What is the best dairy-free soy-free protein powder?

drink wholesome is the best dairy-free and soy-free protein powder.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

Why soy-free? 

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Here are 3 reasons why you should choose a soy-free protein powder:

1. Soy contains isoflavones, a type of estrogen similar to human estrogen. Isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the human body and cause weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity, which research suggests can increase the risk of chronic diseases like breast cancer.

2. Soy is the leading source of protein for animal feed, and is also second only to beef when it comes to driving global deforestation and soil erosion.

3. Soy is among the most genetically modified (GM) crops on the planet, and is engineered to survive the direct application of herbicides and pesticides. Over 90 percent of soybeans grown on US farms, for example, are genetically engineered to withstand an herbicide called Roundup. US-grown GM soybeans therefore contain high residues of glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Roundup and a probable human carcinogen.

To summarize, the soybean is a cheap, protein-rich legume, but many people choose to avoid it because it is a common allergen, associated with adverse side effects, and the epitome of a genetically modified crop that has detrimental impacts on the environment and human health.

Why dairy-free?

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Here are 2 reasons why you choose a dairy-free protein powder:

1. Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production, are known to cause digestive distress. This is particularly for individuals with lactose intolerance, a condition that affects over one in three Americans.

2. Casein and whey protein are also known to cause acne. Dairy indirectly stimulates insulin production, which regulates sebum production. Sebum is an oily, waxy substance that can clog your pores and cause pimples. Dairy can also hinder your ability to process blood sugar efficiently, which causes inflammation, especially in your skin.

In summary, dairy is cheap, protein-rich, and delicious, but it can upset your stomach and cause you to break out.

What is the best dairy and soy-free protein powder?

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Dairy-free soy-free protein powder cannot contain dairy or soy-based proteins, or ingredients derived from milk or soy beans like sodium caseinate and soy lecithin. It is worth mentioning that many protein powders contain lecithin, but do not specify if it is soy lecithin. An easy way to find out is to check to see if soy is listed as an allergen. If it is, your protein powder contains soy lecithin.

It is also important to acknowledge that lactose-free does not mean dairy-free. A lactose-free food does not contain any lactose, but it may still contain dairy. Some whey protein isolates, for example, are lactose-free, but certainly not dairy-free.

At the end of the day, what makes a protein powder the best dairy and soy-free protein powder has little to do with protein. Any type of protein can help you boost your intake. What matters a whole lot more than what type of protein you are eating is what other ingredients snuck their way into the formulation. Unfortunately, most protein powders contain added ingredients that can cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut damage. Keep reading to learn more.

Why drink wholesome? 

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drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best dairy-free soy-free protein powder is that we do not use food additives. Even in small quantities, additives can trigger a variety of unpleasant symptoms, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain.

These symptoms arise because additives look nothing like naturally occurring real foods, making them difficult to digest. As a result, two outcomes can occur: either your intestines draw in water, leading to diarrhea, or the additives feed your gut bacteria, which produce gas. The accumulation of gas can cause bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even hinder the passage of food through your colon, causing to 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 long-term effects of consuming food additives are even more worrisome. Over time, additives disrupt regulatory pathways within the intestines, contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Food additives, particularly artificial sweeteners, also have the potential to disturb the delicate equilibrium of the gut microbiome – the community of microorganisms that help you digest food. This can cause widespread inflammation and the development of several chronic diseases.

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 made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best dairy and soy-free protein powder is that we do not use protein isolates. Almost all other protein powders use these protein sources. The issue with protein concentrates and isolates is that they are stripped down to just the protein, so they do not resemble real food at all.

Your gut is meant for digesting minimally or unprocessed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. Recent research shows that if you regularly eat these refined ingredients, they might mess with the balance of your gut bacteria. And as we talked about earlier, your overall health is jeopardized when your gut bacteria are out of whack.

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best dairy-free and soy-free protein powder with egg whites and almonds. These minimally-processed alternatives to protein concentrates and isolates offer excellent digestibility and benefits for your gut.

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, real food protein sources like egg whites and almonds come with natural enzymes and digestive aids that make digestion a breeze. Egg white protein powder is especially kind to your stomach because it is low in fiber, light on FODMAPs, and helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your gut.

What is more, egg whites themselves have been proven to boost your population of beneficial gut bacteria. In fact, our delighted customers have told us they experience fewer digestive woes with our egg white protein powder than with any other protein supplement they have tried.

Now, for those who cannot enjoy eggs, our vegan almond protein powder is an excellent alternative. Almonds have prebiotic superpowers, promoting a diverse gut microbiome and ensuring you enjoy regular and healthy trips to the bathroom. In a nutshell, our protein powders are gut-friendly because they are free of additives, dairy, and made with real, wholesome ingredients.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“I can’t have dairy, gluten, or soy, but I can have eggs, so this has been a game changer. I add it to everything. It’s an easy to add some protein to my diet. Easy on the stomach too.” – Martha

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drink wholesome is the best dairy and soy-free protein powder.