What Is the Best Protein Powder for Digestive Issues?

Are you looking for the best protein powder for digestive issues? Discover how to supplement your protein intake without upsetting your stomach.

Shop Now

Shop Now

Protein Powder for Digestive Issues

Does Protein Powder Cause Digestive Issues? 

Digestive issues can refer to conditions that affect your digestive tract (the series of organs between your mouth and colon).

Some common digestive conditions include acid reflux (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Digestive issues can also refer to side effects or symptoms related to the digestive tract.

Acid reflux, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea are examples of common digestive side effects.

Interestingly, the regular consumption of protein powder can both cause digestive symptoms and contribute to digestive conditions.

One in five people experience digestive side effects after consuming protein supplements.

And regular protein supplementation has been indirectly linked to the development and exacerbation of certain digestive diseases, particularly through its effects on gut microbiota.

If you experience persistent or severe digestive issues, it is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

That said, in most bases, being mindful of what you eat can reduce symptoms or help you manage your condition.

This is why choosing the right protein powder, which is something you will use often (if not every day), is so important.

Is Protein Powder Good for Someone With Digestive Issues? 

Eating enough protein is especially important if you have digestive issues.

Some chronic digestive issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may increase your protein needs by as much as 25%.

Elevated protein needs are often attributed to:

Individuals with digestive issues should try to get as much of their dietary protein intake as possible from protein sources like eggs, fish, legumes, meat, nuts, and seeds.

Getting enough protein this way can be challenging for some people (like those with dietary restrictions), however, which is where protein powder can help.

Adding protein powder to your diet is an easy way to fill in nutritional gaps and ensure that you are meeting your dietary protein needs.

As you just learned, however, not all protein powders are created equal.

What Is the Best Protein Powder for Digestive Issues?

Many protein powders are made with ingredients that can cause painful digestive side effects and even long-term digestive issues.

Among these ingredients are food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates. 

Avoid Food Additives

Emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives can upset your stomach because they are hard to break down and absorb.

Regularly eating certain food additives can also alter the composition of your gut microbiome.

Over time, this can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which has been linked to a number of painful digestive issues.

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

• 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
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

Note that this list includes several artificial sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium are among the worst ingredients for your gut microbiome.

They both reduce microbial diversity and promote the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

In short, if you could not find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it should not be in your protein powder.

Avoid Dairy-Based Proteins

You should also avoid dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, which contain lactose, a sugar many people cannot fully digest.

Keep in mind that you may be sensitive to dairy-based proteins even if you are not lactose intolerant.

This is particularly true for casein protein, which forms a gel-like substance in the stomach that slows down digestion.

Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You should steer clear of protein concentrates and isolates too.

Most protein supplements are made from protein concentrates and isolates, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help your gut break them down.

You therefore do not digest them in the same way that they do whole foods, which can affect everything from satiety to gut health.

In fact, studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates can disrupt the gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut.

So, pending further research, it is recommended that you stick to protein powders made from whole food protein sources.

Shop Now

Shop Now

Drink Wholesome Is the Best Protein Powder for Digestive Issues

We make the best protein powder for digestive issues because we use a short list of simple ingredients.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our Protein Powder than with any other type of protein supplement.

Order Samples to see for yourself.