What are the best protein shakes for elderly people?

Protein supplements for seniors

Should elderly people drink protein shakes?

---

Everyone, especially seniors, needs protein. Seniors require a high-protein diet to prevent muscle loss that comes with aging. This is especially important for seniors recovering from illness or long hospital stays. Muscle loss can impact strength and bone health, affecting agility, balance, and the ability to perform daily tasks. Moreover, aging bodies process protein less efficiently, so seniors need more of it, even if they are healthy.

Approximately one-third of seniors do not get enough protein due to reduced appetite, dental issues, taste or swallowing problems, or limited finances. When combined with a sedentary lifestyle, this puts them at risk of muscle deterioration, compromised mobility, and slower recovery from illnesses. Therefore, seniors who consume more protein generally have better outcomes.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. For seniors with acute or chronic diseases, the RDA can be higher, ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 grams. In some cases, older adults who are severely ill or malnourished may need up to 2 grams per kilogram of body weight. Consuming this much protein can be challenging, however, even for those without dietary restrictions. This is where protein shakes can be beneficial.

Adding a protein shake to your diet, whether in smoothies, oatmeal, or other recipes, is an easy way to increase your protein intake. Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all protein shakes are the same in terms of quality and effectiveness.

What are the best protein shakes for elderly people?

---

Any type of protein shake (like egg white, pea, whey, etc.) can help you increase your protein intake. In other words, there is no real advantage to choosing one type of protein shake over another, as long as your overall diet is balanced. What really matters are the added ingredients in your protein shake.

Unfortunately, most protein shakes contain a bunch of additives like emulsifiers, thickeners, flavors, and sugar substitutes. These ingredients can cause painful side effects and long-term gut health problems. In particular, regularly consuming these additives can change the makeup of the microorganisms in your gut, known as your gut microbiome.

Your gut microbiome helps you digest and absorb food, and plays an important role in many physiological processes. It is therefore important to avoid anything that messes with it. Studies have shown that gut dysbiosis (an altered gut microbiome) is a leading cause of inflammation in the body and is linked to the development and progression of several chronic diseases.

The best protein shakes for the elderly are the ones made with a short list of simple ingredients. Essentially, the more your protein shake resembles real food, the better it is for your gut and overall health. It is worth noting that as you age, there is a natural decrease in the variety of microorganisms in your gut, and the composition of your gut microbiome can shift, potentially leading to gut dysbiosis. So, it is best not to accelerate these changes by drinking a protein shake loaded with food additives.

drink wholesome makes the best protein shakes for elderly people

---

drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best protein shakes for elderly people is that we do not use food additives. As you just learned, many additives, in addition to upsetting the balance of your gut microbiome, can cause nasty side effects.

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

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

Additives tend to cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects because they do not look like real food, making them hard to digest. They sit around  in your gut as a result, feeding your gut bacteria. As gut bacteria eat (ferment), they release gas, so more time to eat means more gas. Excessive intestinal gas can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Additionally, it can slow the movement of food through your colon, which can lead to constipation.

Partially digested food additives can also cause your colon to absorb excessive water, triggering osmotic diarrhea. Now, you may finally have something to blame for those post-protein shake trips to the bathroom.

our ingredients: 

egg whites, coconut, maple sugar, vanilla

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 protein shakes for seniors is that we do not use whey and casein. These dairy-based proteins contain lactose, a sugar that most adults cannot fully digest. Once again, foods that resist digestion are known for causing digestive issues. Given that many elderly people have sensitive stomachs and pre-existing gut issues to begin with, this is important to take into consideration.

drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best protein shake for elderly people is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Nearly all other protein supplements are made from these protein sources, which go through tons of processing. Protein concentrates or isolates are mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein, which makes them look nothing like real food. 

Your gut is meant to digest minimally or unprocessed real foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why regularly consuming ingredients like these can alter your gut microbiome. As I mentioned above, having an imbalanced gut microbiome is a major health concern.

Instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best protein shakes for seniors using egg whites and almonds. These simple, whole food protein sources are easier on your gut. Here are few reasons why:

– Natural Digestive Aids: Both egg whites and almonds contain enzymes that help you break them down. In contrast, protein isolates and concentrates have been stripped of these natural digestive aids.

– Prebiotics: Almonds are prebiotic, meaning they foster a healthy and diverse gut microbiome.

– Egg Whites: Egg whites are low FODMAP, alkaline (maintaining a healthy gut pH), and bioactive (promoting healthy gut bacteria growth). Our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our egg white protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement.

In summary, we make delicious protein powders with a short list of gut-friendly ingredients, so the elderly can boost their protein intake without compromising their gut health.

simple and delicious

“I genuinely love this product. It’s the only protein powder I take. In todays day and age so many additives in ingredients mess with our endocrine system, mess with our stomachs, and aren’t good for us long term. This powder is awesome, clean, simple, and tasty.” – Nitasha

Read more reviews or take the quiz.

---

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.