What are the best meal replacement shakes for IBD?
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
drink wholesome makes the best meal replacement shakes for IBD. They are additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein isolates – 99% of meal replacements fail to meet at least one of these criteria. This makes them perfect for people with sensitive stomachs and gut issues like IBD. Order samples to see if our meal replacements are right for you.
★★★★★
“I have a sensitive stomach, so most meal replacement powders leave me with gas, bloating, constipation, and stomach pain, but not this one.” – Shon
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drink wholesome makes the best meal replacement shakes for IBD.
What is IBD?
Are meal replacement shakes good for IBD?
What are the best meal replacement shakes for IBD?
Why drink wholesome?
What is IBD?
IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It is an inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the small intestine and/or the colon. The two main types of IBD are: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
The exact cause of IBD is not fully understood, but it is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue.
IBD is characterized by periods of inflammation (flares) and periods of remission. Moreover, the severity and course of the disease can vary widely from person to person.
IBD is a chronic condition, and while there is no cure, there are various treatments available to manage symptoms and control inflammation. They include medications, lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and in some cases, surgery.
Are meal replacement shakes good for IBD?
Most meal replacement shakes are not good for IBD, which is too bad because a liquid meal is often the only thing individuals with IBD can tolerate during a flare-up. The average meal replacement is not safe for IBD primarily because it contains a cocktail of added ingredients, including emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners, and flavors. Additives like these can cause inflammation in the gut and even trigger flares. They can also cause long-term gut damage.
What are the best meal replacement shakes for IBD?
The best meal replacement shakes for IBD are, as you might have guessed, free from additives. Anything that is not a real food – a food that can be found in nature – it is probably an additive. Real, natural foods are the only things our guts were designed to digest. Eating anything other than real food is a great way to trigger gastrointestinal (GI) side effects and disturb your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food. This is particularly true for individuals with pre-existing gut issues.
Why drink wholesome?
drink wholesome is additive-free.
One of the reasons why we make the best meal replacement shakes for IBD is that we do not use food additives. As you just learned, most other meal replacements are full of additives. Even in small quantities, ingredients like these cause side effects like bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain.
Because they do not look like real food, additives can only be partially digested. Consequently, they spend extra time in your gut, which either causes your gut to absorb excess water, resulting in diarrhea, or feeds your gut bacteria, which produce gas. Extra gas can bring about symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even constipation.
Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacement 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 real concern surrounding food additives for someone with BID lies in their potential long-term implications. Consistently consuming additives has the potential to disturb regulatory pathways within your intestines, triggering chronic inflammation. Food additives, especially artificial sweeteners, can also disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in your gut. For this reason, research shows that food additives are a key environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease and other system inflammatory disorders.
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 shake for IBD is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Dairy-based proteins like whey and/or casein protein, which are byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt, can exacerbate IBD symptoms. This is because they contain lactose, the sugar in dairy, and because a high percentage of people with IBD also have lactose intolerance, the inability to fully digest lactose. As you now know, partially digested food can cause inflammation and unpleasant side effects.
drink wholesome is made with real foods.
A final reason why we make the best meal replacement for IBD is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Most meal replacements, on the contrary, rely on these protein sources, which are foods stripped of everything except for the protein itself. Concentrates and isolates appear not as “peas” or “whey,” but as “pea protein” or “whey protein” on the ingredient list.
Creating protein concentrates and isolates involves extensive mechanical and chemical processing. Some manufacturers even use chemical solvents, like hexane, to extract the protein from its natural source. Consequently, what you put in your meal replacement shake looks very little like real, whole food.
Your digestive system has evolved to efficiently handle minimally-processed or unprocessed real foods, not synthetic or heavily-processed substitutes. Introducing anything other than real food into your body can lead to unwelcome side effects. Although ongoing research continues to explore the long-term effects of consuming processed ingredients like protein isolates, emerging studies indicate that they can negatively impact the gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in digestion while also serving as a vital barrier against harmful pathogens, contributing to immune system education, and influencing various physiological processes. Upsetting the balance of the gut microbiome has thus been strongly linked to the development of several chronic illnesses. Given this connection, I strongly discourage the consumption of meal replacements made with protein concentrates and isolates. Instead, opt for whole, minimally-processed foods that support your gut health and overall well-being.
Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best meal replacements for IBD with real foods like egg whites and almonds. Both protein sources undergo minimal processing – egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried, and almonds are roasted, lightly pressed to remove some oil, and ground. We can guarantee that our meal replacement powders are not only easy to digest, but also remarkably beneficial for your gut health.
Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, real foods come equipped with their own set of enzymes and digestive aids that work to facilitate the digestion process. Egg whites are also low in fiber, low FODMAP, and alkaline, rendering them gentle on the digestive system. Almonds, on the other hand, have prebiotic effects, promoting the development of a diverse and gut microbiome. They also play a role in supporting healthy and regular bowel movements.
In conclusion, the well-being of your gut is our utmost priority, which is why we subject our meal replacement powders to minimal processing. This approach ensures that the inherent goodness of these real food ingredients remains fully intact, allowing you to experience the natural benefits they offer for your digestive health.
★★★★★
“Drink wholesome has literally save me so many times. I have IBD, and it’s the only thing I can tolerate during during a flare-up. Thank you.” – Dermot
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drink wholesome makes the best meal replacement shakes for IBD.
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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. drink wholesome is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.