The Ingredients You Probably *Don't* Want In Your Protein Powder

Protein is found in every cell of our body. We need it to rebuild new cells and repair old ones - which is why when you’re busy, adding a little protein powder to a smoothie can be super handy.

I, for one, incorporate protein powder into my smoothies almost daily. They’re the best – although as protein powders are predominantly manufactured, the ingredients between them differ. Hence why I think it’s always important to skip past all of the marketing hype on the front of a packet and head straight for the ingredients list and nutritional facts instead. 

Plus, since I’ve played guinea pig with a gazillion protein powders, my gut can always tell the difference when I started drinking something crap. And there’s nothing worse than spending over $80 (because yes, a lot of them can be expensive!) and having to throw it away because one of the ingredients in the formulas leaves you bloated, gassy and feeling gross.

How Can A Quality Protein Drink Benefit Your Diet?

There are many ways a quality protein drink made from wholefood ingredients can benefit you.

Dr Simoné Laubscher, Clinical Nutritionist, Naturopath, Life Coach + Formulator of WelleCo tells us, “protein powders made from wholefood ingredients means they’re bio available so your gut can easily absorb and utilise the essential amino acids as building blocks for your health. The nine essential amino acids are also key building blocks for protein and therefore can assist with collagen production, the framework to keep your skin looking fresh and youthful.”

There are a few other things a good quality protein can do to benefit our health, including keeping your appetite in check and your blood sugars stable; supporting nutritional needs in general, and during pregnancy; and helping to prevent muscle wastage and sustain lean muscle, as well as assist in recovery.

What Should I Avoid In A Protein Powder?

I like to ensure any protein powder I consume is free from additional chemicals or additives. Anything denatured (overly processed) is also a no-go from me. In fact, before I buy any protein powders I generally tend to ask the questions: is it low in sugar and free from fillers? If it is, then it gets the green light.

Dr Laubscher shares a few other notable ingredients to avoid below.

WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE

“Plant protein has far superior utilisation and uptake into the cell and muscle than whey. Plants absorb more easily than any product derived from dairy foods. Whey protein powders are by-products of the liquid waste products of cheese production and still contain a small amount of lactose. Lactose is very hard to digest in a lot of people, and is the sugar component of milk (which is why many whey protein powders leave you feeling bloated and full of gas).”

GLUTEN

“After treating clients for over 20 years, I have seen a huge rise in gluten intolerance mainly due to more genetically modified foods. Fifty years ago, gluten ratios in oats and spelt were extremely limited and didn't seem to cause IBS issues. Now, since the gluten ratios are so much higher in most grains, it is causing huge IBS symptoms from wind, bloating, constipation, fatigue, brain fog and diarrhea.”

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

“There have been many published papers now linking artificial sweeteners [including dextrins/malotdextrins] to weight gain, metabolic syndrome, gut inflammation and disease. These fake sweeteners are also linked to headaches, migraines and even more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease as seen in this published paper so why risk it?"

Other ingredients to watch out for include skim milk powders, thickeners and gums, and vegetable oils and fats.

Which Protein Powders Are Worth Adding To Cart?