What is the best casein-free protein powder?

Looking for the best casein-free protein powder? Discover how to supplement your protein intake without casein. 

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Casein-free protein powder

Which protein powders are casein-free?

Casein is a type of protein found in milk and dairy products. It makes up about 80% of the total protein in cow’s milk, with the other 20% being whey protein.

Casein is known for its slow digestion rate, which makes it a popular choice in supplements designed for muscle recovery, especially overnight, as it provides a steady release of amino acids.

That said, casein contains lactose, a sugar most adults cannot full digest.

For this reason, it is notorious for causing digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea.

Many protein powders are made with a blend of whey and casein protein. In order to know a particular protein powder contains casein, you have to check the ingredient list.

Note that some protein powders contain sodium caseinate, which is a derivative of casein.

Sodium caseinate is commonly used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener.

To be safe, you can always use a protein powder labeled “dairy-free” or “vegan.”

These labels guarantee that the product does not contain any dairy.

Manufacturers are also required to include allergen statements on their packaging. If a protein powder contains dairy, which is a common allergen, it will appear on the ingredient list. It might say something like “Contains: Milk.”

It is worth adding that “non dairy” does not mean “dairy-free.”

It just means that “milk” is not an ingredient. Unlike dairy-free protein powders, non dairy protein powders can contain milk derivatives like caseinate, milk solids, and casein.

Why should I use a casein-free protein powder?

Although it is affordable and nutritious, casein has a number of drawbacks. Here are the top reasons why you should avoid casein:

1. Casein can cause digestive issues. Whey and casein contain lactose, a sugar that most adults cannot digest. If you are lactose intolerant, they can cause digestive symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Dairy-based proteins like casein also undergo extensive mechanical and often chemical processing, stripping them of everything but the protein, including the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down. As a result, they may cause disruptions to your gut microbiome.
2. Casein can cause acne. Dairy consumption stimulates the production of insulin and insulin-like growth factor, both of which have been linked to acne development.
3. Casein is not sustainable. Casein is a byproduct of cheese and yogurt production, so turning it into protein powder can reduce waste. That said, it is also part of the industrial dairy industry, which emits enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, pollutes local water resources, and leads to the loss of ecologically important areas such as prairies, wetlands, and forests

In summary, casein protein powder is a poor choice choice for individuals with sensitive stomachs, acne-prone skin, and certain moral values.

Is dairy-free protein powder still good for you?

Some people claim that whey and casein are better for you than other protein sources, but this could not be farther from the truth.

While whey and casein are complete and highly bioavailable proteins, they do not offer any nutritional advantages for people getting their protein from a variety of sources.

A balanced diet will give you all the amino acids your body needs, which is why studies indicate that plant and dairy proteins yield similar results in body composition and muscle strength when part of a balanced diet.

In summary, although casein is a high quality source of protein, it is no better for you than any other protein source. Do not be fooled by clever marketing.

What is the best casein-free protein powder?

Any type of casein-free protein (egg white, hemp, pea, etc.) can help you meet your daily protein needs goal, but not all casein-free protein powders are created equal.

Many casein-free protein powder​s contain ingredients that can cause painful side effects long term health problems.

Among these ingredients are most food additives.

Avoid food additives

Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives can alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut.

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which contributes to a wide range of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 1 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.

The gut microbiome affects various physiological processes, including immune function and inflammation. For this reason, when the balance of bacteria therein is disrupted, it can have a huge impact on overall health.

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

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

By avoiding ingredients like these, you can ensure that your protein powder is a healthy addition to your diet.

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Drink Wholesome is the best casein-free protein powder.

Finding a protein supplement free from dairy-based proteins and food additives is hard.

In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or both of these problematic ingredients, which is why we created Drink Wholesome.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

We make the best protein powder without casein because we use a short list of simple ingredients free from food additives and protein concentrates and isolates.

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our protein powder​ than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see for yourself.