How to Find the Best Protein Powder Without Artificial Ingredients
📌 Overview and Key Takeaways
This is a Certified Nutrition Coach’s guide to finding the best protein powder without artificial ingredients.
Discover how to meet your daily protein needs, naturally.
Protein Powder Without Artificial Ingredients
What Are Artificial Ingredients?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), artificial ingredients are substances that are:
not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof
In other words, artificial ingredients are synthesized (made in a lab), not gathered, grown, harvested, hunted, or raised.
The most common artificial ingredients in protein powder are food additives, including artificial sweeteners and flavors.
- Artificial Sweeteners: The most common artificial sweeteners are sucralose and acesulfame potassium (ace-K).
- Artificial Flavors: Flavor manufacturers are not required to disclose their ingredients, so you have no way of knowing what is actually in an artificial flavor.
- Certain Food Additives: Some food additives, such as color dyes, are artificial.
Note that the use of artificial ingredients in the United States is regulated by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The FDA evaluates the safety of these ingredients before they are allowed in food products, and requires that they be listed on product labels so that you can make informed choices about what you put in your body.
Also note that some additives, including natural flavors, lecithin, and gums, can contain synthetic solvents, preservatives, and carriers, and still qualify as “natural.”
This is due to what many consider to be a loophole in current regulations.
In short, the FDA’s “natural” policy is very limited and does not regulate how ingredients are processed.
It follows that if you are looking for a protein powder without artificial ingredients, you should avoid all ingredients that are not naturally-occurring.
Basically, if you cannot gather, grow, harvest, hunt, or raise it, leave it on the shelf.
Are Artificial Ingredients Bad for You?
The short answer is that it depends on the ingredient, and in most cases, more research is needed.
That is, the impact of artificial ingredients on human health is a complex and often debated topic.
Although many artificial ingredients are approved for human consumption, emerging research suggests that some of them might not be as safe as once believed.
For example, one large observational study found a potential association between higher artificial sweetener consumption and increased cardiovascular disease risk (BMJ, 2022).
It is important to note that this was an observational study, which cannot prove cause and effect, and more research is needed to confirm this relationship.
Nonetheless, given the uncertainty, you might choose to limit or avoid artificial ingredients until more research becomes available.
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What Is the Best Protein Powder Without Artificial Ingredients?
The best protein powder without artificial ingredients is one that is naturally-sweetened, naturally-flavored, and free from artificial food additives.
It is important to note, however, that just because a protein powder does not contain artificial ingredients does not mean that it is good for you.
Regularly consuming emulsifiers, thickeners, and other ultra-processed food additives, even ones that are technically natural, might alter the function and composition of your gut microbiome – the community of microbes living in your digestive tract (North Clin Istanb, 2020).
Over time, this could contribute to gut dysbiosis, which has been linked to a wide range of chronic conditions, including obesity and type 1 diabetes (J Exp Med, 2019).
It is important to add that much of this research is still emerging, so more studies are needed to clarify these relationships.
That said, the preliminary findings suggest that because protein shakes and powders are something you consume regularly, if not every day, the cumulative effects of small amounts of potentially harmful ingredients is worth taking seriously.
⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein shakes and 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
- maltitol
- maltodextrin
- mono- and diglycerides
- ‘natural’ flavors
- rice bran extract
- rice dextrin
- rice hulls
- rosemary extract
- silica
- silicon dioxide
- sodium alginate
- soluble corn fiber
- sorbitol
- soy lecithin
- sucralose
- sunflower lecithin
- tocopherols
- tricalcium phosphate
- xanthan gum
- xylitol
- zinc oxide
As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.
🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates
I also recommend avoiding protein concentrates and isolates.
Most protein shakes and powders are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.
This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.
You therefore might not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.
For example, one study shows that regularly consuming protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome (Nutrients, 2018).
Another study shows that it could cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).
Although further research is needed, you can play it safe by choosing protein shakes and powders made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds.
Our customers find them to be more gut-friendly.
Order Samples to see for yourself.
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Sources
- BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) (BMJ). Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort. 2022.
- Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2020.
- The Journal of Experimental Medicine (J Exp Med). The gut microbiome: Relationships with disease and opportunities for therapy. 2019.
- Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
- Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.
Editorial Guidelines
This article was written by a Certified Nutrition Coach and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and we regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
Who Is Drink Wholesome for?
Drink Wholesome makes protein powder for sensitive stomachs, GERD, IBS, and other gut issues. It’s suitable for most food sensitivities, including lactose intolerance, and won’t cause side effects like bloating, constipation, and reflux.
Why Is Drink Wholesome Good for Sensitive Stomachs?
Drink Wholesome is the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs because it’s additive, dairy, and gluten-free. It’s also made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds. Other protein powders are made from ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates, which look nothing like real food.
What’s the Difference Between Protein Powder and Meal Replacement Powder?
Drink Wholesome makes gut-friendly Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders. Protein powder is high in protein and low in everything else, whereas meal replacement powder contains fats, carbs, fiber, and protein because it’s intended to replace the nutritional value of a balanced meal.
What’s the Difference Between Almond, Collagen, and Egg White Protein?
We make three types of stomach-friendly Protein Powder: Collagen Protein Powder, Egg White Protein Powder, and Vegan Almond Protein Powder. As long as you get protein from a variety of sources, any type of protein can help you meet your total daily protein needs. In other words, for someone with a balanced diet, there is no advantage to consuming one type of protein over another. Order Samples to see which type you like the most.
Ask Nutrition Coach
If you’re wondering which Drink Wholesome product is best for you, ask our Certified Nutrition Coach. For personalized medical advice, consult your healthcare provider.
High Protein Blueberry Pancakes
PREP TIME
5 min
COOK TIME
5 min
SERVES
2
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Drink Wholesome
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 egg whites
- ¼ cup plant milk
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup blueberries
Instructions
In a blender, combine the egg whites, milk, ¼ cup blueberries, and almond butter. Pour the mixture into a small mixing bowl and add the protein powder and flour. Whisk until smooth. Pour ⅓ cup batter onto a heated and greased (or non-stick) pan to form pancakes. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes. This recipe makes 4-5 pancakes. Then, in a small saucepan, heat ¾ cup blueberries and the maple syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes. Plate the pancakes and spoon blueberry jam on top.
Author(s)
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