What is the best protein powder after surgery?
What is the best protein powder after surgery? Learn how to find a protein powder that can help you stay healthy and recover after surgery.
Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN
How to pick a protein powder after surgery
Does protein powder help you recover after surgery?
Eating enough protein after surgery is essential for reducing surgical stress, supporting recovery, and mitigating the loss of muscle mass and strength. Many surgical patients do not meet their protein needs, however, consuming only 22–36% of the recommended daily intake.
The consequences of inadequate protein intake include slower recovery time and possible complications. Complications tend to be more serious for older patients due in large part to the challenge of maintaining muscle mass and strength later in life.
How much protein do you need after surgery?
It is recommended that you consume 1.2-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day after surgery, or 2-3 times as much as the healthy adult. For someone who weighs 150 pounds (68kg), this translates to as much as 136 grams of protein per day, which is a lot of protein.
Eating enough protein after surgery, it follows, can be challenging, especially if you have dietary restrictions. This is where protein powder can help. Adding a serving of protein powder to your diet is an easy way to ensure that you are meeting your protein needs. That said, not all protein powders are created equal.
What is the best protein powder after surgery?
As long as you are eating a balanced diet, any type of dietary protein, animal or plant-based, can help you meet your protein needs after surgery. In other words, do not fuss about where your protein is coming from. Instead, what you need to worry about are the other ingredients in your protein powder.
Many protein powders are made with a cocktail of added ingredients such as emulsifiers, thickeners, flavors, and sugar substitutes. Additives like these can alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your digestive tract.
An altered gut microbiome is a leading driver of chronic inflammation and contributes to the development of several inflammatory diseases. Although inflammation is a natural part of the healing process, too much or prolonged inflammation can delay healing and result in increased scarring.
So, the best protein powder after surgery is made with a short list of simple ingredients. By avoiding added junk and extra processing, you can curb inflammation and accelerate the healing process.
drink wholesome is the best protein powder after surgery
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder after surgery is that we do not use any food additives whatsoever. Even in small amounts, additives can cause widespread and chronic inflammation, slowing down the healing process. Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powders:
acacia fiber, acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, ascorbic acid, aspartame, calcium carbonate, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dicalcium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, erythritol, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, maltodextrin, mono- and diglycerides, ‘natural’ flavors, rice bran extract, rice dextrin, rice hulls, rosemary extract, silica, silicon dioxide, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, soluble corn fiber, soy lecithin, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, tocopherols, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, xylitol, zinc oxide
Food additives are also hard to digest and tend to feed your gut bacteria, which release gas as they eat. Too much intestinal gas can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Partially digested food additives can also cause your colon to absorb too much water, leading to diarrhea.
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
Another reason why we make the best protein powder after surgery is that we do not use dairy-based proteins like whey and casein. Whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production, cause digestive issues because they contain lactose – a sugar most people cannot fully digest.
A final reason why we make the best protein powder after surgery is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein powders are made from one or both of these protein sources.
Protein concentrates and isolates have been stripped of enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that would help you break them down. This not only makes them hard to digest, but may also affect the composition and function of your gut microbiome.
Instead of protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole foods like egg whites and almonds. These minimally-processed protein sources are a gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.
Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, egg whites and almonds contain enzymes that help you break them down. Almonds are also rich in prebiotic fiber, improving the composition of your gut microbiome.
Egg whites, on the other hand, are low FODMAP (easy to break down), alkaline (balance the pH levels in your gut) and probiotic (promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria). Our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement.
In summary, our protein powders, because they are additive and dairy-free and made with whole food protein sources, are a safe and gut-friendly way to boost your protein intake after surgery. Order samples to see for yourself.
★★★★★
easy to digest
“I had my gallbladder out 3 days ago and your protein powder has been such a blessing during my recovery. Helps me feel full and get the nutrients I need without stressing a recovering digestive system further. And it tastes so good! I’m so glad I found you. I hear all these other people talking about painful gas and diarrhea during recovery after surgery and I know it’s because they don’t have you. I’m so grateful!” – Amanda
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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.
