Are you struggling to find the best protein powder for your sensitive stomach? You’re not alone.
Many fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals face the same challenge. The good news is, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m here to answer your question and provide a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the vast world of protein powders.
As a health and fitness expert, I understand the importance of protein in your diet and the potential issues that can arise when your body doesn’t agree with your protein supplement.
I’ve spent countless hours researching, testing, and reviewing various protein powders to bring you the most accurate and helpful information.
In this article, we’ll delve into the specifics of what makes a protein powder suitable for sensitive stomachs.
I’ll discuss different types of protein powders and factors to consider when choosing a protein supplement.
I’ll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about protein powders and sensitive stomachs.
So, let’s get started on your journey to finding the best protein powder for your sensitive stomach.
Find What You Are Looking For Quickly!
- Best Overall – Garden of Life Organic Vegan Protein
- Best Plant-Based – Isopure Unflavored Vegan Protein
- Best Vegan – PlantFusion Complete Vegan Protein
- Best Weight Loss – Isopure Unflavored Whey Protein
- Best Whey – Levels Grass Fed 100% Whey Protein
- Best Tasting – Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Protein
- Best Casein – Naked Casein Protein
- Best For Bloating – Drink Wholesome Egg White Protein
- Best For Diabetes – SunWarrior Vegan Protein
- Cleanest – Ora Organic Vegan Protein
Keep reading to find the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs based on your needs and preferences!
#1 Best Overall – Garden of Life Organic Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 22 grams of protein per serving
- 120 calories per serving
- Complete protein
- Pre & probiotics
- Contains dietary fiber
- Free from common allergens
Garden of Life produces great products and their organic vegan protein powder is my favorite protein powder for sensitive stomachs.
Why?
Well, first of all, each serving contains 22 grams of plant-based protein and only 120 calories!
It’s also a complete protein which means that it contains all the essential amino acids that your body needs to build proteins.
Plant-based proteins have fewer allergens and are less likely to cause stomach issues than whey protein.
The protein powder formula also contains prebiotics and probiotics that help with digestion and gut health.
Garden of Life organic vegan protein only has 2 grams of carbs per serving out of which 1 gram is dietary fiber which helps with digestion.
The protein powder is also free from artificial sweeteners and flavors which can cause stomach issues for some people.
It’s a perfect protein powder to add to your smoothie or use for baking. It comes in 4 different flavors, chocolate, vanilla, vanilla chai and natural.
#2 Best Plant-Based – Isopure Unflavored Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 20 grams of protein per serving
- 100 calories per serving
- Zero sugar
- Non-GMO
- Dairy & gluten-free
- Soy free
The Isopure vegan protein powder is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a plant-based protein powder for your sensitive stomach.
The Isopure vegan protein powder provides 20 grams of high-quality plant-based protein serving.
It’s also easily digestible, which is great for those with sensitive stomachs. And since it’s plant-based it doesn’t contain any dairy that can upset your stomach.
This protein powder has minimal carbs and fats and it’s also completely zero sugar. It’s an excellent choice for those who are watching their carb and sugar intake.
This protein powder doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, which is great for those with sensitive stomachs.
Artificial sweeteners and additives can cause digestive issues for some people, so the fact that this protein powder is free from these ingredients is a major plus.
This protein powder is also unflavored, which is a big plus. You’re not stuck with a flavor that you might get tired of after a while.
You can mix it into your smoothies, pancakes, or pretty much anything else.
It also comes in chocolate and vanilla flavor if you want a flavored option instead.
#3 Best Vegan – PlantFusion Complete Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 21 grams of protein per serving
- 120 calories per serving
- Complete protein
- Dairy, gluten & soy-free
- Contains digestive enzymes
- No artificial ingredients
PlantFusions protein powder is the best vegan protein powder for sensitive stomachs.
Each serving contains 21 grams of protein from 5 different plant-based sources. Each serving also contains only 120 calories.
It’s also a complete protein which means that it contains all 9 essential amino acids that your body can’t produce on its own.
The protein powder is completely dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free which is great if you have a sensitive stomach.
It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or chemicals that can upset your stomach either.
The protein blend also contains digestive enzymes that help with minimizing bloating and stomach problems.
PlantFusion comes in 5 tasty flavors. Vanilla, cookies & cream, chocolate, red velvet and a natural flavor which is great for baking and smoothies.
#4 Best Weight Loss – Isopure Unflavored Whey Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 25 grams of protein per serving
- 100 calories per serving
- Zero carbs & fat
- Lactose-free
- High bioavailability
- Low in FODMAPs
The Isopure whey protein isolate is the perfect low-calorie protein powder for sensitive stomachs.
Each serving is only 100 calories and contains 25 grams of protein and zero carbs and fat.
