Can protein shakes upset your stomach?

There are many benefits of protein shakes, particularly when consumed directly after a workout as a recovery drink. The essential amino acids contained in protein aid in the repair and building of muscle tissue that has been stressed during exercise. Protein supplements can also be useful as a low calorie, low carbohydrate meal replacement.

A shake is an excellent alternative to a bowl of breakfast cereal that contains a whopping 400-500 calories, but can leave you feeling hungry an hour later. Alternatively, even lean whey protein takes longer to digest and helps you to feel full for a longer period of time. But what happens if you find your daily protein shakes are resulting in stomach issues? There are a number of reasons why you may experience a stomach ache after consuming a protein shake.

The first thing to do if this happens is to take a good, hard look at the product you’ve been consuming. Check the ingredient list to make sure it contains only high quality protein isolate, without unnecessary additives such as artificial sweetener. Aspartame and other artificial sugar substitutes have been linked to stomach upset in some people. FlexFitPro contains only natural stevia leaf extract.

What’s going wrong

While you’re looking at the ingredients, take into consideration any allergies you currently have. If you’re allergic to dairy products, supplements containing whey or casein protein may be the culprit. Instead, choose a product that contains only whey protein isolate because most or all of the lactose is removed during the filtering process.

Another reason you may be experiencing an upset stomach after drinking protein shakes is that you may be consuming too much. While taking in a dose of protein after your workout can be very helpful in the process of building muscle and losing weight, taking too large of a dose can be counterproductive. Cut down on the portion size to see if that resolves the problem.

The right way

The benefits of whey protein shakes, when used as a workout recovery tool, are numerous. And, as a result, the grocery store counters are packed with products, all touting these benefits. But it’s important to compare your options in order to select one that contains only high quality ingredients, pure whey protein isolate, and no added artificial ingredients.

Reduce the chances of developing any stomach upset by going with a whey protein isolate supplement like FlexFitPro. Our shakes are low in calories, carbohydrates, and fat, and are high in good quality protein.