The Best Protein Powder For Sensitive Stomachs
If you are sick of protein powders that upset your stomach, you have come to the right place. We make two two types of protein powder for sensitive stomachs – egg white protein powder and vegan almond protein powder – with a short list of simple ingredients. They are easy to digest and safe for most gut issues. Order samples to see if our sensitive stomach protein powder is right for you.
Jump to: The Best Protein Powders For Sensitive Stomachs 2023
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drink wholesome is the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs.
Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN
What is a sensitive stomach?
A “sensitive stomach” is a non-medical term to describe a stomach that is easily upset. Roughly 1 in 5 people have a sensitive stomach, meaning they regularly experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and stomach pain.
Food allergies and chronic digestive diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common causes of a sensitive stomach, but sometimes the cause is unknown. Most people with sensitive stomachs can successfully manage their symptoms through dietary and lifestyle adjustments, and by learning which foods or types of food to avoid.
Why should people with sensitive stomachs use protein powder?
People with sensitive stomachs have trouble digesting normal food, which puts them at an increased risk for weight loss and malnutrition. This is where protein powders can help. Adding a scoop of protein powder to your diet is an easy way to ensure that you are getting the calories and nutrients you need to stay strong and healthy.
Protein is needed to build and maintain muscle mass. It is also used to make enzymes, hormones and antibodies that protect the body against illness. Needless to say, eating enough protein is important, and if you cannot tolerate common high protein foods, protein powder can be a lifesaver. Unfortunately, however, not all protein powders are created equal.
Is protein powder safe for sensitive stomachs?
Protein powder can be safe for people with sensitive stomachs, but it depends on the protein powder and the person. Here are some factors to consider:
1. Allergies and sensitivities: Individuals with food allergies or sensitivities should be cautious when choosing a protein powder. Individuals with lactose intolerance, for example, might experience digestive discomfort with whey or casein protein powders. In this case, opting for a lactose-free or plant-based protein powder might be a better choice.
2. Added ingredients: Many protein powders contain additives that can be hard to digest for some people. If you have a sensitive stomach, it is essential to check the ingredient list and choose a protein powder made with a short list of simple ingredients.
3. Processing: Some protein powders are far more processed than others. Generally speaking, the more processed a food is, the harder it is to digest. For this reason, people with sensitive stomachs should stick to protein powders made with whole food protein sources, not heavily-processed protein concentrates or isolates.
If you have specific dietary concerns, it is always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian. They can provide personalized advice and recommend protein powders suited for your individual needs. Additionally, they can help you identify underlying digestive issues that may be contributing to your sensitivities.
What is the best protein powder for a sensitive stomach?
There are several reasons why most protein powders are not suitable for people with sensitive stomachs. Here are the top 3:
1. Additives: Firstly, most protein powders contain added emulsifiers, thickeners, fake sweeteners, and fake flavors. Ingredients like these can cause painful side effects and disrupt your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. If you need a protein that is easy on the stomach, start by avoiding food additives.
2. Dairy: Generally speaking, it is not the protein itself that upsets your stomach. That said, protein powders made with dairy-based proteins like whey and casein are notoriously hard to digest, even for people who are not lactose intolerant. Steer clear whey and casein if you need a protein powder that is stomach-friendly.
3. Protein concentrates/isolates: The way that the protein is processed can make it hard to digest. Most protein powders are made with protein concentrates and/or isolates, which look nothing like real food. For someone with pre-existing gut issues, this can be a big problem. Stick to protein powders made with minimally or unprocessed whole foods, not protein concentrates and isolates.
99.99% of protein powders contain food additives, dairy-based proteins, and/or heavily-processed protein concentrates and isolates. This is why I created drink wholesome. I was sick of protein powers that upset my stomach, so I made one with a short list of simple ingredients. I firmly believe that the more your protein powder looks like real food, the easier it will be to digest, and the less likely it will be to upset your stomach. 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 sensitive stomachs is that we do not use any food additives whatsoever. This includes gums, lecithin, fake flavors, and fake sweeteners. Even in small amounts, added ingredients like these can cause painful side effects, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.