The protein is lactose-free which makes it suitable for those who are lactose intolerant or have sensitive stomachs.
Isopure is a “complete protein” because it contains all nine essential amino acids that your body cannot produce on its own.
It’s also highly bioavailable which means it’s easily and quickly absorbed into the body. This is great for sensitive stomachs as some other protein sources may be harder to digest.
Whey protein isolates are also low in FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides, and Polyols).
FODMAPs can cause digestive issues for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The Isopure protein powder is also free from additives such as artificial flavors and sweeteners that can upset your stomach.
#5 Best Whey – Levels Grass Fed 100% Whey Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 24 grams of protein per serving
- 130 calories per serving
- No hormones or antibiotics
- Easy to digest
- Gluten & soy-free
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners
Levels grass-fed whey protein is a great protein powder for sensitive stomachs. A lot of people find that grass-fed whey protein is easier on their stomachs.
Grass-fed protein powder is usually better tolerated by people with sensitive stomachs since grass-fed cows are treated with fewer antibiotics and hormones.
Antibiotics and hormones can change the composition and quality of the milk and cause intolerances and allergies in people with sensitive stomachs.
Each serving contains 24 grams of easy-to-digest whey protein and only 130 calories.
Grass-fed whey protein often contains a healthier fat profile with more omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
Those fatty acids are beneficial for overall health. They may not directly impact the digestibility of the protein but it can lead to better overall health and less sensitivity in the stomach.
#6 Best Tasting – Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 25 grams of protein per serving
- 110 calories per serving
- Lactose-free
- High purity
- Best flavors on the market
Dymatize hydrolyzed protein is one of the best-tasting proteins on the market and it’s also easy on the stomach!
Hydrolyzed protein is easier for the body to digest since the protein is broken down into smaller peptides. This can be beneficial for those with sensitive stomachs.
Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Protein is lactose-free. Lactose can cause digestive issues in individuals who are lactose intolerant.
The protein becomes easier to digest when the lactose is removed.
Since Dymatize ISO100 is a hydrolyzed protein it has a very high purity. Each serving contains 25 grams of protein.
The high purity also means It’s very low in fats and carbohydrates. Some individuals can have issues digesting large amounts of fats or certain types of carbohydrates.
This is beneficial for those who need to increase their protein intake but struggle to digest other sources of protein.
#7 Best Casein – Naked Casein Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 26 grams of protein per serving
- 110 calories per serving
- Hormone-free
- Non-GMO
- Carb and fat-free
- Gentle & slow digesting
Naked casein protein powder is an excellent option if you have a sensitive stomach.
Naked has completely transparent products and they don’t use additives in their protein powders.
The protein powder is completely free from hormones, preservatives, gluten and GMOs which can cause stomach issues in some people with sensitive stomachs.
Casein is a slow-digesting protein. This means that it is released into your system at a slower rate compared to other proteins like whey.
Slow-digesting protein like casein is easier on your stomach and digestive system which is perfect if you have a sensitive stomach.
Each serving of Naked’s casein contains 26 grams of protein and only 110 calories.
It’s also completely carb and fat-free and it doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners and flavors.
Casein is a great night-time protein. You’ll have a constant delivery of protein throughout the night since casein is released slower into your body.
#8 Best For Bloating – Drink Wholesome Egg White Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 20 grams of protein per serving
- 90 calories per serving
- No artificial ingredients
- Dairy, lactose & gluten-free
- Low in FODMAPs
- Non-bloating
Drink wholesome’s egg white protein powder is suitable for people with sensitive stomachs.
Each serving contains 20 grams of protein and the powder comes in 6 different flavors.
Chocolate, vanilla, matcha, mocha, peanut butter and unflavored. The unflavored option only contains 90 calories per serving which makes it the best option for weight management.
It has an easy-to-digest and stomach-friendly formulation with only four natural ingredients and no fillers, artificial ingredients, or chemicals.
The protein powder is also free from additives, dairy, lactose, and gluten, which are common triggers for people with gut issues.
The protein comes from egg whites which are low in FODMAPs and an excellent protein source for those with sensitive stomachs.
Drink Wholesome’s minimalist protein powder formula is designed to not cause bloating, constipation or stomach pain.
It is a suitable protein source for people with various digestive conditions like Crohn’s disease, gastritis, GERD, lactose intolerance, IBS, IBD, SIBO and more!
#9 Best For Diabetes – SunWarrior Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 19 grams of protein per serving
- 100 calories per serving
- Free from allergens
- Easy to digest
- Contains essential fatty acids
- No artificial ingredients
SunWarrior vegan protein is a hemp-based protein powder suited for sensitive stomachs.
Hemp protein is very easy to digest. This is because it contains edestin and albumin, two types of protein that your body can break down quickly.
