What gum does protein powder have and why​?

What gum does protein powder have and why​? Learn how to supplement your protein intake without added gums.

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Protein powder and gums

What are gums? 

If you read the ingredients list of most protein powders, you will notice one or more gums. And if you are wondering what these gums are doing in your supplement, you have come to the right place.

Gums are common food additives used to thicken, stabilize, emulsify, and improve the texture of processed foods like protein powder.

They are typically derived from plants, but are so processed they cannot really be considered natural.

Common examples include acacia gum, cellulose gum, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, konjac gum, locust bean gum, and xanthan gum.

It is also common to see a gum blend, or a mixture of gums, in protein powder. By combining several gums, protein powder manufacturers can produce a synergistic effect.

The benefits of adding a gum or gum blend to protein powder include:

• Improved texture/mouthfeel: Most protein powders are chalky or gritty. Gums help to mask these textures/aftertastes.
• Better mixability: Gums act as dispersing agents, helping protein powder to dissolve without clumps.
• Greater stability: Gums prevent protein powder from separating or settling in liquid.
• Lower costs: Gums are inexpensive, allowing manufacturers to improve product quality without significantly increasing their costs.

Despite these benefits, however, you do not want gums in your diet.

Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of gums in protein powder.

Are gums good for you? 

Although gums are generally considered safe for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are notorious for causing painful side effects.

One of the most common side effects caused by gums is digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Gums tend to cause digestive issues for several reasons, including:

• High fiber content: Many gums are high in dietary fiber. Fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, is fermented by bacteria in your gut, which can cause bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain, especially for those not used to a high-fiber diet.
• Increased water retention: Gums can draw water into your colon, leading to softer stools and diarrhea in sensitive individuals.
  Allergies and sensitivities: Although rare, some people may be allergic to specific gums, such as guar gum or carrageenan. Allergic reactions can vary in severity and may include gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.

Regularly eating certain gums can also alter the composition of your gut microbiome, the collection of microorganisms living in your gut.

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which is linked to the development of chronic digestion problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The gut microbiome affects various physiological processes, including immune function and inflammation. For this reason, when the balance of bacteria therein is disrupted, it can have a huge impact on digestive health.

It is important to note that the severity of these side effects can vary and that some people are more sensitive to gums than others.

Moreover, the amount of gum consumed, the frequency of consumption, and individual differences in gut health can all influence the occurrence and intensity of side effects.

If you experience persistent or severe symptoms after consuming foods containing gums, consult a healthcare professional for advice.

What is the best protein powder without gums?

It goes without saying that gum-free protein powder cannot contain gums like guar gum and xanthan gum.

You may not have known, however, that acacia fiber, carrageenan, and inulin are all gum-like thickeners.

It follows that if you are looking to avoid gums, you should probably steer clear of food additives altogether.

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

Like gums, emulsifiers, flavors, and other additives can cause bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Moreover, if digestive issues are a concern for you, you should also avoid whey and casein.

Although not an issue for everyone, these dairy-based proteins can cause GI side effects because they contain lactose, a sugar most adults cannot fully digest.

You should avoid protein concentrates and isolates too, as they have been mechanically and or chemically stripped of everything but the protein, including the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

As a result, they can cause digestive issues and possibly even disruptions to your gut microbiome. 

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Drink Wholesome is the best protein powder without gums.

Finding a protein powder free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates is hard.

In fact, 99% of protein supplements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients, which is why we created Drink Wholesome.

We make the best gum-free protein powder because we use a short list of simple ingredients free from food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our protein powder than with any other type of protein supplement. Order samples to see for yourself.