What protein powder is easy on the stomach?
It is important to mention that most dairy-based proteins like whey and casein are not easy on the stomach. If you use whey or casein protein, and are unhappy with how it makes you feel, it is time to try a different type of protein powder.
If you are not using whey or casein protein, however, and experience side effects, then you are going to need to take a close look at the ingredient list. Any more than a handful of ingredients is a bad sign, and ingredients that you cannot pronounce are probably going to upset your stomach.
As a rule of thumb, you want a short list of simple ingredients, as short and simple generally means easy on the stomach. Keep reading to learn why.
drink wholesome is the best protein powder that’s easy on the stomach.
One of the reasons why we make protein powder that’s easy on the stomach is that we do not use food additives. In contrast, most other protein powders contain a cocktail of emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners, and flavors. Even in small quantities, additives can cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues like bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain, especially for individuals with digestive problems.
Because they do not look like real foods, additives are only partially broken down during digestion. This can lead to one of two outcomes: either your intestines absorb excess water (diarrhea), or the additives feed your gut bacteria. Gut bacteria release gas as they eat, and excessive gas can cause bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and even constipation.
Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:
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
The real problem with consuming additives, however, is their potential to cause long-term gut health problems. Regardless of whether you have existing gut problems or not, consistently eating food additives can disrupt regulatory pathways in your intestines. This increases the likelihood of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and systemic inflammatory disorders.
Food additives, particularly artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also disturb the delicate balance of your gut microbiome, impacting your ability to digest and absorb nutrients. When you think about this, this practically defeats the point of using protein powder in the first place.
