What is the best protein powder for gastroparesis?

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for gastroparesis. It is made with a short list of simple ingredients, making it perfect for people with gastroparesis and other gut issues. If you are looking to boost your protein intake without the extra processing and added junk, you have to come to the right place. Order samples to see if our gastroparesis protein powder is right for you. 

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for gastroparesis.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What is gastroparesis? 

If you have gastroparesis, which means partial paralysis of the stomach, your stomach does not empty as fast as it should. Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and feeling full while eating, sometimes after only a few bites. Diabetes, which can damage nerves in your stomach, is the most common known cause of gastroparesis. Other possible causes include viral infections, abdominal surgery, and certain medications. In the long term, gastroparesis can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and bacterial overgrowth.

Although many people with gastroparesis look to diet for answers, there is no such thing as a gastroparesis diet. This is because the severity of gastroparesis varies from person to person. Gastroparesis is also not a static condition, and symptoms can vary from week-to-week or even day-to-day. It is therefore important to find a flexible diet that works for you. 

Is protein powder good for gastroparesis?

During a gastroparesis flare, you may only be able to stomach liquids. This is where protein powder comes in handy. A good protein shake can help you get the calories and protein you need without causing symptoms. Protein shakes also allow for portion control. It can be difficult for individuals with gastroparesis to know how much food their stomach can tolerate at one time, and protein shakes allow for precisely measured servings, reducing the risk of symptoms. That said, not all protein supplements are created equal.

What is the best protein powder for gastroparesis?

There are several reasons why some protein powders are safer than others for individuals with gastroparesis. First of all, most protein powders contain emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors. Ingredients like these are notorious for causing uncomfortable side effects and long-term gut damage, especially if you suffer from gastroparesis. For this reason, you should look for 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 gastroparesis is that we do not use food additives. While additives may not be inherently harmful in small quantities, they can add up if you drink protein shakes regularly, and impact your gut health and overall wellbeing.

Firstly, food additives cause gastrointestinal (GI) complications like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain because they are hard to digest. Additives look nothing like real food, so your body does not know what to do with them. They consequently sit in your gut for longer than food should, feeding your gut bacteria, which release gas. Excessive gas is what causes bloating and stomach pain. It also slows down the passage of food through the colon, resulting in constipation.

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 long-term consequences of food additives are even worse. Over time, additives can disrupt vital regulatory pathways in the intestines, paving the way for the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. In summary, the regular consumption of food additives can have far-reaching implications for gut health, which, in turn, affects overall well-being.

When searching for protein powder for gastroparesis, it is particularly important to keep away from artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners, in the long term, rank among the most detrimental food additives due to their ability to disrupt the composition of your gut microbiota – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. Such disruptions can give rise to severe and persistent gastrointestinal issues, widespread inflammation, and lasting damage to the gut microbiome.

Certain sweeteners, particularly sugar alcohols like xylitol, present additional challenges. They are particularly poorly absorbed by the gut, which means they feed your hungry gut bacteria. They also draw water into the intestines, which can lead to diarrhea. Now, you may finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom!

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 gastroparesis protein powder is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many protein powders, on the other hand, use whey and casein, which are high protein byproducts of cheese and yogurt production. These ingredients are one of the leading causes of digestive discomfort when it comes to protein powders, particularly for individuals with lactose intolerance.

Individuals with lactose intolerance, which often goes hand in hand with gastroparesis, lack the necessary enzymes to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products. As a result, the partially digested food feeds gut bacteria, leading to excessive gas and uncomfortable side effects.

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best gastroparesis-friendly protein powder is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. On the flip side, the vast majority of other protein powders are made from one or both of these protein sources. Concentrates and isolates, in essence, are foods that have been stripped down to nothing but the protein itself. They go through extensive mechanical and chemical processing, sometimes involving solvents like hexane. As a result, what you end up putting into your body looks nothing like real food.

Your digestive system is designed to digest unprocessed or minimally-processed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is precisely why a growing body of research is discovering that regularly consuming highly processed ingredients like these can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut microbiome, which serves a far more significant role than merely helping with the digestion of food.

Your gut microbiome plays a crucial role in protecting against harmful pathogens, educating your immune system, and directly or indirectly influencing the majority of your bodily functions. A gut microbiome that’s out of balance, known as a dysbiotic gut, is therefore a matter that should not be taken lightly.

Instead of relying on protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for gastroparesis using simple ingredients like egg whites and almonds. It’s a straightforward process – we pasteurize and dry the egg whites and roast, press (to reduce oil content), and grind the almonds. These minimally-processed ingredients provide a gut-friendly alternative to the heavily-processed protein concentrates and isolates used in other protein powders.

What truly sets our protein powders apart is their digestibility. Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, our real food protein sources contain enzymes and digestive aids that help you break them down. Egg whites in particular stand out for their remarkable ease of digestion. They are low fiber, low FODMAP, and alkaline (maintain healthy pH levels in your gut).

Egg whites themselves have also been shown to foster the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. In fact, our satisfied customers have reported experiencing fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other protein supplement.

For those who may have dietary restrictions that prevent them from consuming eggs, our vegan almond protein powder as the top choice among plant-based protein powders for sensitive stomachs. Almonds bring prebiotic qualities to the table, promoting diversity in the gut microbiome. They also facilitate regular and healthy bowel movements. In summary, our protein powders are great for gastroparesis because they are free from additives and dairy, and made minimally-processed protein sources.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“Thank you for creating this product ! I have gastroparesis and this is the only thing that has worked for me! I have tried every other protein powder and it all makes me throw up sick! I tried yours tonight and my stomach doesn’t hurt and I’m not sick!! Thank you again!!!” – Mallory

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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.