Whether you're looking to put on a few pounds (like me) or you're getting rid of a few, protein shakes can be beneficial in both circumstances. Being allergic to gluten and a few of the top 8 allergens definitely makes finding a good protein powder challenging though. Usually they're made from soy, whey (dairy) or have a combination of other allergens present in the ingredients. I'm so glad to have found a safe alternative: Jarrow Formulas Brown Rice Protein Powder.
Most rice is usually considered non-allergenic, and when you combine this with the allergen statement from the Jarrow Formulas webpage, you get a wicked awesome product that suits a lot of food allergic folk. Here's the statement:
No wheat, no gluten, no soybeans, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no peanuts/tree nuts.
In addition, the website states that this product is fine for vegetarians and vegans alike. I plan to look into other Jarrow Formulas products in the near future since I now know they have an extensive food allergen labeling system going on.
TIPS:
- Gaining Weight with Protein shakes: Sometimes being allergic to many foods can make it hard to increase your BMI to a normal level. Try mixing the chocolate, vanilla, or mixed berry flavors of the powder with some good quality coconut milk (I use SO Delicious Sugar Free Vanilla) and add these shakes into your regular diet. Don't use them as meal replacements, but rather to supplement and add extra calories and healthy protein. This is the route I'm taking right now.
- Losing Weight: Instead of adding sugary or fatty snacks to your mid-afternoon, try whipping up a protein shake instead. It will fill you up and make you feel full longer. When you binge on sugar laden foods, you get an instantaneous boost, but it doesn't last. You'll end up crashing, then eating more to keep your energy levels up. Adding a protein shake instead will help break the cycle.
(Disclaimer: As I always like to note, I am not a medical professional and this should not be regarded as medical advice. Talk with your health professional to determine the best diet/health regimine for you).
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Thanks for this! Great timing...I've been looking for a new protein drink to try!
ReplyDeleteNo problem! A nice new discovery I'm loving so far too! The chocolate is very good in my opinion. I would use it with a high powered blender though.
ReplyDeleteThanks I have been looking for protein that is soyfree!!!!But I dont think that so delicious sugar free vanilla coconut milk is soy free if you have a soy allergy you should look over those ingredients because guar gum and natural flavoring is mostly derived from soy...I have a soy allergy and the littlest things in ingredients always affect me!!!!Good luck;)
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon, thanks for your comments! I also have a life threatening allergy to soy and all legumes actually, and have been fine with the sugar free vanilla coconut milk. I don't think they derive their guar gum from soy, as I react to tiny tiny amounts of soy. I even have to buy soy free eggs and meat that is not raised on a soy-fed diet since I react to those tiny traces in the flesh. However, So Delicious does have some products that use carob bean and locust bean gum that I do react to unfortunately, but this product has been okay for me so far. They also label it as being soy-free so that is good. Hope this helps =) Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteOk thanks for that info..Im so scared to try anything new because like you said my soy allergy is also life threatening!!!!I also had trouble with alot of items that are listed soyfree... so I don't go by the labeling any more!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it really does suck when something is labeled okay, but then it really isn't. That happens to me a lot with gluten-free items. I hope everything gets better for you, let me know if I can help in any way, or if there's any topics you'd like to see on the blog here =) Sending well wishes!
ReplyDelete[...] Brown rice protein smoothies or raw food smoothies are great if I’m on the go. [...]
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