What Is the Best Protein Powder Without Gums?

Are you looking for the best protein powder without gums? Discover how to supplement your protein intake without thickeners.

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Protein Powder Without Gums

What Are Gums? 

If you pay attention to what is in your protein powder, you have almost certainly seen gums like guar gum and xanthan gum on the ingredient list.

And you might have wondered what they are doing there, and if you should be eating them.

Gums are ultra-processed food additives used to thicken, stabilize, emulsify, and improve the texture of processed food.

They are typically derived from plants, but are so processed they cannot really be considered natural.

Some common examples include acacia gum, cellulose gum, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, konjac gum, locust bean gum, and xanthan gum.

It is also common to see a gum blend in protein powder.

Are Gums Bad for You?

Gums are generally considered safe for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but many people may have allergies or sensitivities to them.

One of the most common side effects of gums is digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Gums can cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects for several reasons:

1. High fiber content: Many food additive gums are high in dietary fiber. Fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, is fermented by bacteria in your gut. This can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain, especially for those not used to a high-fiber diet.
2. Increased water retention: Gums can draw water into your colon, leading to soft stools or even diarrhea in sensitive individuals.
3. Gut dysbiosis: Certain gums can alter the composition and function of your gut microbiota, which can impair your ability to digest and absorb food as well as contribute to a host of chronic digestive issues.
4. Allergies and sensitivities: Although rare, some people are allergic to certain food gums, such as guar gum. Allergic reactions can vary, but may include GI side effects.

It is important to note that some people are more sensitive to some food additive gums than others.

Moreover, the amount of gum consumed, the frequency of consumption, and individual differences in gut health can all influence the likelihood and intensity of side effects.

If you experience persistent or severe GI symptoms after consuming foods containing food additive gums, consult a healthcare professional.

What Is the Best Gum-Free Protein Powder? 

It is important to note that although they are not technically gums, acacia fiber, carrageenan, and inulin are gum-like thickeners.

And if you are worried about gums in protein powder, then you should avoid them too.

In fact, if gums upset your stomach or conflict with your dietary preferences, then you should steer clear of food additives altogether.

Regularly eating emulsifiers, flavorings, and other food additives can also alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein supplements:

• 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 could not find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

If digestive issues are a concern for you, then you might also want to avoid protein concentrates and isolates.

Most protein supplements 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 do not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

Specifically, studies have shown that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates can disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut.

Prioritizing whole food protein sources when buying protein supplements​ is therefore a good idea.

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Drink Wholesome Is the Best Protein Powder Without Gums

Finding a protein powder free from food additives and protein concentrates and isolates is hard.

In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients, which is why we created Drink Wholesome.

We make the best gum-free protein powder because we use a short list of simple ingredients.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that our customers experience fewer gut-related health issues with our Protein Powder than with any other type of protein supplement.

Order Samples to see for yourself.