How Can Your Gut Benefit from Protein Shakes?

Health & Wellbeing is a Lifestyle of Tips & Tricks

Protein shakes helped me manage my energy during years touring with my former rock’n’roll husband, Kenny Loggins. Whenever our plane landed in a new city, health food stores were inconvenient—so I brought healthy food with me. Protein powders were the most convenient health food at that time. Therefore, I experimented with every source and brand of protein powder on the market.

The Scoop on Protein Drink Products

Advertising tries to convince people that whey protein is safe for the dairy-sensitive population. In my experience, whey is not good for lactose intolerant people, because whey is made from milk. As a colon therapist of 40 years, my practice provides realistic anecdotal evidence. The clients who drink whey protein complain of constipation, gas, bloating, weight gain, inflammation, and brain fog. Then, when they give it up, their gut problems often disappear, and they lose belly fat. Sadly, their intention was to lose weight by replacing a meal with a protein shake. Notably, whey and whey isolate are the most common proteins used in protein powder and bars.

I also learned, about the problem with soy and almond flours which contain high levels of oxalates. Oxalates are tiny crystals which in concentrated form can cut the inside of the gut. Ouch, did my stomach ache when I drank a soy protein drink! Have you ever had that experience? Also, because soy is inflammatory, soy can cause constipation, bloating, and weight gain in some people.

“I use Protein Power before and after work outs, and nothing is better! I love that it is sugar, gluten, dairy, and caffeine free! And monk fruit beats Stevia any day. — Wesley Samuels

Problems With Soy Protein Flour:

• Soy isoflavones are thought to mimic the female reproductive hormone estrogen potentially cancer-causing
• Contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides
• Negative impact on thyroid function
• Genetically modified (GMO) soy and GMO wheat have been shown to cause cancer
• Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, and inflammation

Both whey and soy protein powders generally require everything but the kitchen sink to make them palatable. Therefore, protein shakes that require multiple ingredients for taste often cause bloating.

Although hemp is a healthy protein source, it also tastes from bland to awful. The same is true for beef protein powders. Imagine drinking a powdered steak! 

One of the main reasons that protein powders cause bloating is the amount of ingredients commonly thrown into one shake. If your protein powder requires mounds of frozen berries, sweetened almonds, coconut or rice milk, and ripe bananas to taste delicious, it is not sustainable — especially while traveling.

Next, many protein powders contain mold and heavy metals. Anyone who wishes to avoid these toxins needs to be aware of the hidden places they can be found. The same is true for preservatives and the obscure language that hides unhealthy oils, sugar, and chemicals. No wonder protein powders cause indigestion.

See the Benefits of Using Protein Shakes in Your Lifestyle

Even with all of this information and education, I have always loved the simplicity of protein shakes. You just cannot beat the accessibility of tossing a powder into a shaker bottle. Incorporate protein shakes into your lifestyle as listed below:

• In between meals to stave off sugar craving
• When traveling on a plane, train, or in the car
• As a nutritious late-night snack
• Before or after a work-out
• As a quick and easy meal replacement
• During a diverticulitis, IBS, or colitis flare

High-Protein Shakes—Chocolate Fudgesicle Recipe

• 4 scoops CHOCOLATE ALL DAY ENERGY
• 2 cups almond, oat, coconut or rice milk
• 2 tsp almond or peanut butter
• 1 frozen banana

Blend all of the ingredients and pour into plastic popsicle cups. Freeze overnight and enjoy.

How I Created my Signature Protein Shake Product

Years ago, when I was touring with Kenny, I dreamed of creating a healthy, delicious protein powder that tasted fabulous just mixed with water. Nothing else is needed.

When I started cleansingforenergy.com, that was just what I did. Myself, children, and clients, taste-tested 159 protein powder samples. We unanimously agreed on the taste, consistency, and staying power of All Day Energy and Protein Power. Both of these protein powders are made from pea and rice protein. They are gluten, sugar, and dairy-free. Best of all, they are bloat-free. Sweetened with monk fruit, which tastes exactly like sugar, they have zero glycemic content. “Tasting like sugar” means monk fruit has no taste of its own—and no bitterness, as stevia does.

All Day Energy has been described as tasting like melted vanilla ice cream. Protein Power has a mild flavor and has 26 grams of protein. I never get tired of it. Sometimes, I blend both protein powders together.

The lab that creates all of my products has a Certificate of Conformity, which means that all the ingredients are regularly tested for mold, heavy metals, and freshness. The ingredients are also third-party tested on a regular basis. This is the kind of health insurance policy that most supplement companies do not offer.

Important Things to Know About Protein Shakes Powders

Do you know that when you buy a protein powder, every ingredient is not required by law to be listed on the label? Also, do you know that a company can exchange ingredients to suit availability? My boutique company does not do that. That is why occasionally my products are sold out. I understand the inconvenience, because my family and I live on these products, too. However, my promise to you is a quality product.

If you have given up on protein powders and shakes due to bloating, brain fog, or indigestion, give All Day Energy and Protein Power a try. All Day Energy comes in both chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate is caffeine-free. Kids and teens love these.

Summer is the perfect time for protein shakes and homemade fudgesicles. I drink one in the morning, and another in the afternoon as an energy boost. Perfect for travel, camping, and sports events protein shakes help you to avoid sugary soft drinks and blood sugar cravings and crashes.

I hope to see your beautiful faces on my next Zoom Happy Gut Tribe Live on Thursdays at 4 pm PST. Register here – for free! And, find me and our tribe on the weekends via Tiktok. It’s a great place to spend Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

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