8 Best Protein Powders for Sensitive Stomachs {Episode 35 with Healthillie)
Along with so many other awesome bits of information to you today, I have the 8 best protein powders for sensitive stomachs (curated by Episode 35 guest, Illie + me).
Are you ready for a lot of great conversation today? Eavesdrop in, then check out all the information below on the best protein powders for avoiding stomach upset + some recommended books.
8 Best Protein Powders for Sensitive Stomachs {Episode 35 with Healthillie)
Resources Mentioned
Illie’s website
Her Instagram
Illie on TikTok
Courtney King episode
Set Point Theory
No More Fight or Flight Digestion {Is How We Eat as Important as What We Eat?}
Does Meal Spacing Work?
Proper Hydration
Sleep and Gut Healing
Ingredients vs Ingredient(s)
SHOP HERE WITH ILLIE
Don’t Miss These Thoughts
Who is Illie? What’s her story? And how did we find each other?
“Everything started the day I was born.”
“I started to experience what health tasted like.”
“We don’t care how we feel; we just want to look a certain way.”
What is holistic fitness?
“If I didn’t question anything, I’d still be suffering.”
“How are you going to deny me what I’ve literally been through?”
“Dairy is good; dairy is bad. Okay, but how do you feel when you eat it?”
“You are the professional of your body.”
Where do I start to heal my gut?
How to get beyond this? –> “I need to be gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, nightshade free, mold free…..ugh! This is too hard, I’m going to McDonald’s.”
Ask: What’s free and what’s easy?
Illie’s 2 convictions around gut health and gut healing.
Best Protein Powder
Here are the best protein powders (also the ones we talk about in the episode) for those with a sensitive stomach.
{The list below has links attached, in case you want to learn more / purchase}
Promix
Truvani
Just Ingredients
Collagen Peptides
Nutiva Organic Plant Protein Superfood Smoothie
Ora
Perfect Supplements Organic Perfect Plant Protein
Flavcity
I want to break these 8 down more, in case you’re looking for a quality protein powder that won’t give you an upset stomach.
Promix
Illie thinks this is one of the best whey protein powders on the market.
In addition to a pre-workout, they also have Whey Protein Isolate and Whey Protein.
Here is the information / some accolades on the Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate:
made from milk of certified grass-fed Irish cows
micro filted to less than 1g of lactose for fast and easy digestion
all ingredients are tested for heavy metals
Truvani
There are a few Truvani products found on Illie’s website:
Protein + Greens
Vanilla Latte Protein + Energy
Chocolate Mocha Protein + Energy
I looked up the specifics on the Chocolate Mocha because it just sounds too good. And what do you know? Must be too good because it’s currently sold out.
Anyways, here are some of the ingredients I love in it:
MCT oil powder
chia seeds
lion’s mane extra
coffee berry fruit extract
coffee powder
maca root
It delivers 12g of plant-based protein, and again, no Stevia.
In addition, here are some of the Truvani company standards:
heavy metals are highly monitored
USDA Certified Organic (when applicable)
They test for glyphosate.
Ingredients that are avoided: synthetic ingredients, weird ingredients, filler ingredients, and things like gums, natural flavors, artificial flavors, and all of that “other stuff” that makes zero sense.
They require each supplier to share the secondary ingredients they use in processing so that they can ensure no dangerous chemicals are being used for their products.
Just Ingredients
Protein from five different protein sources and flavored without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. Made with non-denatured 100% pure whey (grass-fed) from New Zealand.
It currently comes in the following flavors:
Vanilla Bean
Coconut Chocolate
Mint Chocolate
Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice
Protein sources include:
pea protein
whey protein
collagen protein
chia seed protein
pumpkin seed protein
Some of the other ingredients you’ll find (depending on flavor) includes only these natural ingredients:
monk fruit
stevia
sea salt
collagen
cacao
peppermint oil
cinnamon
ginger
Collagen Peptides
If you’re looking for a 1-ingredient option with no natural sweeteners, added sugars, or different proteins, then look no further than collagen peptides.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is a key constituent of all connective tissues.
As collagen decreases in the body (or the body simply doesn’t have enough due to another reason), the following can occur:
Wrinkles and crepey skin
Stiffer, less flexible tendons and ligaments
Shrinking, weakening muscles
Joint pain or osteoarthritis due to worn cartilage
Gastrointestinal problems due to thinning of the lining in your digestive tract
Many who are even looking for a general healthy lifestyle, love this great addition of collagen.
It’s nutritional value boats:
a strong amino acid profile
protects the GI Tract for those with digestive issues
only one type of protein, bovine gelatin
not Vegan, but great for those with a lactose intolerance
Collagen mixes perfectly with hot or cold water and won’t clump together like gelatin.
