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Loading...Is Your Protein Powder Toxic?
- Diana Herrington
- May 9, 2012
- 8:04 am
- 63 comments
Written by Randy Fritz
When Consumer Reports found dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals in protein shakes, they raised some important questions:
1. Is my protein powder toxic?
2. Is protein powder healthy?
3. Is protein powder necessary?
In 2010, Consumer Reports purchased 15 protein powders and drinks mainly in the New York metro area or online and tested multiple samples of each for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
They found that at least one item from each product line contained detectable levels of cadmium, arsenic, lead or mercury. The three most toxic brands contained levels of heavy metal toxicity above the safe allowable limits proposed by U.S. Pharmacopeia. Many others contained levels in the low to moderate range.
Manufacturer’s Response
Manufacturers denied the danger, citing independent analysis by non-profit NSF International. According to NSF, the products in question passed their own standard called the American National Standard for Nutritional/Dietary Supplements, or NSF/ANSI.
Consumer Response
Consumer Reports counters that there is significant variation between samples even within a given product line, and one satisfactory sample does not exonerate the entire line.
The results were disturbing, considering how many people consume these highly processed food products and how much they consume per day.
Personally I would not find even low to moderate exposure acceptable considering how many other toxic products we find in our environment. We have enough health considerations just dealing with life without wondering about a product we specifically consume for health or fitness!
Cadmium exposure is particularly scary because it accumulates in and can damage the kidneys, the same organs that can be damaged by excessive protein consumption. It can take 20 years for the body to eliminate even half the cadmium absorbed today. All toxic metals such as the ones discussed here typically accumulate in your body over time where they can cause irreparable damage.
Imagine what will happen to the large group of teenagers and twenty-somethings wanting to bulk up today. They are the ones who eat a lot of these products and who may be in for a very unpleasant surprise in the future.
“This (cadmium) is a highly toxic metal, and while there are some cases where decisions have to be weighed against relative risks, accepting that you have to be exposed to any cadmium at all in your protein drink after your workout is definitely not one of them,” says Michael Harbut, M.D., director of the Environmental Cancer Initiative at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Royal Oak, Mich.
You can read the complete findings (5 pages) at Consumer Reports.
Next: Is Protein Powder Healthy?
Read more: Diet & Nutrition, Food, General Health, Health, protein, protein shake
Diana Herrington
Diana Herrington turned a debilitating health crisis into a passion for helping others with healthy, sugar-free, gluten-free, eating and cooking. After testing and researching every possible healthy therapy on her delicate system she has developed simple, powerful principles which she shares in her recent book Eating Green and Lean, and as host to Care2 groups: Healthy Living Network and Healthy Cooking. She is the head chef at Real Food for Life, where she shares recipes and tips. Sign up for the Real Food for Life weekly newsletter or catch her on Facebook or Twitter (@DancinginLife).
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
thank you
Good info.
we have the northern snakehead fish in the DC area.
I agree with Betsy C...I wouldn't trust any of the existing corporations to do the right thing and m…
Good for them! Hope this catches on in other states.
63 comments
+ add your ownInteresting, but I would be suspicious of a highly processed powder and prefer protein in other forms. Love tasty red quinoa not to mention kasha (buckwheat groats).
Dr. Mercola is known but is fairly controversial within medical circles. I did subscribe to his newsletter which talked a lot about toxins but gave it up as he was always flogging his own stuff for sale-things that are unaffordable on a tight budget-sticking to the conventional sources. He also goes on about how whole grains, especially wheat is toxic to mental health-everything is getting toxic to eat everyday which is frustrating. For those allergic to gluten avoiding wheat is fine but one likes breads and whole grains and now to hear these are bad?
There is a study for everything depending on what one chooses to believe, will stick to quinoa, small portions of meats, veggies-non GMO, fruits, nuts and other tasty things! Powder, no thanks!
Thanks for sharing
huh.., protein powder?
Thanks, fresh and natural can't really do better than that.
I eat good organic home grown and wild meat..never store bought. I'm 55 years old and very healthy! I believe, judging from our physiology that we are naturally omnivores but can live healthy on a variety of diets.I don't believe that we should be ingesting anything processed like these protein powders. If it's not from my garden, neighbors farm or from the wild (where I live) then I don't touch it. Here's a bit of interesting info about why I believe we are naturally omnivores. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/674/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature
and no matter what you harvest...be kind and give thanks ♥
Thank you for those important reminders..........
No wonder we have so many people who never experience optimal health
Eat an egg.
scary finding--much like the testing done on many vitamin lines. Choosing something that meets pharmaceutical standards (cleaner manufacturing environment) can help minimize risks
Don't do protein powders.
Thanks.
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