How to Find the Best Clean Protein Powder
📌 Overview and Key Takeaways
This is a Certified Nutrition Coach’s guide on how to find the best clean protein powder.
Discover how to meet your protein needs without artificial or ultra-processed ingredients.
Clean Protein Powder
What Is “Clean” Protein?
Protein powder is a source of dietary protein in powder form.
It can be made from almost any high-protein food, including milk, peas, and eggs.
In nutrition, the word “clean” describes foods, drinks, and supplements that are as close to their natural state as possible , meaning they have gone through little or no processing.
A banana is a good example of a clean food; you cannot get much closer to nature than a banana.
Coca-Cola, on the other hand, is not clean; you cannot find it in nature, and it does not look like anything in nature.
So if you want to “eat clean,” the goal is to limit packaged and ultra-processed foods and cook more of your meals from scratch using fresh ingredients.
In other words, the more of your diet that comes from foods you could gather, grow, harvest, or hunt, the cleaner it is.
Now you might be wondering: if many packaged and processed foods are not clean, does a clean protein powder even exist?
This is a fair question, because protein powder is, without question, a packaged and processed food.
In fact, most protein powders are technically ultra-processed foods, which means they are not “clean.”
Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as isolated proteins.
In their natural state, dried milk and peas do not contain enough protein by weight to work well as a protein powder.
So manufacturers must strip away most of the fat, carbohydrates, and fiber.
This mechanical and often chemical processing is what places these products in the ultra-processed category.
To tell whether your protein powder uses an ultra-processed protein source, look for the words “concentrate” or “isolate” in the ingredient list.
Basically, most types – including whey, pea, soy, and rice – are not clean because they contain protein concentrates and/or isolates.
The only types of protein powder that could qualify as clean are egg white protein powders and nut-based protein powders.
But the protein source is not the only factor to consider when shopping for clean protein.
What Is the Best Clean Protein Powder?
The best clean protein powder is made from a minimally-processed protein source and a short list of simple ingredients.
Be cautious with brands that market themselves as “clean.”
A “clean” label on the front of a package does not guarantee clean ingredients on the back.
A popular protein powder with the word “Clean” in its name contains xylitol (a sugar alcohol), natural flavors (which can include added solvents and preservatives), and xanthan gum (a thickener).
I would not consider any of these ultra-processed ingredients to be clean.
A clean protein source should not contain gums, flavors, sugar alcohols, or other food additives.
⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives found in protein powders:
- 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
As a simple rule of thumb, if you cannot find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it is likely a food additive.
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What Is the Best Clean Vegan Protein Powder?
Clean vegan protein powder can be surprisingly hard to find because vegan protein powders tend to contain the most additives.
Plant protein concentrates and isolates can be chalky and hard to mix, so many companies add emulsifiers and thickeners to improve the texture.
If you want a clean vegan protein, read the ingredient list closely.
Do not let words like “organic” and “plant-based” give you a false sense of security.
Just because a product is organic does not automatically mean that it is clean.
What Are the Advantages of Clean Protein Powder?
The main advantage of clean protein is that it can help you meet your protein needs without artificial or ultra-processed ingredients.
It is particularly beneficial for people with sensitive stomachs.
Generally speaking, the less processed the ingredients are, the easier they are to digest.
Order Samples to see for yourself.
Editorial Guidelines
This article was written by a Certified Nutrition Coach and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and we regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
Who Is Drink Wholesome for?
Drink Wholesome makes protein powder for sensitive stomachs, GERD, IBS, and other gut issues. It’s suitable for most food sensitivities, including lactose intolerance, and won’t cause side effects like bloating, constipation, and reflux.
Why Is Drink Wholesome Good for Sensitive Stomachs?
Drink Wholesome is the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs because it’s additive, dairy, and gluten-free. It’s also made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds. Other protein powders are made from ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates, which look nothing like real food.
What’s the Difference Between Protein Powder and Meal Replacement Powder?
Drink Wholesome makes gut-friendly Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders. Protein powder is high in protein and low in everything else, whereas meal replacement powder contains fats, carbs, fiber, and protein because it’s intended to replace the nutritional value of a balanced meal.
What’s the Difference Between Almond, Collagen, and Egg White Protein?
We make three types of stomach-friendly Protein Powder: Collagen Protein Powder, Egg White Protein Powder, and Vegan Almond Protein Powder. As long as you get protein from a variety of sources, any type of protein can help you meet your total daily protein needs. In other words, for someone with a balanced diet, there is no advantage to consuming one type of protein over another. Order Samples to see which type you like the most.
Ask Nutrition Coach
If you’re wondering which Drink Wholesome product is best for you, ask our Certified Nutrition Coach. For personalized medical advice, consult your healthcare provider.
High Protein Blueberry Pancakes
PREP TIME
5 min
COOK TIME
5 min
SERVES
2
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Drink Wholesome
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 egg whites
- ¼ cup plant milk
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup blueberries
Instructions
In a blender, combine the egg whites, milk, ¼ cup blueberries, and almond butter. Pour the mixture into a small mixing bowl and add the protein powder and flour. Whisk until smooth. Pour ⅓ cup batter onto a heated and greased (or non-stick) pan to form pancakes. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes. This recipe makes 4-5 pancakes. Then, in a small saucepan, heat ¾ cup blueberries and the maple syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes. Plate the pancakes and spoon blueberry jam on top.
Author(s)
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