How to Find the Best Protein Shakes for GLP-1​ RAs

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide to choosing the best potein shakes for GLP-1​ RAs.

Discover how to supplement your protein intake without upsetting your stomach.

Last Updated
Feb 23, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, Founder

Jack is the Founder of Drink Wholesome.

Medically reviewed by Brittany, MS, RD and Jenn, PA-C

Kayla is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Jennifer is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Protein Shakes for GLP-1​ RAs

Are Protein Shakes Good for Individuals on GLP-1 RAs?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a class of medications that mimic the action of the natural hormone GLP-1.

They regulate blood sugar levels, insulin secretion, and appetite.

The most commonly prescribed GLP-1 RAs are:

• Semaglutide: Ozempic (type 2 diabetes), Wegovy (weight loss)
• Tirzepatide: Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes), Zepbound (weight loss)
• Dulaglutide: Trulicity (type 2 diabetes)
• Liraglutide: Victoza (type 2 diabetes), Saxenda (weight loss)

According to the Endocrine Society, GLP-1 RAs promote early satiety, reduce food intake, and are associated with weight loss (Endocr Pract, 2022).

That said, GLP-1 RAs are not used as monotherapy.

In other words, they are most effective when administered in combination with dietary and lifestyle changes.

One such change is increasing the percentage of your calories that come from protein.

A high protein diet has advantages for individuals trying to lose weight because it improves blood glucose management, insulin sensitivity, and satiety (Nutrients, 2021).

Eating enough protein is also important for maintaining muscle mass while on GLP-1 RAs.

If your protein intake is too low, your body starts to break down muscle for energy instead fat.

In fact, studies have shown that GLP-1 RA treatment can result in significant reductions in muscle mass (Am J Clin Nutr, 2025).

If you cannot get enough protein from foods like eggs and meat, then adding a protein supplement to your diet might be a good idea.

That said, not all protein shakes and powders are created equal.

What Is the Best GLP-1 RA Protein Shake​?

Unfortunately, many protein supplement contain ingredients known to cause painful side effects as well as gut health problems that can make weight loss harder.

Among these ingredients are food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives can upset your stomach.

This matters because GLP-1 RAs are associated with digestive side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, particularly during dose escalation (Diabetes Obes Metab, 2017).

Food additives can also alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome, which not only diminishes the efficacy of diabetic medications, but also impairs weight loss through several mechanisms (North Clin Istanb, 2020; World J Methodol, 2022; Gut Microbes, 2018).

For example, your gut microbiome modulates the release of hunger-controlling hormones such as ghrelin and insulin.

Gut dysbiosis can lead to higher concentrations of these hormones, which can inhibit hormone signaling and alter energy metabolism (N Engl J Med, 2024).

⚠️ 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 cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Dairy-Based Proteins

Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can cause digestive issues too.

This is usually because they contain lactose, a sugar many people cannot fully digest.

But you might be sensitive to dairy-based proteins even if you are not lactose intolerant.

This is particularly true for casein protein, which forms a gel-like substance in your stomach that slows down digestion.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid ultra-processed 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 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 supplements made from whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

How Much Protein Should I Eat On GLP-1 RAs?

There is no specific protein intake requirement for people on GLP-1 RAs.

But ensuring adequate protein intake, typically around 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, is recommended to preserve muscle mass during weight loss (Obesity (Silver Spring), 2025).

For many individuals, this can easily amount to well over 100 grams of protein per day, which is a lot of protein!

Remember that your ideal protein intake depends on your body weight, activity level, etc.

For personalized recommendations, consult a registered dietitian or other healthcare professional.

Sources

1. Endocrine Practice: Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (Endocr Pract). American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update. 2022.
2. Nutrients (Nutrients). Are Dietary Proteins the Key to Successful Body Weight Management? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Assessing Body Weight Outcomes after Interventions with Increased Dietary Protein. 2021.
3. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr). Changes in lean mass, fat mass, and bone mineral density on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment: A meta-analysis. 2025.
4. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism (Diabetes Obes Metab). Occurrence of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea reported as adverse events in clinical trials studying glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: A systematic analysis of published clinical trials. 2017.
5. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2020.
6. World Journal of Methodology (World J Methodol). Gut microbiota interactions with anti-diabetic medications and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2022.
7. Gut Microbes (Gut Microbes). The human gut microbiota: Metabolism and perspective in obesity. 2018.
8. The New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med). Gut Microbiota and Diabetes — A Comprehensive Review. 2024.
9. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
10. 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.
11. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (Obesity (Silver Spring)). Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. 2025.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.