Avoid These Toxic Protein Powders Until You Hear These Disturbing Details
Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 11:00PM 
Consumer Reports purchased 15 protein powders and drinks and tested multiple samples of each for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Levels in several of the products could, with just three servings a day, result in daily exposure to arsenic, cadmium, or lead exceeding USP limits.
When taking into account the large serving size suggested, the number of micrograms per day for these products was comparatively high.
According to ABC 6 Action News:
"Cadmium raises special concern because it accumulates in and can damage the kidneys, the same organs that can be damaged by excessive protein consumption. And it can take 20 years for the body to eliminate even half the cadmium absorbed today."
Sources:
ABC 6 Action News June 2, 2010
Consumer Reports.org July 2010
Joe's Comments:
"The popular protien powders tested by Consumer Reports are frequently used by bodybuilders, strength training athletes and fitness enthusiasts to help promote recovery from strength training workouts. However, regular folks utilize protein powders as a means to lose weight while restricting calories."
Among the 15 protein powders tested, three of them contained worrisome levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead.
Which Protein Drinks Fared the Worst?
Three daily servings of the ready-to-drink liquid EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate Shake contained an average of:
- 16.9 µg (micrograms) of arsenic
- 5.1 µg of cadmium
The proposed United States Pharmacopoeia's (USP) limits for these two toxins are 15 and 5 µg respectively.
The worst of the products tested was Muscle Milk Chocolate powder, which contained all four toxic metals; three of them at the highest levels of all products tested. Three daily servings of this particular brand and flavor contained an average of:
- 5.6 µg cadmium
- 13.5 µg of lead
- 12.2 µg of arsenic
- 0.7 µg of mercury
Muscle Milk's Vanilla Crème contained slightly less lead, but still exceeded the USP lead limit of 10 µg.
A fourth product, Muscle Milk's liquid Nutritional Shake Chocolate, also tested high in arsenic, providing you with an average of 14.3 µg of arsenic per day, which is very close to the USP limit.
Clearly, getting a potentially toxic dose of heavy metals with your daily protein drink is not what you had in mind, but based on these results, that may indeed be what you're getting…
Arsenic and Cadmium
Arsenic and cadmium appear to be the most problematic here, as the levels of these two compounds in some cases exceeded maximum "safe" limits. However it's worth noting that, ideally, you don't want to ingest these toxins at ANY level, as even low-dose exposure can contribute to lingering health problems.
Various toxins can also act together synergistically, creating even more potent, damaging effects.
Exposure to low levels of arsenic can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of "pins and needles" in your hands and feet. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver and prostate.
Cadmium is also a known human carcinogen. It damages DNA and also disrupts a DNA repair system that helps to prevent cancer.
According to ABC News, cadmium also "raises special concern because it accumulates in and can damage the kidneys… and it can take 20 years for your body to eliminate even half the cadmium absorbed today."
It's important to realize that toxic metals such as the ones discussed here typically accumulate in your body over time where they can cause irreparable damage. Further damage can be prevented by using various detoxing methods to remove the metals, but this can be a slow, difficult process.
Prevention is clearly your best defense when it comes to protecting yourself against heavy metals and other toxins.
A Safer, Healthier Alternative
Fortunately, preventing exposure to toxins like arsenic, cadmium and lead is possible by making sure you're eating as much organic foods as possible, and that includes your protein drinks.
As stated in ABC News' article, cadmium in particular is also prevalent in plants foods such as potatoes, rice, and leafy greens. However, this problem is mainly due to the fact that conventionally-farmed produce is frequently grown using fertilizers that contain cadmium, which is then absorbed by the plant through the soil. Organic farms do not use these types of toxic fertilizers, which prevent the soil and crop from being contaminated in the first place.
So keep in mind, protein drinks can be quite beneficial, whether you're working out and want to increase muscle or using them to supplement an otherwise healthy diet, but quality is everything, and drinking something that's contaminated with heavy metals won't do you any good.*
Buyer beware.
Making sure that the product you buy fulfills the healthy criteria mentioned in this article will ensure that you're getting the safest, healthiest protein supplement possible.
Joe's Recommendations:
Nutrilite Whey Protein
"I have found Nutrilite whey protein powder to be the best tasting, highest qualilty protein supplement available. In fact, it is the only whey protein powder I recommend to my clients to help them get the results they deserve."
Product Advantage
NUTRILITE Whey Protein Powder is ideal for weightlifters, endurance athletes, and people of all fitness levels who want to build muscle, because it is a fast-digesting protein that the body uses quickly to build and repair muscle.
This protein powder has delicious chocolate flavor and contains the exclusive NUTRILITE C-Lenium Blend, which provides antioxidant protection from harmful free radicals generated by intense exercise.
Same great formula as the XS Power Nutrition Whey Protein Powder – new, convenient packaging with pre-measured, 25g servings.NUTRILITE Brand Position on Banned SubstancesNUTRILITE products are formulated not to contain any ingredients banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the official agency to monitor banned substances.
*NUTRILITE recommends that athletes with specific concerns seek approval from a health-care professional before taking supplements.
*Based on the 2010 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Reader Comments (1)
whey protein does have a high BV, it probably offers the most benefits when you are dieting on very low calories. When your energy intake and correspondingly, your protein intake, are reduced, whey protein could help you get greater utilzation of the smaller amount of protein that you are taking in.