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
Basically, food additives look nothing like real food, making them hard to digest. They consequently sit in your gut for longer than food should, which gives your gut bacteria extra time to eat. As they eat, gut bacteria produce gas, which can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. It can also slow colonic transit – the amount of time it takes food to travel through the colon – leading to constipation.
In some cases, partially digested food additives can cause your colon to absorb extra water and/or prevent your colon from absorbing water. This is called osmotic diarrhea, and may be the reason why protein shakes make you run to the bathroom.
Over time, regularly eating food additives can disturb regulatory pathways in your intestines, triggering the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders. Food additives, especially artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also disrupt your gut microbiome over time. An unhealthy gut microbiome is a leading cause of inflammation in the body, and linked to the onset and progression of several chronic diseases.
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 sensitive stomachs is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt production, contain lactose, the sugar in dairy.
Lactose is notorious for causing painful side effects, especially for lactose intolerant individuals. Most adults suffer from some degree of lactose intolerance, meaning they lack the enzymes needed to digest lactose. As you just learned, partially digested food is the cause of a number of GI symptoms.
drink wholesome is made with real foods.
A final reason why we make the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein powders, on the contrary, are made from one or both of these protein sources. Concentrates and isolates are essentially foods stripped of everything but the protein. They undergo heavy mechanical and chemical processing, sometimes with solvents like hexane, so what you put into your body looks nothing like real food.
Your gut is designed to digest unprocessed or minimally-processed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why more and more research is finding that regularly eating refined ingredients like these can alter the composition of your gut microbiome. This is the last thing you want if you have a sensitive stomach.
Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs with egg whites and almonds. Egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried. Almonds, on the other hand, are just roasted, pressed to remove some oil, and ground. Minimally-processed ingredients like these are a gut-healthy alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.
Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, egg whites and almonds contain enzymes and natural digestive aids that help you break them down. What is more, egg whites are low in fiber, low FODMAP, alkaline (maintain healthy pH levels in your gut), and bioactive (promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria). In fact, our happy customers have reported fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement.
For those who cannot eat eggs, our vegan almond protein powder is the best plant-based protein powder for sensitive stomachs. Almonds are prebiotic, meaning they improve the diversity of the gut microbiome. They also promote regular and healthy bowel movements. In summary, our protein powders, because they are additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, are the best protein powders for sensitive stomachs.
The Best Protein Powders For Sensitive Stomachs 2023
Here are the top 5 protein powders made specifically for sensitive stomachs.
Drink Wholesome Vanilla Protein Powder – Made with just 4 simple ingredients – egg whites, coconut, vanilla, and maple sugar – this is hands down the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs. 9 out of 10 people with gut issues can tolerate it without any side effects.
Drink Wholesome Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder – Made with just 4 simple ingredients – almonds, coconut, vanilla, and monk fruit – this is hands down the best vegan protein powder for sensitive stomachs. If you are on a plant-based diet, give it a try.
2. Space Milk
Made with cell-based protein derived from yeast protein isolate, this is a good option for sensitive stomachs. It does contain an added thickener, though, and other heavily-processed ingredients.
3. Casa de Sante
Made with a blend of pea protein isolate and hemp protein, this is a good option for sensitive stomachs. It does contain an added thickener, though, and other heavily-processed ingredients.
4. Better Blends
Made with a blend of pea protein isolate and bovine collagen, this is an ok option for sensitive stomachs. It does contain added thickeners and flavorings, though, and other heavily-processed ingredients.
5. CorePerform
Made with a blend of pea protein and brown rice protein concentrate, this is another ok option for sensitive stomachs. It does contain added thickeners and flavorings, though, and other heavily-processed ingredients.
In summary, out of all the protein powders on this list, drink wholesome is the only one that is additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. If you drink a protein shake every day, this can make a huge difference in terms of your gut health. Order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you.
“Great for sensitive stomachs. Flavor is really really good. I mix it with almond milk.” – Danny
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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.