What is the best protein powder without gums?
What is the best protein powder without gums? Learn how to pick a protein powder free from added junk.
Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN
drink wholesome is the best protein powder without gums
What are gums?
If you pay attention to the ingredients in protein powder, you have almost certainly come across gums like guar gum and xanthan gum. You may have wondered what they are doing in your supplement, and if you should be eating them.
Gums are 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, xanthan gum.
It is also common to see a gum blend in protein powder. Gums, like sugar substitutes, are often combined to achieve the desired characteristics in a product.
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.
Food additive 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 softer stools or even diarrhea in sensitive individuals.
3. Gut dysbiosis: Certain gums can alter the composition of your gut microbiota, the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. An altered gut microbiome impairs your ability to digest and absorb food, and can lead to a host of digestive issues.
4. Allergies and sensitivities: Although rare, some people may be allergic to specific food additive gums, such as guar gum or carrageenan. Allergic reactions can vary in severity, but may include GI side effects.
It is important to note that the severity of GI side effects can vary among individuals, and some people may be 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, you should consult a healthcare professional for advice.
What is the best gum-free protein powder?
It goes without saying that gum-free protein powder is free from gums like guar and xanthan gum. You may not have known that common protein powder additives like acacia fiber, carrageenan, and inulin are also gum-like thickeners, and should be avoided.
Now that we are on the subject, it is in your best interest to steer clear of food additives altogether. Additives can cause painful side effects and long-term gut health problems, even in small amounts.
It follows that when choosing a gum-free protein powder, you must read the ingredient list carefully and look up any ingredients that you do not recognize. As a rule of thumb, look for a short list of simple ingredients. By sticking to whole foods, you can boost your protein intake without upsetting your stomach. Keep reading to learn more.
drink wholesome is the best protein powder without gums
drink wholesome is additive-free
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder without gums is that we do not use any food additives whatsoever. This includes thickeners, emulsifiers, anti-caking agents, preservatives, and flavors of any kind. Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein 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, 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
You will notice that this list includes several artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes. Instead of using sweeteners like these, we use monk fruit. Monk fruit, also known as lo han guo, is a small, melon-like round fruit native to Southeast Asia. It is the most natural and best tasting sugar substitute on the market.
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 gum-free protein powder is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Whey and casein, which are byproducts of cheese and yogurt manufacturing, cause digestive issues because they contain lactose – a sugar most people cannot digest.
drink wholesome is made with real foods
A final reason why we make the best protein powder without gu is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein powders are made from one or both of these protein sources.
Protein concentrates and isolates have been stripped of the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down. This not only makes them hard to digest, but may also affect the balance of your gut microbiome. Again, this is not something you want to have to deal with.
Instead of protein concentrates or isolates, we use egg whites and almonds. These minimally-processed protein sources are a gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.
Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, egg whites and almonds contain enzymes that help you break them down. Almonds are also rich in prebiotic fiber, so they improve composition of your gut microbiome. If you are looking for the best vegan protein powder without gums, you have come to the right place.
Egg whites, on the other hand, are low FODMAP (easy to break down), alkaline (balance the pH levels in your gut) and probiotic (promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria). Our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement.
In summary, our protein powders, because they are additive and dairy-free and made with whole food protein sources, are the best way to boost your protein intake without upsetting your stomach. Order samples to see for yourself.
★★★★★
“I use and love your protein powder! I love that its made from real and wholesome ingredients with none of the icky stuff like additives, gums, artificial sweeteners/ flavors, etc.” – Julie
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drink wholesome is the best gum-free protein powder.
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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.