If you want to learn even more about collagen and gelatin, click HERE.
USE CODE ‘AGUTSYGIRL’ AT CHECKOUT TO SAVE 15% OFF MY FAVE COLLAGEN BY CLICKING HERE
Nutiva Organic Plant Protein Superfood Smoothie, Vanilla
Full transparency – I used to work for Nutiva – actually for quite some time. So, I do have a little bias towards the company. But that’s because they are truly legit. They care about their people and the products they bring into the world.
And these protein shakes they created are so good!
The ingredient list is super long, too long for me to write out, which might scare some of you off. However, view the label HERE, and then decide.
Here are a couple callouts from the ingredient label:
includes digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, bromelain, cellulase, and papain)
contains 2 grams of fiber
has a good essential amino acids profile
does not contain stevia, which some (like me) do not care for
no xanthan gum or guar gum
uses hemp seeds
By the way, do you know that hemp seeds are considered a complete protein?
Ora Organic So Lean & So Clean Protein Powder
This is another Vegan protein that Illie has available on her website.
I sought out information on the Chocolate flavor, but there is also Vanilla, Vanilla Chai, as well as pre-workouts.
There are quite a few more ingredients in this powder, but they are all plant proteins + high quality ingredients.
Regardless, here are the ingredients listed on the Chocolate label:
pea protein
brown rice protein
cranberry
sacha inchi
sprouted quinoa
amaranth
acerola extract
blackberry
blueberry
pomegranate
turmeric
strawberry
apple
acai
kale
broccoli
coconut milk
Jerusalem artichoke
And all ingredients are organic, but there are some extra ingredients in this one and they do use the term “natural flavor,” which you may or may not find useful.
Perfect Supplements Organic Perfect Protein
I once wrote about this one as the Best Organic Low-FODMAP Vegan Protein Powder. Because that’s what it is.
There are just three ingredients in this vegan powder:
pumpkin seed
hemp seed
sacha inchi
And yet, it’s a great option for a protein powder as it contains 17 grams of plant protein.
There are no extra and/or artificial ingredients in the powder. And it remains one of my personal top picks due to the slim ingredient list.
If protein powders tend to give you stomach cramps and make you feel miserable, then a simple protein like this is a good option.
USE CODE ‘GUTSY10’ AT CHECKOUT TO SAVE 10% ON THIS LOW-FODMAP PROTEIN POWDER (P.S. THEY ALSO HAVE GELATIN!)
Flavcity
Whey protein + everything-in-one protein smoothie shake.
Here is the ingredient list:
Whey Protein Concentrate
Organic Banana Powder, Collagen (100% grass-fed)
Peanut Powder
Organic Cocoa
Coconut Milk Powder
Organic Pea Protein
Sea Salt
Cordyceps
Reishi
Stevia
Monk Fruit
This is a good choice if you are looking for a powder with both a vegan and non-vegan protein source. One serving contains 25 grams of protein, which is high for protein supplements.
Remember, it’s not that I think anyone should be living on protein shakes, but rather that protein shakes are a great way to ensure you’re getting enough protein, even when you might not fully feel like eating a ton.
I have another post you might enjoy on how to make protein shakes thicker {in a gut-healthy way} HERE.
Illie + AGG Recommended Books
Another topic Illie and I discuss on the show are some of our favorite and recommended books. I wanted to put them in a list with links, in case you’re interested in checking them out, too.
Hooked
The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor
Eat Smarter
GAPS Diet
Breaking the Vicious Cycle
Fiber Fueled
Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat
Body Into Balance: an herbal guide to holistic self-care
Have you read any of the above? Thoughts? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
More from A Gutsy Girl
Want to learn even more about the gut and ways to heal it? Learn all the secrets via my signature book, A Gutsy Girl’s Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut. Grab your copy on Amazon HERE.
Or, have this book at your fingertips instantly by downloading the PDF now.
Welcome to A Gutsy Girl Podcast
Hang out on Instagram
BFF’s on YouTube
Free resource: The Master Gutsy Spreadsheet
Rated-G Email Club
Wrap Up
Time to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.
Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Illie Zeneli
Holistic health coach, CEO/Founder of Live Healthillie.com & clean ingredient advocate, self healed chronic symptoms by simply learning about ingredients and toxins.
If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:
13 Best Paleo Bars {that are also high protein}
Gluten Free Protein Bars (Episode 25 with Autoimmune Warrior and BodyBar Protein Founder, Ayarpi Reganyan)
Diarrhea vs Constipation {Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patterns}
Xox,
SKH
