What are the best meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs?

drink wholesome makes the best meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What is a sensitive stomach? 

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A “sensitive stomach” is a non-medical term used to describe a stomach that gets upset easily. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 5 people have a sensitive stomach, which means they frequently experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues such as bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and stomach pain.

Common causes of a sensitive stomach include food allergies and chronic digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In many cases, however, the exact cause is unknown. Fortunately, many individuals with sensitive stomachs can effectively manage their symptoms through dietary and lifestyle modifications, and by identifying and avoiding the foods or types of food that trigger their symptoms.

Are meal replacement shakes good for sensitive stomachs?

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Individuals with sensitive stomachs often struggle to digest food, which lead to weight loss and malnutrition. This is where meal replacements can come to the rescue. Incorporating a meal replacement shake into your diet is a convenient way to ensure you are getting the necessary calories and nutrients to maintain your strength and overall health. That said, not all meal replacement shakes are created equal.

What are the best meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs?

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There are several reasons why some meal replacement shakes are not suitable for people with sensitive stomachs. First of all, many meal replacements contain added emulsifiers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors. Ingredients like these can cause painful side effects and disrupt your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. If you need a meal replacement that is easy on the stomach, start by avoiding food additives. 

Many meal replacement shakes also contain dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, which are notoriously hard to digest, even for people who are not lactose intolerant. Steer clear whey and casein if you need a meal replacement that is stomach-friendly. 

Finally, the way that some meal replacement ingredients are processed can also make them hard to digest. Most meal replacement shakes are made with protein concentrates and/or isolates, for example, which look nothing like real food. For someone with pre-existing gut issues, this can be a huge problem. Stick to meal replacements made with minimally or unprocessed whole foods, not protein concentrates and isolates.

99.99% of all meal replacements contain food additives, dairy-based proteins, and/or heavily-processed protein concentrates and isolates. This is why I created drink wholesome. I was sick of meal replacements that upset my stomach, so I made my own with a short list of simple ingredients. I believe that the more your meal replacement looks like real food, the easier it will be to digest, and the less likely it will be to upset your stomach. 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 meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs is that we do not use any food additives, period. This includes gums, lecithin, fake flavors, and fake sweeteners. Even in small amounts, added ingredients like these can trigger painful side effects, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. 

Food additives are so processed that they look nothing like real food. This makes them hard to digest, which means they give your gut bacteria extra time to eat. Gut bacteria release gas as they eat, so more time to eat means more gas. This can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. It can also slow colonic transit – the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon – leading to constipation.

In some cases, partially digested food additives cause your colon to absorb extra water and/or prevent your colon from absorbing water. This is called osmotic diarrhea, and is the reason why meal replacement shakes make people run to the bathroom. 

Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacement shakes:

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

What is more, eating lots of food additives can disturb regulatory pathways in your intestines, leading to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory disorders. Food additives, especially artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also disrupt your gut microbiome. This is a leading cause of inflammation, and associated with the onset and progression of many chronic diseases.

our ingredients: 

egg whites, almonds, oats, coconut, cocoa, monk fruit

the alternative:

SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CANOLA OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, ISOMALTULOSE, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, VITAMIN AND MINERAL PREMIX, CELLULOSE, NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, MONO & DIGLYCERIDE, XANTHAN GUM, SUCRALOSE

drink wholesome is dairy-free.

Another reason why we make the best meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Plenty of other meal replacements are made with whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production. They are known to cause digestive issues.

Lactose, the sugar in dairy, is hard to digest for some people. As you just learned, foods that are hard to digest tend to cause unpleasant side effects, so it is definitely in your best interest to steer clear of whey and casein if you have a sensitive stomach. 

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best meal replacement for sensitive stomachs is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Virtually all other meal replacement powders are made from one or both of these protein sources.

Protein concentrates and isolates are foods that have been stripped down to only the protein content by intensive mechanical and chemical processing, sometimes involving solvents like hexane. What you end up putting into your body, it follows, looks almost nothing like real food.

Your gut is designed to break down minimally or unprocessed foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why research indicates that regularly consuming refined ingredients like these can disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome, which is the last thing you want if you have a sensitive stomach.

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best meal replacement for sensitive stomachs with egg whites and almonds. Minimally-processed protein sources like these are a gut-healthy alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, whole foods like egg whites and almonds are full of enzymes and digestive aids that make them easier for your body to break down. Egg whites have the added advantage of being low in fiber, low in FODMAPs, alkaline (helping maintain a healthy gut pH), and bioactive (fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria).

Almonds, on the other hand, are also super gut healthy. They are prebiotic, meaning they enhance the diversity and balance of your gut microbiome, and help promote regular and healthy bowel movements. Simple ingredients like this are our secret to making the best meal replacement shakes for sensitive stomachs. 

★★★★★

no stomach issues

“I’ve tried out so many protein powders and meal replacements, and they always gave me stomach issues…That’s why I got drink wholesome.” – Tommy

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