Why does protein powder make you constipated?

[OldBB]

I have been taking protein powders off and on for more than 40 years. Even if I take one serving, it makes me consitpated. The most I can take is one serving per day (at the most).

[ewitte]

I've never had that problem but I also usually get in 35-40g off different sources of fiber. Whats the rest of your meals look like?

[in10city]

I have been taking protein powders off and on for more than 40 years. Even if I take one serving, it makes me consitpated. The most I can take is one serving per day (at the most).

What kind? If it's high in calcium, that may have something to do with it.

Also, is the protein drink displacing a normal solid meal? Obviously stool volume would be influenced by this.

[jordaro2002]

this thread will help you out.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=2833611

long story short try a higher quality protein powder called protein isolate. I'm going to purchase some in the next week or two. I'll let you know how it works for me.

[VegasTiger]

Fiber and High water intake will solve the problem brother!

Drink 1 gal of water a day, and a good amount of red beans or high fiber cereal..and it will do the trick.

[Elliptical Envy]

I have been taking protein powders off and on for more than 40 years. Even if I take one serving, it makes me consitpated. The most I can take is one serving per day (at the most).

If you are using whey protein concentrate and you are lactose intolerant that could cause the problem.

[markymoo]

Protein can tend to be constipating for many reasons. Unlike fruits or vegetables, it has no roughage to mop up the waste material and keep it moving. The slow-moving protein food should always be eaten with vegetables to help move it along through the digestive process. Just like your car cannot operate without gas, your colon cannot operate without roughage.

It puts strain on the kidneys. Your not taking in enough water and/or fibre.

Add some ground flaxseed like 2 tablespoons to the protein shake. Flax is an excellent source of fibre.

[markymoo]

but then again i read that constipation is not caused by a lack of dietary fiber. Constipation, like asthma, is caused by opioid peptides in wheat- and dairy products and beta-carbolines in prepared food. It recommends eating raw egg yolk and fruit.

Read this article
http://www.youngerthanyourage.com/13/constipation.htm

They say constipation is caused by a lack of fiber in the food, but that is rubbish ; our most natural food, fruit, does not contain much fiber : 2% average, but does move the bowels. A watermelon only contains 0,2% fiber, but consuming watermelons only, your colon definitely will be active. White bread and cookies on the other hand do cause constipation, containing more fiber (3%) !!!

[OldBB]

I start off my day with a bowel of bran flakes with milk and a few raisins. I drink one liter of non-fat milk a day. I have one or two cans of tuna a day with either the oil or water drained. I eat a lot of low fat CC. I drink vegeaible juice. I sometimes east Chinese so that I can get a lot of vegetables.

I also eat two prunes a day. When I have protein powder, I take it in milk. I never take more than the plastic spoon they give you with it. Sometimes I have chicken breast, eggs (cooked both white and yellow) and sushi. 40 years ago I used to have protein in milk with raw eggs and banana. I got constipated then too.

Perhaps I am lactose intolerant as envythahustla suggests. How would I know?

[jfla32033]

high protein intake calls for high water and high fiber intakes. thats pretty much the basics of your problem...step up the green veggies and the whole grains/brans and make sure u drink at least a gallon of h20 daily...alot of ppl say u dont need this much water and there is "scientific proof" that u dont need it but the more water i drink, personally, the better i feel and the more "usual" my system becomes

[jfla32033]

I start off my day with a bowel of bran flakes with milk and a few raisins. I drink one liter of non-fat milk a day. I have one or two cans of tuna a day with either the oil or water drained. I eat a lot of low fat CC. I drink vegeaible juice. I sometimes east Chinese so that I can get a lot of vegetables.

I also eat two prunes a day. When I have protein powder, I take it in milk. I never take more than the plastic spoon they give you with it. Sometimes I have chicken breast, eggs (cooked both white and yellow) and sushi. 40 years ago I used to have protein in milk with raw eggs and banana. I got constipated then too.

Perhaps I am lactose intolerant as envythahustla suggests. How would I know?

another good fiber source is psyllium husk...it comes in powder forms and u just take it 30 minutes before u eat and it will help clean u out...its only supposed to be taken for a few months at a time tho...

about the intolerance:
theres lactose intolerant and then theres milk allergies. if u have milk allergies (being sensitive to whey imparticular) then its totally diff than lactose intolerance.

in this case, the lactose free proteins may help, but not much since the whey is the source of your problem....

if u are as unfortunate as to have the whey allergy then theres really only on solution- rely on other sources of protein or deal with the gas/constipation.

i recommend getting some psyllium fiber, drinking african red rooibos tea after your last meal, and if nothing else is working as far as fiber goes...maybe even some aloe vera juice (its good for indigestion and gastrointestinal tract problems)..

another solution would be ORYX Goat Whey. its whey protein derived from goats milk and its supposed to not cause as much bloating or digestive problems as whey from cows. its expensive tho because its new. GNC has it, i've never tried it but goat cheese=nasty

[jfla32033]

i dint realize your age....hate to break it to u but as u age your system gets less efficient. this could be an uphill climb fighting the constipation because it may just be coming from the aging of your intestines. in that case, psyllium husk fiber would be your only saving grace, or a colon check from your doc. i got my dad on psyllium and he cleaned his system out pretty well.

[skinnyboipgh]

I have been taking protein powders off and on for more than 40 years. Even if I take one serving, it makes me consitpated. The most I can take is one serving per day (at the most).

Put some soluble fiber supplement like Benefiber or Fiber-Sure in ur shakes, that's what I do.

[OldBB]

i dint realize your age....hate to break it to u but as u age your system gets less efficient. this could be an uphill climb fighting the constipation because it may just be coming from the aging of your intestines. in that case, psyllium husk fiber would be your only saving grace, or a colon check from your doc. i got my dad on psyllium and he cleaned his system out pretty well.

Thanks for the advise jfla32033. Your daddy must be real proud of you. Please see a post I made about this stuff here:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=3102201

A million thank you's!

[Molson31]

I'm 18 and I'm right with ya. My protein (high quality isolate) doesn't constipate, but makes bowel movements harder to pass