these components. 

For individuals who do not have egg allergies or sensitivities, egg white protein powder stands out as an top choice for gut health. Egg whites are low in fiber and FODMAPs, and have been shown to increase the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Our satisfied customers often emphasize that they experience fewer digestive issues when using our egg white protein powder compared to other protein supplements.

For those following a vegan diet or unable to consume eggs, our vegan almond protein powder offers an outstanding alternative. Almonds boast prebiotic effects that nurture the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome while supporting healthy and regular bowel movements.

For those on a vegan diet or unable to consume eggs, our vegan almond protein powder is an outstanding alternative. Almonds possess prebiotic effects that nourish the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. They also support healthy and regular bowel movements. In conclusion, if you are looking to enjoy the benefits of protein supplementation without compromising your gut health, you have come to the right place. You also now know how to stop feeling sick after protein shake.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“Thank you for creating this product ! I have gastroparesis and this is the only thing that has worked for me! I have tried every other protein powder and it all makes me throw up sick! I tried yours tonight and my stomach doesn’t hurt and I’m not sick!! Thank you again!!!” – Mallory

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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.

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