drink wholesome is the best protein powder for endometriosis. It is additive-free, dairy-free, and made with minimally-processed whole foods, not protein isolates. Order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you.
“It has ingredients you can actually pronounce and is freaking delicious.”
-Kallie
Protein Powder Sample Packs
Endometriosis is a chronic medical condition in which cells similar to the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, grow outside the uterus. This is a problem because the endometrium thickens and sheds during a woman’s menstrual cycle. In endometriosis, the misplaced endometrial tissue behaves similarly, thickening and shedding with each menstrual cycle. Because this tissue is located outside the uterus, it has no way to exit the body. This can lead to various complications, including pelvic pain, infertility, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
While the exact cause of endometriosis is not fully understood, several theories exist, including retrograde menstruation (where menstrual blood flows backward into the pelvic cavity), hormonal imbalances, immune system disorders, and genetic and environmental factors.
There is no cure for endometriosis, but there are treatment options available to manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. These may include pain medications, hormonal therapies (such as birth control pills or hormonal IUDs), and in more severe cases, surgery to remove or reduce the endometrial tissue. Additionally, lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a healthy diet can help alleviate symptoms.
The role of diet in managing endometriosis is not yet fully understood, and while there is no specific “endometriosis diet,” some dietary changes may help alleviate symptoms for certain individuals. Here are a few dietary considerations that some women with endometriosis have found helpful:
-Anti-inflammatory foods: Endometriosis involves inflammation, so avoiding foods that cause inflammation and incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your diet may be beneficial.
-Gluten and dairy: Some people with endometriosis find that reducing the amount of gluten and dairy products in their diet helps alleviate symptoms. It may be worth trying an elimination diet to determine if these food groups affect your symptoms.
-Fiber-rich foods: A diet high in fiber can help regulate bowel movements and promote overall digestive health, which is often impaired in individuals with endometriosis.
-High-protein foods: Research has found that higher protein intake was associated with a reduced risk of endometriosis.
With these dietary considerations in mind, let us now turn our attention to protein powder. Adding protein powder to your diet is an easy way to boost your protein intake, which can support weight loss and have positive effects on the immune and hormonal systems. Not all protein supplements are created equal, however. Many protein powders contain inflammatory ingredients like emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors and dairy-based proteins, and may therefore do more harm than good for someone with endometriosis. Keep reading to learn more.
As you just learned, many protein powders can worsen endometriosis symptoms. For this reason, it is crucial that you read the ingredient list closely. Look for a short list of simple ingredients, the short and the simpler the better. If possible, avoid protein powders made with dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, and pick ones with at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. As long as it is dairy-free, the type of protein you choose is not important.
The ingredients in your protein powder are so important because what you eat affects your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that help you to digest food. Moreover, studies have demonstrated an association between the gut microbiome and endometriosis, it is possible that urogenital-gastrointestinal crosstalk leads to the development of the condition. The specific ways and mechanisms by which the gut microbiome may participate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis involve estrogen and immune inflammation.
If you have endometriosis, prioritizing your gut health is hugely important, and foods that can damage your gut should be avoided at all costs. Continue reading for more information.
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for endometriosis is that we do not use food additives. Even in small quantities, additives have the potential to trigger a range of unwanted gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain. These symptoms arise because additives, unlike real foods, are difficult to digest. Partially digested food can give rise to two possible outcomes: either your gut draws in water, resulting in diarrhea, or the additives feed your gut bacteria, which produce gas. Excessive gas can lead to bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and may even impede the movement of food through the colon, ultimately causing constipation.
The real reason behind avoiding food additives lies in their long-term effects. Regularly consuming food additives gradually disrupts regulatory pathways in the intestines, thereby contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. This is particularly concerning considering that inflammation is one of the mechanisms that triggers endometriosis. Furthermore, ongoing research indicates that food additives, especially artificial sweeteners, can disturb the delicate balance of the gut microbiome and affect long-term gut health.
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
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.
Another reason why we make the best protein powder for endometriosis is that we do not use dairy-based proteins like whey and casein. Whey and casein, byproducts of the production of cheese and yogurt, are infamous inducing digestive discomfort. This is especially true for individuals who experience lactose intolerance as their bodies lack the necessary enzymes to fully metabolize lactose, the sugar found in dairy. As you just learned, partially digested food can lead to a range of unpleasant GI side effects.
A final reason why we make the best protein powder for endometriosis is that we use real food protein sources, not protein concentrates and isolates. On the contrary, a majority of protein powders rely on these protein sources, which are essentially stripped-down versions of real food. Instead of being referred to as “peas” or “whey,” concentrates and isolates are labeled as “pea protein” or “whey protein.”
Making protein concentrates and isolates involves rigorous mechanical and chemical processing. In certain cases, chemical solvents like hexane are employed to extract the protein from its natural source. As a result, what winds up in your protein powder looks nothing like actual food.
Your digestive system is designed to handle minimally processed or unprocessed real foods, not synthetic imitations. Consuming anything other than real food can thus lead to unfavorable side effects. Although the long-term effects of consuming processed food products like protein isolates are still under investigation, emerging research suggests that they can significantly disrupt the composition of the gut microbiota, causing lasting damage to the gut.
Beyond its primary role in food digestion, the gut acts as a vital protective barrier against harmful pathogens, plays a critical role in educating the immune system, and exerts direct and indirect influences on numerous physiological processes. Consequently, disturbances in the delicate balance of the gut microbiome have been linked to the development of chronic diseases like endometriosis. Given this connection, I strongly discourage the consumption of protein powders that heavily rely on protein concentrates and isolates.
We take great pride in making endometriosis protein powder with simple ingredients like egg whites and almonds. The process involved in converting egg whites into protein powder is straightforward: they undergo pasteurization and drying. Almonds, on the other hand, are simply roasted, pressed to remove some oil, and finely ground. These minimally processed ingredients provide a highly digestible and gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.
For individuals without allergies or sensitivities to eggs, egg white protein offers an excellent option for promoting gut health. With its low fiber content and minimal FODMAPs, egg whites are gentle on the digestive system. Additionally, they possess the highest protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) among all whole foods. We consistently receive positive feedback from our customers, who report experiencing fewer digestive issues when consuming egg white protein powder compared to other protein sources.
In situations where eggs cannot be consumed, our vegan almond protein powder serves as an excellent substitute. Almonds, unlike protein concentrates or isolates, are abundant in healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin E. We prioritize almonds over other minimally processed plant protein sources due to their exceptional gut-friendly characteristics. Research indicates that almonds exhibit prebiotic properties, supporting the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome and ultimately promoting improved gut health.
To summarize, our protein powders undergo minimal processing to prioritize the well-being of your gut.
“My dietician recommends this, and it is the best non-dairy protein ever!!! The flavor is so good and it is easy to digest. I’ve never had a protein shake like it.” – Britta
Protein Powder Sample Packs
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.
