Ignite Nutrition
Ignite Nutrition
Search Ignite Nutrition Icon

Low FODMAP Protein Powders

A smiling woman sitting down to eat a healthy green salad.
Low FODMAP Protein Powders Featured Image

When you start the low FODMAP diet, reading the ingredient lists on protein powders can feel tedious. As digestive health dietitians, we hear so much confusion when it comes to low FODMAP label reading! In this post, we tell you how you can pick a low FODMAP protein powder with ease plus share a few of our favourites. Note: This post contains affiliate links, which helps to keep our site running. You’re welcome to search the protein powder by name in Google should you choose to not want to use the link.

Low FODMAP Whey Protein Powder

When patients think about the low FODMAP diet they often think of it as a ‘no milk’ diet. Luckily, I’m here to tell you – it’s not a ‘no milk’ diet, it’s a LOW LACTOSE diet. This means you can have foods made from dairy, you just need to choose low lactose options. Whey protein isolate, the most common whey protein powder on the market is low lactose. However, if you choose a whey protein concentrate, it may be high FODMAP. Therefore, if choosing a whey protein, you’ll want to look for the word ‘isolate’.

One of our favourites is Biosteel whey protein isolate – it’s NSF certified meaning it only contains what it’s supposed to contain (no undeclared ingredients), and it’s easy to find at most grocery stores. I get mine at Sobeys or Real Canadian Superstore here in Calgary, or you can purchase it on Amazon. It’s a very easy low FODMAP protein powder for IBS patients.

Other FODMAP friendly whey isolate protein powders available in Canada include:

  • Kaizen Whey Protein Isolate – This protein powder was discontinued temporarily but is now available on the market again. Note: there is a higher FODMAP protein powder from Kaizen as well, so be sure to look for ‘isolate’ specifically (this is labelled right on the front).
  • Diesel New Zealand Whey Isolate – The term ‘New Zealand’ is sometimes included on whey proteins as a way of marketing the product. This means that the protein has been sourced from dairy cows in New Zealand that are grass fed and pasture raised – however, this doesn’t change the FODMAP content. You do not need to specifically look for this type of whey isolate protein when following a low FODMAP diet.
  • LeanFit Sport Whey Isolate – Available online and also at many Loblaws grocery chains (Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs, Atlantic Superstore, etc)

One of our favourite smoothies to make with this whey protein isolate is our Low FODMAP Blueberry Chia smoothie!

Low FODMAP Brown Rice Protein

Sprouted brown rice protein has been tested as low FODMAP at 2 Tbsp or 40 grams. This confuses even me because most suggested serving sizes of brown rice proteins are 4 Tbsp which is often equal to 40 grams, or even less. I assume the weight, and not the measurement was tested. Not only that, but only sprouted brown rice protein was tested. Given rice has no detectable FODMAPs though, I include it in my patients diets, especially if they are vegan or have additional food allergies limiting their diet.

At Ignite, we’re ALL about making the low FODMAP diet practical. If brown rice protein is your protein of choice, we suggest you to continue with your typical serving while implementing the low FODMAP diet. Should you continue to have symptoms, we would revisit it at that point.

With brown rice protein, not all products are made equal! Try to find one that has around 20 grams of protein per serving. We like SunWarrior Classic protein or Naked Rice.

Low FODMAP Pea Protein

Most vegan or vegetarian proteins are made from pea protein. Pea protein isolate is low FODMAP at 75g. Only the isolate was tested by Monash, so it is unknown whether pea protein would be low FODMAP as well. If you are already using a regular pea protein, we suggest that you can continue with your regular serving, and re-evaluate with your dietitian if you still have symptoms after 2-4 weeks of the elimination phase.

With most vegan proteins, additional things are added, including pea starch (not tested yet for FODMAPs), soy protein (also not tested yet). Starches are likely low FODMAP, as is soy protein – however during the elimination phase we encourage patients to choose a different vegetarian protein, like rice protein. When considering a protein powder, you can search the ingredients in the Monash app or refer to our label-reading list.

