What is the best protein powder for the candida diet?
Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition
drink wholesome is the best protein powder for the candida diet. 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. If you suffer from candidiasis, or any other digestive disease, order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you.
“If you have a sensitive gut, you need simple ingredients.”
-Brittany Carpenter, MS, RDN/LDN
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drink wholesome is the best protein powder for the candida diet.
What is candidiasis?
Is protein powder good for the candida diet?
Why drink wholesome?
What is candidiasis?
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by the yeast candida. Symptoms include fatigue, mouth sores, and stomach pain. Just like mold, yeast is a type of fungus. It is naturally found on the surface of the skin and in the intestines. Normally, bacteria limit the amount of candida in the gut, but some medical treatments (like antibiotics) reduce the amount of bacteria, which can lead to a candida overgrowth.
Candida overgrowth is often blamed for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and some people claim that they feel better when they change their diets to reduce the amount of candida in their gut. This generally involves eating fewer simple carbohydrates like sugar, which yeast feed on. That said, although several studies have linked candida to digestive issues, the findings are too weak to be able to draw much of a conclusion. Moreover, there is little evidence that dietary changes have an effect on candidiasis. Instead of a diet, most doctors therefore prescribe anti-fungal medications to treat yeast overgrowth.
Do not let this stop you from changing your diet, however. Anecdotal evidence suggests that diet may be a great place to start if you have candidiasis, that is, many people note improvement in symptoms when on the candida diet. Eliminating sugar, gluten, alcohol, dairy products, and processed foods from your diet will make you feel better, even if it does not impact Candida overgrowth. Just be sure to consult your doctor before making any significant changes to what you eat.
Is protein powder good for the candida diet?
Candida overgrowth can impair your ability to absorb nutrients from food, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It is therefore important that you eat lots of protein, at least 1-2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
Eating this much protein every day is challenging for some people, however, For starters, certain high protein foods, including red meat and most dairy products, are off limits for individuals with candida overgrowth. Second, loss of appetite is also a common symptom of candida overgrowth, which can make it hard to simply eat enough food. This is where protein supplements can help. Adding protein powder to your diet is an easy way to boost your protein intake and ensure that you are meeting your daily protein needs. That said, not all protein powders are created equal.
First of all, most protein powders are full of emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors, all of which are associated with unpleasant side effects and long-term gut damage, particularly if you suffer from candida overgrowth. It is therefore imperative that you choose a protein powder made with a short list of simple ingredients. Keep reading to learn more.
Why drink wholesome?
drink wholesome is additive-free.
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for the candida diet is that we do not use food additives. For individuals with candida overgrowth, even small amounts of additives can cause side effects, including bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain. Basically, because additives look nothing like real foods, your body struggles to digest them. They therefore sit in your gut for longer than food should, feeding your gut bacteria, which release gas. Excessive gas leads to bloating and stomach pain, while also slowing the passage of food through the colon, causing constipation.
The long-term ramifications of eating food additives are even more concerning. Over time, additives have the potential to disrupt regulatory pathways in the intestines, contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Emerging evidence also suggests that food additives, especially artificial sweeteners, may contribute to gut and metabolic disease through disruptions to the gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that help you digest food). In summary, the regular consumption of food additives can have profound consequences on gut health, ultimately affecting overall well-being.
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
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 dairy-free.
Another reason why we make the best candida diet protein powder is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many protein powders, on the contrary, are made with whey and casein, which are byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt. Both are known to cause digestive complications, particularly for individuals with lactose intolerance, which is a common among individuals with candida overgrowth. People with lactose intolerance lack the ability to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy. As I just discussed, the fermentation of partially digested food by bacteria in the gut leads to the production of gas and uncomfortable side effects.
drink wholesome is made with real foods.
A final reason why we make the best candida protein powder is that we do not use protein concentrates and isolates. On the contrary, almost all other protein powders contain one or both of these protein sources, which are essentially foods stripped of everything but the protein. Concentrates and isolates are listed as “pea protein” or “whey protein,” rather than as “peas” and “whey.”
The production of protein concentrates and isolates involves intensive mechanical and chemical processing. In some cases, chemical solvents like hexane are employed to isolate and extract the protein from the food. It follows that what you end up eat barely looks like food.
Your digestive system has evolved to efficiently process naturally occurring foods, not synthetic imitations. Introducing anything other than real food into your system may therefore disrupt the delicate balance therein. Although the long-term consequences of consuming processed foods like protein isolates are not yet fully understood, emerging research indicates that these foods can significantly alter the composition of your gut microbiota, potentially leading to lasting damage to its intricate equilibrium.
In addition to its fundamental role in food digestion, the gut serves as a protective barrier against harmful pathogens, plays a crucial part in educating your immune system, and exerts influence—directly or indirectly—over the majority of your physiological functions. Disturbances to the delicate balance of the gut microbiome have consequently been linked to the development of various chronic diseases. That being so, it is undoubtedly in your best interest to avoid protein powders that rely on protein concentrates and isolates.
Our candida-friendly protein powder is made using egg whites and almonds, not protein concentrates and isolates. The egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried before becoming protein powder, whereas the almonds are just roasted, pressed to remove some oil, and ground. These minimally-processed ingredients are an easily digestible and gut-friendly alternative to concentrates and isolates
Egg white protein is an exceptional choice for your gut, provided you do not have any sensitivities or allergies to eggs. Egg whites are low in fiber, low FODMAP, naturally alkaline, and boast the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) of any whole food. Our customers have reported experiencing fewer digestive issues with egg white protein powder compared to other protein options.
For those who cannot eat eggs, our vegan almond protein powder is a compelling alternative. Unlike protein concentrates or isolates, almonds contain healthy fats, fiber, and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin E. We prefer almonds over other minimally-processed plant protein sources due to their notable gut-friendly characteristics. Research suggests that almonds possess prebiotic properties, promoting the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome and leading to improved gut health.
In summary, our protein powders, made with either egg whites or almonds, prioritize minimal processing and provide gut-friendly benefits. Whether you choose egg white protein or almond protein, you can expect a high-quality product that supports your digestive well-being.
★★★★★
“This is a great option for people with candida overgrowth. I’ve been adding it to my smoothies for several weeks now, and have experienced not side effects whatsoever.” – Tameo
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drink wholesome is the best candida-friendly 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.