What is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating?
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
drink wholesome is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating. It is additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein isolates – 99% of supplements fail to meet at least one of these criteria. This makes it 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. Order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you.
“If you have a sensitive gut, you need simple ingredients.”
-Brittany Carpenter, MS, RDN/LDN
EGG WHITE PROTEIN POWDERS
PROTEIN POWDER SAMPLES
drink wholesome is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating.
What is bloating?
Does protein powder make you bloated?
What is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating?
Why drink wholesome?
What is bloating?
Bloating occurs when the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is filled with gas. People often describe bloating as feeling full, and it can be accompanied by stomach pain, a visibly distended (swollen) abdomen, excessive gas (flatulence), and frequent burping or belching. Bloating usually goes away after a few hours, but for some people, it is a recurring problem. The most common cause of bloating is a food intolerance or digestive condition that causes gas to build up in the gut.
Can protein powder make you bloated?
Protein powder makes me bloated, and I would not be surprised if it makes you bloated too. One of the most common side effects of protein supplements is bloating. Protein powder bloating usually occurs shortly after drinking a protein shake, and can last for hours. It can also happen to anyone, not just people with gut issues and sensitive stomachs. Whey protein is one of the common causes of protein shake bloating (more about this later), but bloating is also caused by added ingredients, not the protein itself. For this reason, protein shake bloating is often easily avoidable.
What is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating?
There two ingredients in protein powder that can cause bloating. The first is food additives. The second is dairy-based proteins like whey and casein. It follows that if you are sick of protein powders that make you bloated, avoid protein powders with these ingredients. You should also avoid protein powders with lots of fiber content. Eating lots of fiber can trigger bloating and flatulence, especially for people who are not used to a high fiber diet. Generally speaking, the reason why additives, dairy, and fiber cause bloating is that they are hard to digest. Keep reading to learn more.
Why drink wholesome?
drink wholesome is additive-free.
One of the reasons why we make protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating is that we do not use food additives. Most additives look nothing like real food, and are therefore hard to digest. They consequently linger in your gut for longer than food should, feeding your gut bacteria, which release gas. Excessive gas leads to bloating, stomach pain, and flatulence. It also slows the movement of food through the colon, resulting in constipation.
Moreover, regularly eating food additives has long-term ramifications. Over time, the consumption of additives can disrupt regulatory pathways within the intestines, paving the way for the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Impaired gut health can further impact your ability to digest food, causing more bloating and related side effects.
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 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.
*This is the actual ingredient list of one of the best-selling protein powders in the United States.
drink wholesome is dairy-free.
Another reason why we make the best non bloating protein powder is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many protein powders, on the contrary. are made with whey and casein, both byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt. These ingredients are notorious for causing bloating and digestive distress, especially for individuals with lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), who lack the enzymes needed to digest lactose, the sugar in dairy. The partially digested food feeds your hungry gut bacteria, causing gas to buildup in your abdomen.
drink wholesome is made with real foods.
A final reason why we make the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating is that we do not use protein isolates. In contrast, the vast majority of protein powders are made with one or the other (or both), which are essentially foods stripped of everything but the protein. Concentrates and isolates are labeled as “pea protein” or “whey protein” on the ingredient list, rather than as “peas” or “whey.”
Producing protein concentrates and isolates requires intensive mechanical and chemical procedures. It is worth noting that manufacturers sometimes use chemical solvents like hexane to isolate and separate the protein from the food. Consequently, what you ultimately put in your body looks nothing like real food.
Your gut has evolved to digest naturally occurring foods, not artificial imitations engineered in laboratories. Feeding it anything other than real food may thus upset your digestive system. The long-term implications of consuming processed foods like protein isolates are still not fully comprehended. Emerging research increasingly suggests that such foods can significantly alter the composition of your gut microbiota, however, leading to lasting damage to the delicate balance of the gut microbiome.
Beyond its role in food digestion, your gut acts as a protective barrier against harmful pathogens, contributes to the education of your immune system, and exerts influence, either directly or indirectly, on the majority of your physiological functions. Consequently, disruptions to the delicate balance of the gut microbiome have been strongly associated with the development of numerous chronic diseases. With this in mind, it is unquestionably in your best interest to steer clear of protein powders that use protein concentrates and isolates.
Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best no bloat protein powder with egg whites and almonds. The processing involved in making our protein powders is kept to a minimum. Egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried, while almonds are roasted, lightly pressed to reduce oil content, and ground. These minimally-processed ingredients serve as an exceptional alternative to protein concentrates and isolates, providing easy digestion and promoting gut health.
If you do not have an egg sensitivity or allergy, egg white protein emerges as an optimal choice for your gut. Egg whites possess several gut-friendly attributes, including low fiber content, low-FODMAP properties, natural alkalinity, and the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) among all whole foods. Feedback from our delighted customers indicates that they experience fewer digestive issues when consuming egg white protein powder in comparison to other protein sources.
For individuals who cannot consume eggs, we suggest trying our vegan almond protein powder. Almonds, unlike protein concentrates or isolates, are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and a variety of essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin E. Our preference for almonds as a minimally-processed plant protein source stems from their exceptional gut-friendly nature. Research indicates that almonds possess prebiotic properties, contributing to improved gut microbiome diversity and composition.
★★★★★
“I love this stuff!! I currently have vanilla, chocolate, and PB, and love all 3😍😍😍. Finally found a protein powder that doesn’t make me bloated.” – Kayla
Read more reviews or take the quiz.
drink wholesome is the best protein powder that doesn’t cause bloating.
CHOCOLATE PROTEIN POWDERS
PROTEIN POWDER SAMPLES
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.