Other Protein Powders – Are they low FODMAP?

You can literally find a protein powder made of anything on the market nowadays. Pumpkin and beef to name a few! Check with your dietitian as to whether your favorite protein powder may be low FODMAP. They may make an educated guess based on what we know about FODMAPs in food – because most protein powders have not been tested.

Brown protein powder is scattered on a white countertop. A small plastic scoop and a plastic protein shaker bottle sit on top.

Hemp Seeds Are Low FODMAP!

While this isn’t a ‘powder’ – hemp seeds are one of our favorite protein boosters. At 3 Tbsp, they pack 10 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of anti-inflammatory, good for your microbiome omega-3’s, and are a source of antioxidants. They make a great boost to smoothies, yogurt, or oatmeal. Our favourite is the Manitoba Harvest Hemp that is local to Canada! We love supporting our Canadian farmers with this delicious and nutritious product.

What ingredients in protein powders are low FODMAP & what ingredients in protein powders are high FODMAP?

IngredientsNotesVerdict
SteviaStevia is commonly used to sweeten protein powders and is low FODMAPAllow
SucraloseSucralose is a sweetener sometimes used in protein powders and is considered low FODMAPAllow
Vegetable powders – such as beet powder, broccoli powder, spinach powder, etcHave not been tested and could very likely contain a high amount of FODMAP’s.Avoid
FOS (fructo oligosaccharides), GOS (galacto-oligosaccarides)Is a fermentable carbohydrateAvoid
Inulin or ChicoryIs a fermentable carbohydrateAvoid

Pro’s of using protein powders

  • I like them because they’re a simple way to add protein to my breakfast. They go great in so many smoothies, like our low FODMAP tropical smoothie bowl!
  • I prefer almond milk in my smoothie – it ‘foams’ less than regular dairy milk. However, almond milk is low in protein, so I like to get a protein boost!
  • They can be helpful for patients accidentally loosing weight on the low FODMAP diet as a protein and calorie booster

Con’s of using protein powders

  • Some protein powders have been found to be contaminated with heavy metals. If we consume a lot of protein powder, it may pose a risk to our health, which is why I always suggest getting a NSF certified protein – typically sport-tested proteins go through additional testing to improve safety
  • The whole is greater than the sum of its parts – meaning – when we JUST consume the protein powder, what are we missing out on that the whole food had to offer us? This could include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibre, and more
  • Many are high FODMAP. Always check the protein powder label for high FODMAP culprits found on our list
  • They can be pricey in comparison with choosing a whole food
  • They do NOT make a complete meal replacement. Protein powders are a source of protein, not carbohydrates or fat – all of which make up a balanced meal.

Bottom line when choosing a low FODMAP protein powder.

Most protein powders haven’t been tested. We recommend choosing a low FODMAP protein powder during the elimination phase.

After the elimination phase, you can play around with potentially higher FODMAP protein powders if you have one you prefer.  Your IBS trained dietitian can help guide you on this.

Brown protein powder is scattered on a white countertop. A small plastic scoop and a plastic protein shaker bottle sit on top.

Categorized: Gut Health & IBS

4 responses to “Low FODMAP Protein Powders”

  1. Can you tell me where I can order a protein powder that is low or no fodmap in Canada? I was going to order stellar labs but the shipping + duty to Canada is astronomical.

    • I really liked the kaizen whey because it didn’t foam up as much as some other whey proteins – I’m having a tough time finding it right now but Costco usually stocks it so its very affordable comparatively. Most whey protein isolates will be Low FODMAP you just need to double check the label. Biosteel whey protein isolate is often easy to find, as to is the BioX protein in most grocery stores! I hope that helps 🙂

    • It doesn’t exist anymore which is sad because we loved it! I recommend looking for a whey protein isolate, that doesn’t have added vegetable powders or fibre like inulin. The optimum nutrition whey isolate is a Low FODMAP one!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

References

There are no references available for this article.