How to Find the Best Unsweetened Protein Powder

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best unsweetened protein powder.

Discover how to supplement your protein intake with protein powder without sweetener.

Last Updated
Jan 19, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, CNC

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

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

Brittany is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

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

Protein Powder Without Sweetener

Why Should I Use Unsweetened Protein Powder?

Unsweetened protein powder is ideal for people who want to increase the protein content of a recipe without changing the flavor.

It makes a great addition to smoothies, baked goods, and even savory recipes like soups.

Likewise, protein powder without sweetener is a good choice for people who like to control the amount of sweetness.

Many protein powders are way too sweet because they are made with sugar substitutes that are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.

With a plain protein powder, you can add your own sweetener, giving you control over the amount of sweetness.

Unsweetened protein powder is also perfect for people who need to limit their sugar intake.

Some protein powders contain added sugars that are not suitable for certain diets or dietary restrictions.

Finally, many sweeteners, particularly sugar substitutes like artificial sweeteners, are not good for you.

Did you know artificial sweeteners can cause cravings toward sugary foods, increase the risk of glucose intolerance, and alter the composition of the gut microbiome (Yale J Biol Med, 2010; Nature, 2014; Adv Nutr, 2019)?

At the end of the day, you are probably better off just eating sugar.

What Is the Best Unsweetened Protein Powder?

To be sure that a protein powder is truly NOT sweetened, check the ingredient list for the following:

• Added Sugars like cane sugar and coconut sugar
• Artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium
• Sugar alcohols like erythritol
• Natural sugar substitutes like stevia and monk fruit

It is also important to keep in mind that not all protein powders without sweeteners are created equal.

For starters, animal-based protein powders like whey, egg white, and collagen tend to taste and mix better than plant-based protein powders, making them better additions to smoothies, soups, and sauces.

Unsweetened plant-based protein powders are often better for baked goods, however.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Some unsweetened protein powders contain emulsifiers, thickeners, and other ultra-processed additives that can alter the composition and function of your gut microbiome (North Clin Istanb, 2019).

These shifts, known as gut dysbiosis, have been shown to contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases, including obesity, type 1 diabetes, and colorectal cancer (J Exp Med, 2019).

Gut dysbiosis is so problematic because it causes a cascade of problems, including intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation, impaired nutrient absorption, and reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

⚠️ 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 also cause digestive issues.

This is usually because they contain lactose, a sugar many individuals with sensitive stomachs 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.

Sources

1. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine (Yale J Biol Med). Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010. 2010.
2. Nature (Nature). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. 2014.
3. Advances in Nutrition (Adv Nutr). Effects of Sweeteners on the Gut Microbiota: A Review of Experimental Studies and Clinical Trials. 2019.
4. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2019.
5. The Journal of Experimental Medicine (J Exp Med). The gut microbiome: Relationships with disease and opportunities for therapy. 2019.
6. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
7. 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 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.