What is the best protein powder with real sugar?

Written by Jack Schrupp and reviewed by Ella McGonagle, M.S. Nutrition

drink wholesome is the best protein powder with real sugar. It is additive-free, dairy-free, and made with real foods, not protein isolates – 99% of supplements fail to meet at least one of these criteria. This makes it perfect for people with gut issues and sensitive stomachs, as well as for people just looking to boost their protein intake without the processing and added junk. Order samples to see if our protein powder is right for you. 

★★★★★

“It has ingredients you can actually pronounce and is freaking delicious.”

-Kallie

drink wholesome is the best protein powder with real sugar.

What is the deal with sugar? 

Sick of artificial sweeteners?

Sick of stevia?

What is the best protein powder with real sugar?

What is the deal with sugar? 

With so many fad diets and sources of nutrition advice, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction, especially when it comes to sugar. First of all, sugar is not necessarily bad for you. The naturally occurring sugars in fruits and vegetables, for example, are part of a healthy diet. Added sugars, on the other hand, are a different story. In 2016, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) revised the Nutrition Facts label to include both “Total Sugars” and “Added Sugars.” Added sugars are sugars introduced to the food during processing. Total Sugars refers to added sugars as well as naturally occurring sugars like those in fruits. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that no more than 10 percent of your daily caloric intake come from Added Sugars. This is because eating too many Added Sugars can raise your risk for chronic disease such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Given that most protein powders are made for health-conscious consumers, they tend to contain little if any Added Sugar. This does not mean that they are unsweetened, however. Thanks to sweeteners like sucralose and stevia, the average protein powder is plenty sweet. If you shopped around for protein powder, however, you will know that there is a catch; although artificial sweeteners and stevia are sweet and sugar-free, they have a terrible aftertaste and can cause uncomfortable side effects. Keep reading to learn more. 

Sick of artificial sweeteners?

A protein powder without artificial sweeteners is hard to come by. Artificial sweeteners are so popular because of their intense sweetness. A pinch of artificial sweetener, for example, can be used to achieve the same amount of sweetness as several tablespoons of sugar. This allows food manufacturers to reduce both the caloric and sugar content of their products. The two most popular artificial sweeteners used in protein powders are sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Other common artificial sweeteners include aspartame, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol. 

Despite their obvious benefits, artificial sweeteners have a number of drawbacks. First of all, several studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, which can lead to binging and feelings of withdrawal. Other studies have associated artificial sweeteners with a higher risk of glucose intolerance, which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes. Research has also suggested that artificial sweeteners are bad for the stomach because they cannot be digested. They therefore alter the composition of our gut microbiota, the collection of microorganisms that help us digest food, which can lead to serious stomach pain and widespread inflammation.

Another reason to avoid artificial sweeteners is the bad aftertaste. Artificial sweeteners are often way too sweet, and have a bitter aftertaste because they activate bitter taste receptors. This bitterness, which many say reminds them of licking aluminum foil, can linger in your mouth for hours. 

Sick of stevia?

Stevia is an inexpensive zero calorie sweetener derived from the stevia rebaudiana plant. It is over 100 times sweeter than table sugar, and is considered by many to be a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners. It is therefore no surprise that this zero calorie sweetener has found its way into protein powders. That said, although it is is sweet, stevia has an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. Like artificial sweeteners, it activates bitter taste receptors in addition to sweet taste receptors. Many protein protein powder brands work like mad to mask these off-flavors, and it is causing them quite the headache. 

Stevia is also extracted from the stevia rebaudiana plant using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol. This, one could argue, makes it barely more natural than sucralose and the other artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace. In fact, a recent class action lawsuit filed in California reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that the company in question falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as natural. 

What is the best real sugar protein powder?

Our real sugar protein powder is naturally sweetened with coconut and monk fruit. 1 serving contains 2-3 grams of naturally occurring sugar. A relative newcomer to the world of sweeteners, monk fruit is a sub-tropical melon-like fruit native to Southeast Asia. Monk fruit sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin, crushing the fruit, and collecting the juice, which is then dried into a concentrated powder. It gets its sweetness from non-caloric compounds called mogrosides, and as far as low/zero calorie sweeteners go, it is the most natural and best tasting. You will find drink wholesome to be considerably less sweet than your average protein powder, and to have zero aftertaste. 

★★★★★

easy to digest

“I’ve had Crohn’s disease for 20+ years and it’s always been hard to find a protein powder my stomach can handle. I’ve had no problem digesting drink wholesome AND it tastes great. I highly recommend this protein powder if you have IBS or Crohn’s.” – Jesse

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drink wholesome is the best real sugar protein powder.

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.