How to Find the Best Iodine-Free Protein Powder
📌 Overview and Key Takeaways
This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best iodine-free protein powder.
Discover how to easily supplement your protein intake without iodine
Iodine-Free Protein Powder
What Is Iodine?
Iodine is a naturally occurring mineral found in certain foods, namely seafood, fish, dairy, and egg yolks.
It plays a crucial role in the body by supporting the production of thyroid hormones, which, in turn, regulate metabolism and other vital functions.
Ensuring an adequate intake of iodine is of utmost importance for everyone.
That said, some people may need to go on a low-iodine diet.
What Is the Low-Iodine Diet?
The goal of a low-iodine diet is to reduce iodine intake.
Many thyroid cancer patients are advised to follow this diet as part of their treatment plan, particularly in the lead-up to a radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.
This specialized diet helps prepare the body for the RAI therapy, which involves the administration of radioactive iodine to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells.
By limiting iodine intake, the thyroid cancer cells become more receptive to absorbing the radioactive iodine, which enhances the therapy’s success.
What Is the Best Protein Powder Without Iodine?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only regulates the addition of iodine to infant formulas, the iodization of salt, and the addition of salt and iodine to foods.
It does not require food manufacturers to declare the amount of iodine in their products.
That said, it is safe to say that all protein powders contain some amount of iodine.
Most of them can be consumed in moderation on the low-iodine diet, but some should be avoided.
Protein powders made with dairy-based proteins like whey and casein contain, for example, should be avoided as dairy products contain high amounts of iodine.
You might also want to avoid protein powders made with soy protein as high soy intake has been shown to interfere with radioactive iodine uptake in some animal studies (Exp Biol Med (Maywood), 2013).
Finally, protein powders that contain the additive carrageenan should be avoided.
Carrageenan is derived from seaweed, which is one of the foods that naturally contains the most iodine.
If you need protein powder that contains no iodine whatsoever, you are probably out of luck.
If you can settle for a few micrograms per serving, however, then there are a few options, especially nut-based protein powders like Almond Protein powder.
Per the USDA database, 100 grams of almond contains less than 1 milligram of iodine, meaning 1 serving of Unflavored Almond Protein Powder contains little to no iodine at all.
Order Samples to see for yourself.
Sources
- Experimental Biology and Medicine (Exp Biol Med (Maywood)). Soy extracts suppressed iodine uptake and stimulated the production of autoimmunogen in rat thyrocytes. 2013.
Editorial Guidelines
This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Drink Wholesome for?
Drink Wholesome makes minimally-processed protein powder for sensitive stomachs. Because our protein powder is additive, dairy, and gluten-free and made from a short list of simple ingredients, it’s a great option for people with lactose intolerance, IBS, GERD, and SIBO.
Why is Drink Wholesome easy to digest?
No Dairy
Drink Wholesome is made without whey and casein, which often contain lactose, a sugar most people can’t fully digest. Some caseins also release a bioactive peptide during digestion that has been linked to digestive issues in some individuals.
No Additives
Drink Wholesome is made without food additives. Regularly eating certain emulsifiers, thickeners, and other ultra-processed additives can contribute to gut dysbiosis, which has been linked to chronic digestive issues.
Whole Food Protein
Other protein powders are made from ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of non-protein components that promote digestion. Drink Wholesome, on the other hand, is made from whole food protein sources, which might be more gut-friendly.
Collagen vs egg white vs almond protein powder?
We make three types of minimally-processed Protein Powder for sensitive stomachs: Collagen Protein Powder, Egg White Protein Powder, and Vegan Almond Protein Powder. As long as you eat a balanced diet, any type of protein powder can help you meet your protein needs. So just pick the type that best suits your personal preferences.
Ask our dietitian.
If you’re wondering which of our products is best for you, ask our Registered Dietitian. They’ll reply via email within 24 hours.
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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