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Real members of MyLupusTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Good morning lupies! I have a quick question.....I got on the scale the other day and weighed 94 lbs. I bought orgain organic pea protein

A MyLupusTeam Member asked a question 💭
Rockford, AL

Whoops, ran our of space. Anyhoo it's called Orgain organic pea protein powder. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried it and what your thoughts are about using protein powder in general. Thanks!

June 18
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Answer Summary

Members rallied around a question about using Orgain organic pea protein powder for weight gain with lupus, sharing helpful research and... Read more

Members rallied around a question about using Orgain organic pea protein powder for weight gain with lupus, sharing helpful research and personal experiences. Several members flagged concerns about lead and heavy metals in protein powders, recommending resources like Consumer Reports and suggesting organic hemp protein powder as a safer alternative. A recurring theme was the value of whole-food options like avocado, nut butters, eggs, tofu, tuna, smoothies with natural ingredients, and checking with a doctor before adding supplements.

MyLupusTeam

Good morning! 👋 First, it's great that you're paying attention to your nutrition — at 94 lbs, making sure you're getting enough protein is really important. A MyLupusTeam member shared a similar situation, saying they needed "a quick and efficient way of getting my daily protein requirement" after experiencing low blood Show Full Answer

Good morning! 👋 First, it's great that you're paying attention to your nutrition — at 94 lbs, making sure you're getting enough protein is really important. A MyLupusTeam member shared a similar situation, saying they needed "a quick and efficient way of getting my daily protein requirement" after experiencing low blood protein and stomach troubles.

Pea protein is actually a solid plant-based choice for people with lupus! Here's why it can work well:

- Plant-based proteins may help reduce lupus symptom severity
- Lower in additives compared to many animal-based powders
- Easier to digest for those with lupus-related stomach issues
- Dairy-free, which is helpful if dairy is a trigger for you A few things worth keeping in mind when using any protein powder with lupus:

- Check the label for added sugars — ingredients ending in "-ose" are usually sugars
- Balance protein with fiber to avoid constipation, a common lupus complaint
- If you have lupus nephritis, talk to your doctor first, as high protein intake can stress the kidneys
- A registered dietitian can help figure out exactly how much protein your body needs daily

Always loop in your doctor before adding supplements regularly. Hope the scale starts moving in the right direction soon! 💪

June 18
A MyLupusTeam Member

Welcome to the community and very sorry it happens to be under these circumstance. As for lead in pea protein, there are some relatively safe options but these days there is almost no way around finding lead or other heavy metals in protein powders. I had to do a lot of research on this and ultimately ended up going with organic hemp protein powder instead of pea protein. Below are some useful links on pea protein research as well as the hemp protein powder i decided to go with.

https://www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein-po...

https://nutiva.com/products/organic-hemp-protei...

Best of luck in your search and even better luck recovering some lost weight.

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein-powders-and-shakes-contain-high-levels-of-lead-a4206364640/
Organic Hemp Protein Powder | Nutiva
Organic Hemp Protein Powder | Nutiva
https://nutiva.com/products/organic-hemp-protein-powder
June 21 (edited)
A MyLupusTeam Member

When I am at work, for lunch I will eat a pouch of tuna fish. It's quick, easy and has protein.

June 21
A MyLupusTeam Member

I used that for a while, Kat, when I had lost weight due to a flare, but I first made sure my nephrologist had no issue with it due to my nephritis. Then I read a study showing that in lab animals, the erythritol added to it (which I assume they still use??) predisposed them to blood clots, so I stopped using it. It may not be a problem, but I opted out, just in case.

A cleaner way to get more calories may be to make our own smoothies with ingredients like avocado, peanut/almond butter, tahini, and soy milk for protein and healthy fats. These help with weight gain, and dates are a good, high-calorie healthy sweetener to consider.

I also looked up Consumer Reports' test results and found the following:
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-saf...

June 18
A MyLupusTeam Member

Hi Natasha👋I haven't tried them yet, but they're going on my shopping list. Thank you sweet warrior sister!💜

June 22

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