What is the best protein powder for IBS?

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for IBS. It is made with a short list of simple ingredients, making it perfect for people with IBS 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 IBS protein powder is right for you. 

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for IBS.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What is IBS?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder (GI) that affects between 10% to 15% of adults in the United States. Common symptoms, which vary in severity and duration from person to person, include bloating, constipation, diarrhea. The cause of IBS is unknown, but may be related to an overly sensitive gut or immune system. 

IBS can be managed through diet. Most IBS sufferers simply avoid the foods that trigger symptoms, an approach called the low FODMAP diet. FODMAPs – fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyol – are short-chain carbohydrates common in the American diet. They are found in foods like wheat and milk, and are notorious for triggering digestive uncomfortable GI symptoms. A low FODMAP diet simply restricts high FODMAP foods. 

How do I know if a food is low FODMAP? 

Reading food labels for low FODMAP eating is tricky. First of all, it is impossible to guess the FODMAP content of a food. It is therefore a good idea to familiarize yourself with high FODMAP foods and avoid them whenever possible. As a rule of thumb, if you do not recognize it, and cannot figure out what it is, do not eat it.

Some ingredients may not be on any approved low-FODMAP lists, but this does not necessarily mean that they are safe to eat. Do your research, and if you cannot find the answer, play it safe and eat something else. It is also important to note that the exact quantity of each ingredient is usually not disclosed on the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in order of descending weight, however, so if a high FODMAP ingredient is listed last, the actual amount might be so small that you can tolerate it.

Is protein powder good for IBS?

IBS can result in weight loss in some cases. IBS patients may experience such extreme stomach pain that they may not eat as much as they normally would. IBS can also lead to malnutrition. When you have IBS, you may avoid certain foods that are healthy because they aggravate your symptoms. As a result, you can miss out on key nutrients, one of which is protein. This is where protein powders can help; adding a protein powder to your diet can ensure that you are getting enough calories and protein. That said, not all protein powders are good for people with IBS. 

What is the best IBS protein powder?

Some protein powders are low FODMAP, others are not, and the only way to tell is to read the ingredients. Common high FODMAP protein powder ingredients include whey and casein, inulin, many natural flavors, and sugar polyols like xylitol. Just because your protein powder does not contain any of these high FODMAP ingredients, however, does not mean that it is good for your gut. Many protein powders are made with seemingly-safe ingredients that are bad news for people with IBS and sensitive stomachs. Keep reading to learn more.

Why drink wholesome? 

drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best IBS protein powder is that we, unlike most protein powder companies, do not use food additives. While small amounts of additives might not seem like a problem, they can cause painful side effects for people with sensitive stomachs.

Basically, because food additives look very little like real food, they are challenging to digest. This gives your gut bacteria more time to eat. Gut bacteria release gas as they eat, so more time to eat means more gas. Excess abdominal gas can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. It can also slow the movement of food through the colon, causing constipation.

For some people, partially digested food additives cause the colon to absorb extra water and/or prevent the colon from absorbing water. This is called osmotic diarrhea, and is probably the reason why protein shakes make you run to the bathroom. 

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

Moreover, eating additives regularly can disturb regulatory pathways in your intestines, triggering the development of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Certain additives, namely artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also disrupt the balance of gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. An imbalanced gut microbiome is a significant contributor to inflammation throughout the body, which is the last thing you want if you have IBS.

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 IBS patients is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many protein powders are made with whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production. These dairy-based proteins are known to cause digestive problems, particularly for individuals with lactose intolerance, which is common among those with IBS. Lactose intolerant individuals lack the ability to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy. As you now know, when food is only partially digested, it can cause digestive distress.

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best protein powder for IBS sufferers is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. In contrast, almost all other protein powders are made with one or both of these protein sources. Protein concentrates and isolates are super processed, sometimes with chemical agents like hexane, so they look nothing like real food.

Your digestive system is designed to digest unprocessed or minimally-processed whole foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why a growing body of research suggests that processed ingredients like these can alter the composition of your gut microbiota. As you just learned, a dysbiotic gut microbiome is not something you want, especially if you have IBS.

We pride ourselves on making the best IBS-friendly protein powder with egg whites. Unlike protein concentrates and isolates, egg whites undergo very little processing. The egg whites we use, for example, are simply pasteurized and dried. This makes them a gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.

Unlike protein concentrates and isolates, egg whites still contain enzymes and other digestive aids that facilitate the breakdown of the food. They also have prebiotic characteristics, meaning they improve the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. Finally, egg whites are low in fiber, low in FODMAPs, naturally alkaline, meaning they maintain healthy pH levels in your gut. If you are looking for the best protein powder for someone with IBS, rest assured you have come to the right place. 

★★★★★

easy to digest

“Finally a protein shake that I can eat! I have leaky gut, MCAS, histamine intolerance, and IBS. This is the only protein shake that works for me.” – Antoine

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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.