How to Find the Best Protein Powder Without Maltodextrin

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Certified Nutrition Coach’s guide on how to find the best protein powder without maltodextrin​.

Discover how to meet your protein needs without maltodextrin.

Last Updated
Jul 21, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, CNC

Jack is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before making changes to your diet.

Protein Powder Without Maltodextrin​

Why Is Maltodextrin in Protein Powder?

If you pay attention to the ingredients in your processed and packaged foods, you have probably come across maltodextrin.

Maltodextrin is a common food additive made from starchy vegetables like corn, rice, potato, tapioca, and wheat.

To make it, manufacturers rely on a process called hydrolysis, which uses water, enzymes, and acids to break the starch into smaller pieces.

The end result is a white powder similar to corn syrup solids.

Maltodextrin is added to protein powder:

• As a flow or anti-clumping agent (prevents the formation of clumps)
• As a thickener or filler (increases the viscosity of your protein shake)
• As a carrier (allows liquid flavorings, oils, etc. to take on a powder form)

It is a particularly powerful addition to low-fat or low-calorie products because it improves mouthfeel without adding many calories.

Is Maltodextrin Good for You?

Maltodextrin is not inherently unhealthy, but high or chronic intake, particularly in individuals with metabolic or gastrointestinal vulnerabilities, might pose health risks.

For starters, maltodextrin has a high glycemic index, meaning it can cause a rapid spike in blood glucose.

Not only can this be dangerous for someone with diabetes or insulin resistance, but it can also slow promote fat storage and inhibit fat breakdown.

Regularly consuming maltodextrin can also promote the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the gut, resulting in chronic inflammation and other gut health issues (Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2018).

In short, consuming maltodextrin regularly is probably not a good idea.

What Is the Best Maltodextrin-Free Protein Powder?

If you are looking to avoid maltodextrin, then you probably want to avoid other food additives too.

Emulsifiers, thickeners, and other ultra-processed additives can also cause painful side effects and even long-term health problems.

⚠️ 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 it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid ultra-processed 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 your gut break them down.

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

Studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Nutrients, 2018; Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

You should thus look for protein shakes and powders made from whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol). Maltodextrin, Modern Stressor of the Intestinal Environment. 2018.
2. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
3. 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

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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 regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.