The protein powder also contains dietary fiber, which can help with digestion and prevent constipation.
SunWarriors hemp protein is a non-allergenic protein powder. This makes it a good choice for people who are allergic to dairy or soy.
Hemp protein powder is naturally free of lactose and gluten which can cause digestive issues in people who are intolerant or sensitive to it.
In addition to this hemp protein also provides essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that support your gut health.
SunWarriors protein powder doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners or flavors.
Artificial ingredients can sometimes cause digestive issues so it’s a good idea to avoid them if you have a sensitive stomach.
#10 Cleanest – Ora Organic Vegan Protein
Features & Benefits:
- 21 grams of protein per serving
- 110-130 calories per serving
- Contains digestive enzymes
- 19 superfoods
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
- Award-winning taste
- Non-GMO
The Ora Organic plant-based protein powder is ideal for individuals with sensitive stomachs.
The protein powder is made from all-natural ingredients and contains 21 grams of protein per serving and 110-130 calories depending on which flavor you choose.
It also includes 19 superfoods for added micronutrients and a digestive enzyme blend to help with digestion and minimize bloating.
Ora Organic uses stevia and monk fruit extracts as natural sweeteners. The protein powder is also free from added sugars, fillers, gluten and dairy.
The protein powder is known for its award-winning taste and texture, blending easily and complementing many food recipes and smoothies.
It is also kid-friendly and can be mixed with a banana, peanut butter, and plant-based milk for a nutritious smoothie.
It uses high-quality organic pea protein, organic rice protein, and organic superfoods like sacha inchi, acai, pomegranate, kale, and turmeric.
The protein powder offers a complete amino acid profile for optimal lean muscle building, sourcing the best whole-food, non-GMO ingredients from USDA Organic-certified farms.
Ora Organic is free from erythritol, gluten, dairy, fillers, sugar, and artificial ingredients. It’s also heavy metal tested which ensures its safety for people with sensitive stomachs.
FAQ: Why Do Protein Shakes Upset My Stomach?
Getting an upset stomach after drinking protein powder is a pretty common issue.
It’s often due to factors like lactose intolerance, artificial sweeteners and high protein intake. But don’t worry, there are solutions.
Lactose Intolerance: Many protein powders contain lactose which is a common trigger for digestive discomfort.
If you’re lactose intolerant you might want to consider a plant-based protein powder, egg white protein or whey protein isolate, which has most of the lactose removed.
Artificial Sweeteners: These are often added to protein powders to improve the taste, but they can cause digestive issues.
Instead, opt for naturally sweetened or unsweetened protein powders to avoid this problem.
High Protein Intake: Consuming too much protein at once can lead to nausea and bloating.
It’s all about balance. Even the best protein powders for sensitive stomachs can cause issues if consumed in excess.
You can avoid this by splitting your protein shake into several servings throughout the day.
FAQ: What Protein Powder Is The Easiest On Your Stomach?
When it comes to finding a protein powder that’s easy on your stomach, it’s crucial to consider your personal dietary needs and sensitivities.
However, some options are generally known to be gentler on the digestive system.
Whey Protein Isolate: This is a form of whey protein that’s been processed to remove most of the lactose, making it a great option for those with lactose intolerance. It’s easily digestible and packed with essential amino acids.
Egg White Protein: Egg white protein is another excellent choice. It’s naturally lactose-free, easily digestible, and provides a complete amino acid profile.
Plant-Based Proteins: For those who prefer a vegan option, plant-based proteins like pea or brown rice protein are typically easy on the stomach.
They’re hypoallergenic and often easier to digest than some animal-based proteins.
Protein Powders Without Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners can cause digestive issues for some people.
Opting for a protein powder that’s naturally sweetened or unsweetened can help avoid these potential problems.
FAQ: What Kind Of Protein Powder Is Best For IBS?
If you’re dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), choosing the right protein powder can be a game-changer. Here are some options that are generally well-tolerated by people with IBS:
Pea Protein: Pea protein is a plant-based protein that’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, making it a great option for those with IBS. It’s also rich in essential amino acids.
Rice Protein: Rice protein is another plant-based option that’s hypoallergenic and easy to digest. It’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, which is beneficial for those with IBS.
Egg White Protein: Egg white protein is a good option for those who can tolerate eggs. It’s easily digestible and provides a complete amino acid profile.
Protein Powders Without Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners can trigger IBS symptoms in some people. Choosing a protein powder that’s naturally sweetened or unsweetened can help avoid IBS symptoms.
What To Do Now?
Now that you’ve found the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs your gut will feel better than ever!
In case you haven’t considered it yet I would recommend that you read my article about the best protein powders for PCOS which is can be a cause for your stomach problems!
