Is Protein Powder Healthy For You? How to Choose the Right Protein
Protein powder is no new hype. It’s been around for a very long period of time. So long in fact, that some claim it was discovered by cheesemakers approximately 8,000 years ago. It’s no wonder that there are so many brand, and types of proteins out there.
Can your protein powders be causing you problems?
Although all protein powders are processed to a degree, not all are created equal. Some can have harmful effects on your health. If you’re thinking about adding a daily supplement to your diet you would want to make an educated choice. A good brand or type of protein can help you avoid problems in the short and long term. So now we ask - Can a clean, high-quality protein powder be bad for you? No — But they can be pretty hard to find!
How to find a healthy option that works for you
There isn’t one sole answer to this question. Because we all react to foods differently, there are many options we can choose from. It can be tricky to figure out if it’s a good investment on your time and energy to find what works. Some types of protein powders are vegan, collagen, pea, and whey. There are many studies and sources that can say that one type of protein is healthier than another. Your job is to try it out and see how your body responds. But, you want to steer clear from any product that use gums, dyes and fillers. Experts say the best kind of protein powder is an unembellished one with less ingredients.
Ingredients that you can look out for.
A good rule of thumb is to stay away from proteins that have ingredients you don’t recognize. Also, stay clear from ingredients that can irritate and inflame your body from food intolerances.
Dairy-derived
Whey is among one of the most popular kind of protein powder out there. If you don’t do well with dairy at all then you might want to try a different source but if you can handle small amounts it would be worthwhile to give it a go.
Our Grass Fed Whey Protein is easy to digest without the chalkiness that some non-dairy protein powder products may contain. Learn more about our Grass Fed Whey Proteins.
Gluten & Soy
Other allergens that can sometimes be found in protein powder is gluten or soy. If you are intolerant this can wreak havoc in your body and cause inflammation. This includes soy lecithin found in most protein powders. If you are wanting to stay away from possibly inflaming your body every time you consume your protein, it would be best to keep those ingredients out.
Guar gum, xanthan gum, and inulin
There are reasons to believe that these ingredients can cause stomach aches and bloating. These gums are reported to be safe in small quantities but can cause digestive issues for some. Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that is known to sometimes cause bloating. This would give you an undesirable outcome when trying to improve your overall health.
Vegetable oils & hydrogenated oils
As weird as it may seem, some protein powder do contain these kinds of oils. Talk about inflammation! There’s not much more to say than to just avoid these ingredients at all cost.
One more thing to remember is to check how much protein you are getting per serving. Opt for protein powder with more than 10 grams per serving. 15 - 20+ would be ideal.
Our Grass Fed Whey Protein has 24 grams of protein per serving scoop. Now, that’s a win!
