What is the best plain protein powder?
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
Our unflavored protein powder is the best plain protein powder. It is additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein isolates – 99% of supplements fail to meet at least one of these criteria. This makes it perfect for people with gut issues and sensitive stomachs, as well as for people just looking to boost their protein intake without the processing and added junk. Order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you.
★★★★★
“With literally just 1 ingredient and no additives and no dairy, I never have to worry about my stomach hurting after a protein shake.”
-DeMari
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drink wholesome is the best plain protein powder.
What is plain protein powder?
What is the best plain protein powder?
Why drink wholesome?
What is plain protein powder?
There is no such thing as flavorless protein powder. Instead, there are unflavored (or plain) protein powders, which do not contain added flavorings. Keep in mind that plain protein powder has a distinct taste, and that different types of plain protein powder have different tastes. Plain pea protein powder, for example, tastes different than plain egg white protein powder. Most people who buy plain protein powder are looking for the supplement with the least distinct taste.
A good plain protein powder can be added to smoothies and other recipes without altering the taste or texture. It is perfect for people looking for an easy way to add protein to their favorite meals. Unlike flavored, sweetened protein powders, unflavored protein powder does not taste good when mixed with just milk or water.
What is the best plain protein powder?
Many plain protein powders contain emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners. Ingredients like these improve characteristics like texture and shelf stability, but can cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut damage. More and more research shows that disruptions to the composition and function of the gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food) can play a role in the development of chronic diseases ranging from gastrointestinal inflammatory and metabolic conditions to neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory illnesses. This is why I recommend that you use a simple protein powder like drink wholesome.
Our unflavored protein powder is not only additive-free, but also made with real foods, not protein isolates. Most plain protein powders, on the contrary, are made with protein isolates, foods stripped of everything but the protein. They appear on the ingredient list as “whey protein” and “pea protein,” for example, as opposed to “whey” and “peas.” Not only is this bad news for your gut (more about that later), but it is also a bummer for your taste buds. Protein isolates have a chalky aftertaste that ruin your smoothie and turn baked goods into hockey pucks.
The egg whites we use, on the other hand, are simply pasteurized, and dried before becoming protein powder. They have a delicious, natural aftertaste, and when you mix them with other ingredients, you cannot even tell that they are there. They therefore make a great addition to smoothies, oatmeal, and other high protein recipes. Keep reading to learn more about why drink wholesome is the best plain egg white protein powder.
Why drink wholesome?
drink wholesome is additive-free.
One of the reasons why we make the best plain protein powder is that we do not use food additives. Most protein powders, on the other hand, are full of food additives. Although not necessarily bad for you in small quantities, additives can add up quickly (especially if you drink a protein shake every day), and cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain.
Food additives are hard to digest, and sit in your gut for longer than food should, which gives your gut bacteria more time to eat. As they eat, these bacteria produce gas, causing bloating and stomach pain. Gas also slows colonic transit (the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon), which can lead to constipation. In the long term, food additives can disrupt regulatory pathways in the intestine and trigger the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic inflammatory disorders.
Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:
acacia gum, artificial flavors, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dextrose, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, “natural” flavors, maltodextrin, rice syrup solids, soy lecithin, silica, sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum
When it comes to identifying food additives, go with your gut. 😉 As a rule of thumb, additives are ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Food additives are not the only thing to avoid when buying protein powder, however. There are several other ingredients that can upset your stomach.
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.
*This is the actual ingredient list of one of the best-selling protein powders in the United States.
drink wholesome is made with real foods.
A final reason why we make the best plain protein powder is that we do not use protein isolates. As you just learned, protein isolates undergo heavy mechanical and chemical processing before becoming protein powder.
If you think about it, your gut was designed to digest naturally occurring foods, not laboratory formulated imitations, so if you feed it anything but real food, it might get upset. The long term implications of eating processed foods are still not well understood, but more and more research is finding that it can alter the composition of your gut microbiota, and lead to permanent damage to your gut microbiome.
Your gut does more than just help you to digest food; it protects against pathogens, educates your immune system, and affects directly or indirectly most of your physiologic functions. Disruptions to the gut microbiome have therefore been linked to the development of many chronic diseases. It follows that it is in your best interest to avoid protein powders made with protein isolates.
Instead of using protein isolates, we make the plain protein powder with whole egg whites. Whole foods contain a variety of enzymes and other digestive aids that help to break down the food, making it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients. Protein isolates and concentrates, on the other hand, have been stripped of these digestive aids, making them harder for the body to digest and absorb.
Unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to eggs, egg white protein is the best protein for your gut. Egg whites are low in fiber, low-FODMAP, naturally alkaline, and have the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) of any whole food. Our customers have experienced fewer digestive issues with egg white protein than with any other type of protein.
★★★★★
“I have ulcerative colitis and this is the only protein powder that doesn’t upset my stomach. The flavor is neutral and you can barely notice it in smoothies.” -Mia
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drink wholesome is the best plain protein powder.
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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.