Sick of protein powder farts? 

How to avoid protein powder farts.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What are farts?

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Everyone farts. On average, people pass gas around 5 to 15 times a day, and surprisingly, 99% of these flatulence episodes are completely odorless. The act of farting, scientifically known as flatulence, is a natural bodily process driven by the activity of bacteria residing in our large intestine. These microorganisms produce gas as they break down certain undigested components of our diet, primarily dietary fiber and sugars that have bypassed the small intestine’s digestion process.

The composition of farts is mostly composed of odorless gasses such as oxygen and methane. That said, there can be trace amounts of less pleasant-smelling gasses like hydrogen sulfide, which contribute to the unpleasant odor associated with flatulence.

What are protein powder farts?

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Protein powder farts are smelly farts caused by protein powders. They are a common side effect of protein powder, and can be unpleasant for you and everyone around you. 

Why does protein powder make you fart?

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Many people assume that smelly farts are the price to pay for using protein supplements, but this is simply not the case. Protein powders and shakes should not make you fart, and if they do, you need to find a new supplement. Before you go ahead and switch brands, however, you need to understand what is making your fart in the first place.

Dairy, or lactose, is the one of the main reasons why protein powders make you fart, even if you are not lactose intolerant. If you use whey or casein protein, and experience flatulence, then it is time to go dairy-free (more about this later). That said, the reason why most protein powders cause side effects has nothing to do with the type or amount of protein. Protein farts are usually caused by added ingredients like emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors. Keep reading to learn why you should avoid ingredients like these.

Why drink wholesome? 

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drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why drink wholesome does not cause protein powder farts is that it is additive-free. Additives, even in small quantities, can cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, including bloating and flatulence. This occurs because food additives, unlike real foods, are hard to digest. They therefore sit in your digestive tract for longer than food is supposed to and give your gut bacteria extra time to eat. As they eat, gut bacteria release gas, which can make you fart. The easy way to avoid this is to cut food additives out of your diet. 

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

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 drink wholesome does not cause protein powder farts is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many protein powders are made with whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production, and known to cause digestive issues. This is especially true for people with lactose intolerance. Having lactose intolerance means that you do not have the enzymes needed to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy. As you just learned, partially digested food feeds the hungry bacteria in your gut, which produce gas. 

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why drink wholesome does not cause protein powder farts is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Almost all other protein powders rely on one or both of these protein sources. The issue with protein concentrates and isolates arises from the fact that they have been stripped of everything (fats, carbs, etc.) but the protein, leaving them looking nothing like real food.

Your digestive system is good at digesting unprocessed or minimally-processed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. Recent research even suggests that the consumption of refined ingredients like these can alter the composition of your microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food. As you might have guessed, an imbalanced gut microbiome can make the process of digesting food more challenging, providing your hungry, gas-producing gut bacteria with even more to feast upon.

We take immense pride in making protein powder with simple ingredients like egg whites and almonds. Ingredients like these are much easier on the digestive system compared to protein concentrates and isolates.

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, whole protein sources such as egg whites and almonds have enzymes and digestive aids that facilitate their digestion. Moreover, egg whites are not only low in fiber and FODMAPs, but also contribute to maintaining an alkaline gut environment and fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Consequently, our satisfied customers have reported experiencing fewer digestive issues when using our egg white protein powder compared to other protein supplements on the market.

For those adhering to a vegan diet or having dietary restrictions that exclude eggs, our vegan almond protein powder stands as an excellent plant-based alternative. Almonds possess prebiotic effects, enhancing the diversity of your gut microbiome while also promoting regular and healthy bowel movements. In essence, by using straightforward ingredients, we have developed protein powders that will not leave you gassy!

★★★★★

easy to digest

“Finally a protein powder that does not make me gassy. I have been using this every day for months and absolutely love it!” – Wen

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