If you have SIBO, what you eat matters. Maintaining a healthy diet with easily digested foods is an important way to limit uncomfortable digestive symptoms.
When looking for specific food products – like protein powder – you need to ensure the ingredient list is SIBO friendly and you understand the best protein options to help boost your muscle strength while maintaining a balanced gut environment.
What is SIBO?
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition that occurs when bacteria normally grown in other areas of the gut begin growing in the small intestine. It can lead many consequences in the gut, but also severe malnutrition and weight loss.
Diet for SIBO
Diet changes are an essential component of SIBO treatment. Changes should be made in partnership with a medical nutrition professional, but many SIBO patients have seen improvement of primary symptoms with diets meant to reduce inflammation and intestinal bacteria overgrowth.
These include gradual elimination of irritable foods or a diet low in FODMAPs, which reduces difficult-to-digest carbs and fiber that feed gut bacteria, minimizing invasive growth.
Choosing a Protein Powder if You have SIBO
If you are looking for a protein powder that is both beneficial for muscle building and SIBO friendly, seek one that contains easy-to-digest ingredients and low-FODMAP to eliminates uncomfortable symptoms.This includes limited to no sugars or simple carbs and easily digestible proteins.
7 Easily Digestible, SIBO Friendly Proteins
Effective proteins are the foundation of any protein powder. Here are 7 easily digestible – and vegan – proteins to look for in your SIBO friendly protein powder.
1. Pea Protein Isolate
Pea protein isolate is made from the extracted protein of yellow peas. It contains ample iron and is known to be good for muscle building and heart health.
2. Hemp Protein
Hemp powder made from crushed hemp seeds. It contains two of the most easily digestible proteins (edestin and albumin) as well as beneficial omega-3 and omega-3 fatty acids.
3. Sacha Inchi Protein
Sacha inchi is another vegan protein – made from a Peruvian peanut – containing omega-3 and omega-3 fatty acids. It is also high in the amino acid tryptophan, which boosts the production of serotonin.
4. Ground Chia Seed
Chia is known for being nutrient and antioxidant-dense. It also contains ample high-quality protein and balanced amino acids, shown to decrease appetite and limit food cravings.
5. Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae and is considered one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. It contains many vitamins, minerals, and protein, and is known to reduce levels of inflammation in the gut.
6. Kelp Powder
Kelp is another protein powder made from seaweed that contains many nutrients, including all essential amino acids. It reduces stress-related damage in the gut along with boosting satiety.
7. Dulse Powder
Dulse powder is also made from algae with a higher protein content than most seaweeds. Protein content in dulse strengthens the body by aiding white blood cell production in the immune system as well as collagen production to repair cells of the intestinal lining.
Casa de Sante low FODMAP certified protein powders and high protein meal replacements are specially designed to be gut friendly and SIBO friendly.
