What is the best protein powder for fatty liver?

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for fatty liver.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What is fatty liver disease? 

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Fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic steatosis, is a condition characterized by an excess fat in the liver cells. Fat buildup can interfere with the normal functioning of the liver and lead to health problems.

There are two main types of fatty liver disease: alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

1. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD): This type of fatty liver develops as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking can overwhelm the liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol and fat, leading to the buildup of fat in liver cells.

2. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): This is the more common type of fatty liver and is not directly related to alcohol consumption. NAFLD is closely associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and other conditions that can lead to a buildup of fat in liver cells.

If left untreated, fatty liver can progress to more serious conditions, including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and even liver cancer.

The treatment and management of fatty liver depend on the underlying cause. For alcoholic fatty liver, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption is crucial. For non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, adopting a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and managing underlying conditions like diabetes are recommended.

Can protein powder cause fatty liver? 

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Protein powder itself will not cause fatty liver. That said, if you do not need the extra calories and protein, adding protein powder to your diet will make you gain weight. Weight gain, in turn, increases the chances of developing fatty liver disease. On the flip side, if protein powder is used to increase the percentage of your calories that come from protein, it can help you lose weight, thereby decreasing the risk of fatty liver disease. Keep reading to learn more.

Is protein powder bad for fatty liver?

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As you just learned, NAFLD can be prevented and even reversed by making dietary changes. This is because what you eat not only has a big impact on your waistline, but also your liver health. Healthy eating can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and reduce liver fat content.

In theory, losing weight is straightforward: all you have to do is eat fewer calories than you burn. Losing weight is easier said than done, however, because creating a calorie deficit makes you really hungry. Anyone who has tried a serious weight loss diet knows how hard it is not to give into cravings.

To curb cravings, it is important to prioritize certain macronutrients. Protein happens to be far more satiating (filling) than fats or carbs, so in order to lose weight successfully, you have to eat lots of it. How much protein you need will depend on a number of factors, but as a rule of thumb, you should eat at least 0.36 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. Use our protein intake calculator to calculate how much protein you need. 

Another secret to weight loss is building muscle. Individuals with more muscle mass have faster metabolisms (burn more calories) because it takes more energy (calories) to build and maintain muscle than other tissues. In order to build and maintain muscle mass, you have to workout and eat protein. Protein is made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscles. Without amino acids, going to the gym would be a waste of time.

Most people can get more than enough protein from real food. People with dietary restrictions or busy schedules, however, may have a hard time doing so. This is where protein supplements can help. Adding a protein shake to your diet is an easy way to boost your protein intake and ensure that you are a) not too hungry and b) able to build and maintain muscle mass. That said, not all protein powders are created equal.

What is the best protein powder for fatty liver?

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The type dietary protein (whey, pea, egg white, etc.) in your protein powder does not matter. As long as you are eating a balanced diet, any type of protein can help you boost your protein intake and achieve your wellness goals.

The other ingredients in your protein powder (emulsifiers, thickeners, flavorings, sugar substitutes, etc.) do matter. Many of these additives can cause painful side effects and long-term gut health problems. Specifically, some food additives alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut – which can contribute to the formation and development of NAFLD. 

The role of gut dysbiosis – a relative change in the composition of an individual’s gut microbiome – in the pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex. The causes of gut dysbiosis itself are also complicated and vary from person to person. Thus, my best advice is to avoid foods known to cause gut health problems. When it comes to protein powder, this means picking one with a short list of simple ingredients. 

Why drink wholesome? 

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drink wholesome is additive-free.

One reason why we make the best protein powder for fatty liver is that we do not use food additives. As you just learned, regularly eating food additives (especially artificial sweeteners) can cause gut dysbiosis, which is linked to the development of fatty liver disease. 

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

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 also cause painful side effects because they are hard to digest. In some cases, partially digested food additives cause your intestines to absorb excess water, leading to diarrhea. In other cases, they feed your gut bacteria, which release gas as they eat. Excess intestinal gas can cause bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even constipation. 

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 dairy-free.

Another reason why we make the best protein powder for fatty liver disease is that we do not use whey or casein. Although dairy-based proteins like these do not cause gut dysbiosis, they are notorious for causing painful gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. 

Whey and casein are byproducts of cheese and yogurt manufacturing and therefore contain lactose (the sugar in dairy). Most adults lack the enzymes needed to fully digest lactose, so they experience GI side effects like bloating and diarrhea when they consume dairy-based protein supplements. 

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best protein powder for fatty liver 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.

Heavy mechanical and chemical processing strips protein concentrates and isolates of everything but the protein. As a result, they look nothing like real food. 

Your gut is designed to digest minimally or unprocessed or real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. It follows that regularly eating refined ingredients like these can alter the composition of your gut microbiome. Again, an altered gut microbiome is the last thing you want if you have fatty liver disease. 

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

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, egg whites and almonds contain enzymes that help you break them down. Egg whites are also low in fiber, low FODMAP, alkaline (maintaining healthy pH levels in your gut), and bioactive (promoting the growth of good gut bacteria). For those who cannot eat eggs, you will be happy to know that our vegan almond protein powder is also gut-friendly. Almonds themselves are prebiotic, meaning they improve the diversity of your gut microbiome.

In short, our customers have reported fewer digestive issues with our protein powders than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see if they are right for you.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“I was looking for a protein powder for liver disease, and found Drink Wholesome on Google. I really like the taste and how it makes me feel. Compared to other protein powders, it’s not nearly as sweet. It’s also much less grainy that some of the vegan ones I tried.” – Colin

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