What is the best protein powder for ulcerative colitis?


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

Protein Powder Sample Packs

3 Protein Powder Samples

$19.99

drink wholesome is the best protein powder for ulcerative colitis.

Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN

What is ulcerative colitis? 


Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe two conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both cause symptoms like diarrhea and stomach pain, and can lead to severe weight loss. Ulcerative colitis develops when your immune system attacks the cells that line your large intestine (colon). This causes inflammation and tiny open sores, or ulcers.

Although ulcerative colitis is not caused by what you eat, doctors and dietitians agree that food plays an important role in managing symptoms. Certain foods can aggravate symptoms, while others can mitigate them and promote healing. Paying attention to what you eat and how your body responds to different foods is therefore an essential part of living with ulcerative colitis. 

Is protein powder good for ulcerative colitis? 


Curating a diet specific to your condition, whether it’s Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, is complicated. There is no one Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis diet, and the foods that trigger symptoms for you may be different from those that trigger them for someone else. That said, there are several key ingredients to an IBD diet, and one of them is protein.

Eating enough protein is important because chronic inflammation can impair your ability to absorb nutrients from food, which in turn can lead to malnutrition and weight loss. If you have ulcerative colitis, your protein needs might therefore be 25% higher than normal. 

At a minimum, you should eat 1-2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day between flares. You should also aim to get as much protein as you can from high protein foods like eggs, fish, and meat. Protein sources like these are, from a nutritional standpoint, superior to nutritional supplements. Getting enough protein this way can be challenging for some individuals, however. Individuals with dietary restrictions or sensitive stomachs, for instance, cannot eat certain types of protein. This is where protein powder can help.

Protein powder is versatile. It can be used to make protein shakes, added to smoothies, and incorporated into oatmeal, yogurt, and other recipes. Adding protein powder to your diet is thus an easy way to ensure that you are eating enough protein, which is not only needed to prevent weight loss and muscle wasting, but is also needed to heal your gut. Unfortunately, however, not all protein powders are created equal.

protein-powder-for-ulcerative-colitis

What is the best protein powder for ulcerative colitis?


Most protein powders are not safe for someone with ulcerative colitis. Do not be fooled by clever marketing.

First and foremost, the majority of protein powders contain emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, sweeteners, and flavors, all of which have been associated with unpleasant side effects and long-term damage to the gut. This poses a significant concern for individuals already struggling with compromised gut health, so it is crucial that you find a protein powder without additives. Keep reading to learn more.

ulcerative-colitis-protein-powder

Why drink wholesome


drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for ulcerative colitis is that we do not use food additives. Even in minute quantities, additives can trigger an array of undesirable symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain.

The reason behind these symptoms stems from the fact that additives bear no resemblance to real, natural foods. Consequently, your digestive system cannot fully break them down. This can result in two scenarios: either water is drawn into your gut, causing diarrhea, or the additives feed your gut bacteria, which produce gas. Excessive gas can give rise to bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even impede the smooth passage of food through the colon, ultimately leading to 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 implications of consuming food additives over an extended period become even more disconcerting. Additives gradually disrupt crucial regulatory pathways within the intestines, thereby contributing to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory disorders.

Ongoing research suggests that food additives, particularly artificial sweeteners, also have the potential to disturb the balance of the gut microbiomethe collection of microorganisms living in your gut. As you might imagine, this can profoundly impact long-term gut health.

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 colitis is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Whey and casein, which are derived from the production of cheese and yogurt, have gained notoriety for their propensity to induce digestive discomfort. This holds especially true for individuals with lactose intolerance, as their bodies lack the necessary enzymes to fully digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products. As you have recently learned, partially digested food can give rise to a multitude of unpleasant side effects.

vegan vanilla protein powder serving suggestion
vanilla protein powder lifestyle image 1

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make protein powder for ulcerative colitis is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Most other protein powders in the market contain one or both of these protein sources. Concentrates and isolates have been stripped down to nothing but the protein. They undergo extensive mechanical and chemical processing, sometimes even involving the use of solvents like hexane. The end result is a protein supplement looks little to nothing like real food.

Your digestive system is naturally designed to process unprocessed or minimally-processed real foods, rather than protein concentrates or isolates. This is exactly why a growing body of research is discovering that regular consumption of processed ingredients like these can disrupt your gut microbiome, which serves a role far beyond food digestion.

Your gut microbiome plays a crucial role in shielding your body against harmful pathogens, educating your immune system, and directly or indirectly influencing a wide range of bodily functions. It is this important to recognize that an imbalanced gut microbiome, known as a dysbiotic gut, is a matter that should not be taken lightly.

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

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein powder for colitis with egg whites and almonds. Egg whites undergo a simple process of pasteurization and drying, while almonds are roasted, pressed to reduce oil content, and finely ground. These minimally-processed ingredients yield protein powders that are exceptionally gentle on the digestive system. This is partly because real foods, unlike protein isolates and concentrates, have natural enzymes and digestive aids that make digestion easier.

For individuals without egg allergies or sensitivities, egg white protein emerges as an the top choice for promoting gut health. Egg whites are low in fiber, low in FODMAP, and have an ability to increase the population of good bacteria in the gut. Many of our satisfied customers are quick to say that they experience fewer digestive issues when incorporating our egg white protein powder into their daily routines compared to other protein supplements.

Now, for those following a vegan diet or facing dietary restrictions that prevent them from consuming eggs, our vegan almond protein powder stands out as the top alternative. Almonds boast prebiotic characteristics, fostering the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome while also supporting healthy and regular bowel movements. In conclusion, we take pride in creating protein powders with minimal processing so that you can enjoy the benefits of protein supplementation without compromising your gut health.

★★★★★

easy to digest

“I am a recently diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis mom of 3, and these powders have literally saved my life. On the days I cannot actually eat anything, I drink these as my means and it helps me retain calories and nutrition, AND they taste phenomenal!” – Sara

Read more reviews or take the quiz.

Protein Powder Sample Packs

3 Protein Powder Samples

$19.99

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.

Close