What is the best protein powder for breast cancer patients?

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for breast cancer patients.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

Is protein powder good for breast cancer patients?

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Greater protein intake is associated with better outcomes for breast cancer patients. A study of 6,348 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer found that women who consumed more protein had a lower risk of recurrence of and death from breast cancer. Why exactly protein is associated with better outcomes for breast cancer patients is still unknown, but it may be because when you are undergoing breast cancer treatments, your protein needs are higher.

One of the side effects of cancer treatment is reduced appetite.Reduced appetite can, in turn, cause weight and strength loss and as your body starts to break down muscle for energy. Eating enough protein can stop or slow this process. It can also help your body fight infections, heal wounds, and recover. 

Healthy adults need, on average, 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Breast cancer patients, on the other hand, may need almost twice that much. The recommended daily protein intake for cancer patients is 1.2–1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. 

Breast cancer patients should aim to get as much protein as they can from dietary protein sources like eggs, fish, and meat. Getting enough protein this way can be difficult (if not impossible) for some women, however, especially those experiencing nausea and loss of appetite. This is where protein powder can help. Adding protein powder to your diet is an easy way to ensure that you are meeting your protein requirements. That said, not all protein powders are created equal.

What is the best protein powder for breast cancer patients?

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What sets one protein powder apart from another is not the type of protein; any type of protein powder can help meet your nutritional needs. It is the other ingredients – the emulsifiers, thickeners, sweeteners, flavors, etc. – that you have to pay attention to. Food additives like these can cause uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut health issues.

The latter is particularly worrisome for cancer patients. Research indicates that the health of your gut plays a crucial role in how effective cancer treatments can be. An imbalanced gut microbiome, for instance, can make chemotherapy drugs less effective. That is, changes to the composition and function of the collection of microorganisms living in your gut can impact how well cancer-fighting medications work.

An unhealthy gut microbiome has also been associated with the development of various cancers. It follows that if you or a loved one is battling cancer, it is important to avoid foods that can harm your gut. The ideal protein powder for breast cancer patients should therefore consist of a short list of simple, gut-friendly ingredients.

Why drink wholesome? 

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drink wholesome is additive-free.

We make the best protein powder for breast cancer patients because we steer clear of food additives such as gums, lecithin, artificial flavors, and sweeteners. Even in small quantities, these added ingredients can lead to uncomfortable side effects, particularly if you already have gut problems.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein 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

Simply put, food additives do not look like real food, making them hard for your body to digest. As a result, they linger in your gut, giving your gut bacteria more time to eat them. Hungry gut bacteria produce gas, and excessive gas can lead to bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. It can also slow down the movement of food through your colon, causing constipation.

In some instances, partially digested food additives cause your colon to absorb extra water. This can result in osmotic diarrhea, and explains why protein shakes often send people rushing to the bathroom.

The primary reason to steer clear of food additives is their effect on your gut microbiome. Studies show that consuming food additives regularly, particularly artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can throw off the balance of your gut microbiome. An unbalanced gut microbiome is associated with poor results for breast cancer patients, and even the development of cancers.

our ingredients: 

egg whites, coconut, maple sugar, vanilla

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

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

Another reason why we make the best protein powder for breast cancer patients 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, which undergo extensive processing that strips them of everything except the protein.

Your gut is built to break down unprocessed or minimally-processed whole foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why a growing body of research underscores that regularly consuming refined ingredients like these can alter the composition of your gut microbiome. Once more, an altered gut microbiome is one of the last things you want if you are dealing with or recovering from breast cancer.

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for cancer survivors with egg whites and almonds. Minimally-processed ingredients like these are gut-friendly alternatives to protein concentrates and isolates.

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, both egg whites and almonds come packed with enzymes that assist in breaking them down. Egg whites, in particular, offer additional benefits for your gut. They are low in fiber, low FODMAP, alkaline (helping maintain a healthy gut pH), and bioactive (supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria). Our satisfied customers have reported experiencing fewer digestive problems with our egg white protein powder compared to other protein supplements.

For those who cannot eat eggs, our vegan almond protein powder is the top plant-based protein choice for breast cancer patients. Almonds are prebiotic, meaning they enhance the diversity of your gut microbiome. They also promote regular and healthy bowel movements. In a nutshell, our protein powders, because they are additive-free and made with real foods, are the best protein powders for breast cancer survivors.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“This is the one of the only things I’ve been able to stomach during chemo. I just finished my least treatment and I’m so grateful for this simple product. It has literally been a lifesaver.” – Amanda

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