What is the best protein powder for seniors?


drink wholesome is the best protein powder for seniors. It is made with a short list of simple ingredients, making it perfect for seniors who need to boost their protein intake without extra processing and added junk. Order samples to see if our seniors protein powder is right for you. Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN.

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Protein supplements for elderly people

Should seniors use protein powder?


Everyone needs protein, especially seniors. Seniors need a high protein diet to curb the loss of muscle that comes with aging. For seniors trying to rebuild muscle after illness or a long hospital stay, eating lots of protein is particularly important. Muscle loss can affect strength and bone health, which affects agility, balance, and the ability to perform the simple tasks of everyday life.

Plus, aging bodies process protein less efficiently, and therefore need more of it. Even healthy seniors need more protein than their younger selves, but one-third of seniors do not consume enough protein due to reduced appetite, dental issues, impaired taste or swallowing, and/or limited financial resources. When paired with an inactive lifestyle, this puts them at risk of deteriorating muscles, compromised mobility, and slower recovery from illness. It therefore is safe to say that seniors who consume more protein have better outcomes.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. For seniors with acute or chronic diseases, the RDA can be as high as 1.2 to 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. Even more protein, up to 2 grams per kilogram of body weight, could be needed for older adults who are severely ill or malnourished. Eating this much protein, even for someone without dietary restriction, is challenging. This is where protein powder can help.

Adding a scoop of protein powder to your diet – whether in smoothies, oatmeal, or other recipes – is an easy way to boost your protein intake. That said, not all protein powders are created equal.

protein-powder-for-seniors

What is the best protein powder for seniors?


Any type of protein powder (egg white, pea, whey, etc.) can help you boost your protein intake. In other words, as long as you are eating a balanced diet, there is no advantage to using one type of protein powder over another. What does matter, though, are the added ingredients in your protein powder.

Unfortunately, most protein powders contain a slew of additives like emulsifiers, thickeners, flavors, and sugar substitutes. Additives can lead to painful side effects and long-term gut health problems. Specifically, regularly consuming food additives can alter the composition of your gut microbiome. 

Your gut microbiome is the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. It helps you digest and absorb food, and plays an important role in many physiological processes. It follows that an altered gut microbiome, known as a gut dysbiosis, is something you want to avoid at all costs. Research shows that gut dysbiosis is a leading cause of inflammation in the body, and linked to the onset and progression of several chronic diseases.

The best protein powder for senior citizens is one made with a short list of simple ingredients. Basically, the more your protein powder looks like real food, the better it is for your gut and overall health. It is worth mentioning that with aging comes a decrease in microbial diversity and shifts in the composition of the gut microbiome that can lead to gut dysbiosis. It would be unfortunate to accelerate these changes by using a protein powder full of unhealthy additives.

best-protein-powder-for-seniors

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for seniors.


drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for seniors is that we do not use food additives. As you just learned, many additives, in addition to messing with your gut microbiome, can cause unpleasant side effects.

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

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

Additives tend to cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues because they do not look like real food, making them hard to digest. They linger in your gut as a result, feeding your hungry gut bacteria. As gut bacteria eat, they release gas, so more time to eat means more gas. Naturally, excessive intestinal gas can result in bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Additionally, it can slow down the movement of food through your colon, leading to constipation.

Partially digested food additives can also cause your colon to absorb excessive water, triggering osmotic diarrhea. Now, you may finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom.

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 elderly people is that we do not use whey and casein. These dairy-based proteins contain lactose, a sugar that most adults cannot fully digest. Once again, foods that resist digestion are notorious for causing digestive issues. Given that many senior citizens have sensitive stomachs and pre-existing gut issues to begin with, this is important information.

vanilla protein powder serving suggestion
vanilla protein powder lifestyle image 1

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best seniors protein powder is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein supplements are made from these protein sources, which go through intense processing. Protein concentrates or isolates are mechanically and/or chemically stripped of their non-protein components, leaving them looking nothing like real food. 

Your digestive system is meant to break down minimally or unprocessed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why studies reveal that regularly consuming ingredients like these can alter your gut microbiome. As I mentioned above, having an imbalanced gut microbiome is a major health concern.

chocolate protein powder 14 servings lifestyle image 1
chocolate protein powder 14 servings serving suggestion

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for elderly people using egg whites and almonds. These simple, whole food protein sources are easier on your gut. Here are few reasons why:

– Natural Digestive Aids: Both egg whites and almonds contain enzymes that help you break them down. In contrast, protein isolates and concentrates lack these natural digestive aids.

– Prebiotics: Almonds are prebiotic, meaning they support a healthy gut microbiome.

– Egg Whites: Egg whites are low in FODMAPs, alkaline (maintaining a healthy gut pH), and bioactive (promoting good gut bacteria growth). Our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement.

In summary, we make delicious protein powders with a short list of gut-friendly ingredients, so seniors can boost their protein intake without compromising their gut health.

simple and delicious

“I genuinely love this product. It’s the only protein powder I take. In todays day and age so many additives in ingredients mess with our endocrine system, mess with our stomachs, and aren’t good for us long term. This powder is awesome, clean, simple, and tasty.” – Nitasha

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Protein Powder Sample Packs

3 Protein Powder Samples

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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.

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