{"id":171690,"date":"2025-06-10T01:17:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T01:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/171690\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T01:17:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T01:17:09","slug":"i-stopped-drinking-protein-powder-for-these-3-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/171690\/","title":{"rendered":"I Stopped Drinking Protein Powder For These 3 Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eating sufficient protein<\/a> is crucial to maintaining muscle mass,\u00a0promoting feelings of fullness, and consistent energy levels throughout the day. In recent years, many people have taken to adding protein supplements\u2014like protein powders<\/a> and bars\u2014to their diet, myself included. I go to the gym regularly and I take exercise seriously. Enjoying a protein shake<\/a> after my workout became something of a ritual.<\/p>\n

However, about a year after I began drinking protein shakes regularly, I noticed some physical changes and persistent discomfort. At first, I didn\u2019t realize that it was due to all the extra protein in my diet;\u00a0it was only once I started looking into molecular nutrition (more on this later) that I realised protein powder could be behind my bloating<\/a> and digestive distress. As it turned out, as soon as I stopped consuming protein powder, my symptoms went\u00a0away.<\/p>\n

So, what happened? Let\u2019s take a look at why such an essential part of the diet had gone slightly awry when added to mine.<\/p>\n

Protein powder can be difficult to digest<\/p>\n

Protein powder contains especially high concentrations of protein. This can make them a more efficient way to consume protein, but also make them more difficult to digest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s relatively common to experience digestive discomfort after consuming certain protein powders or highly processed protein bars. In fact, it\u2019s something I hear all the time from clients,\u201d registered nutritionist and author of The Hormone Balance Handbook<\/a> Jessica Shand<\/a> explains. \u201cIt can be due to several factors: poor quality protein sources (like low-grade whey or soy isolates), added sugars or sugar alcohols, synthetic flavorings, and gums or thickeners that can irritate the gut lining.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany powders also contain dairy-based proteins like whey or casein, which can be problematic for those with even mild lactose intolerance or dairy sensitivity. Additionally, protein in high doses\u2014especially in a liquid form\u2014can be harder to digest if someone has compromised digestive function or low stomach acid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stomach\u00a0acid is crucial for the body to be able to digest protein, but some of us tend to have particularly low levels of it, leading to discomfort and digestive distress. Stress and busy routines have been shown to reduce the level of stomach acid we produce, which makes it even harder to digest protein powder. It\u2019s important to remember that the amount of protein we consume does not always equal the amount that we can absorb.<\/p>\n

Too much protein powder can cause an upset stomach<\/p>\n

My biggest issue with protein powder was bloating and a regular upset stomach. This can happen when proteins that haven\u2019t been fully digested sit in the stomach and begin to produce gas. When protein is properly digested, it\u2019s converted into amino acids and peptides, whereas undigested proteins can alter the intestinal environment. I had to come to terms with the fact that consuming more protein than my body could digest was counterproductive to my goals and, essentially, to feeling good. Welp.<\/p>\n

Some protein powders contain additives and artificial sweeteners<\/p>\n

Because of the wide range of flavors available, some protein powders rely on artificial sweeteners to make them as delicious as possible. My favorite protein powder came in both a strawberry and a chocolate flavor. However, the additives and artificial sweeteners were disrupting my gut microbiome to the point of causing severe hay fever and other allergies. Some powders contain aspartame\u00a0or acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K), which, one 2022 study suggested, may be linked to a greater cancer risk<\/a> (although other studies have not found this). It\u2019s always worth it to check the labels.<\/p>\n