Heavy Metal Protein Drinks?
By: Tanya Jolliffe,
DailySpark Blogger
6/3/2010 6:06 AM
: 87 comments
: 24,770 Views
A Consumer Reports review in the July issue highlights their recent laboratory findings regarding protein drinks. They tested fifteen drinks using an outside laboratory and discovered some disturbing results. Since we previously provided a review of muscle milk, we thought it would be important to provide you with the recent findings so buyer can be aware.
Performance enhancing supplements remain big business and in some cases, protein supplements are beneficial to augment a balanced nutrition plan. The Consumer Reports review noted that sports nutrition product sales have exceeded $2.7 billion and protein drinks are the category leader. While they may prove beneficial in supporting some fitness goals, if there is an increased health risk when using any product, care and caution are definitely in order. The Consumer Reports review of fifteen protein drinks found increased risk of heavy metal exposure especially with significant supplement use for such metals as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
The lab results revealed there were various amounts of metals present in the three serving samples per protein supplement reviewed. Some samples exceeded the U.S. Pharmacopeia recommendations for safety. Safe intake for arsenic is believed to be 15 micrograms (ug) per day or less and tests on three servings of EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate liquid shake revealed 16.9 ug. EAS Myoplex also contained high levels of cadmium in three servings with 5.1 ug, which meets the maximum recommended safe limit of 5 ug/day. Muscle Milk Chocolate powder also exceeded the maximum level of recommended safety for cadmium providing 5.6 ug in the three serving sample. Muscle Milk chocolate powder was also high in lead with 13.5 ug in three servings compared to the maximum recommended limit of 10 ug/day. Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème powder was also high in lead providing 12.2 ug in three servings.
The Bottom Line
More and more people are using protein supplements in addition to their nutritious diet to help them meet specific fitness goals. This recent finding by Consumer Reports provides an awareness of risk and caution related to what and how much of a supplement you are consuming. If you only use a protein supplement occasionally, there may be little reason for concern. However, if you consume three or more servings of a protein supplement daily or you are pregnant or have children or teens that are using protein supplements on a regular basis, you may want to take a closer look at the report findings to evaluate personal risk.
Why do you use protein supplements? Have you noticed a significant benefit since using them?
Performance enhancing supplements remain big business and in some cases, protein supplements are beneficial to augment a balanced nutrition plan. The Consumer Reports review noted that sports nutrition product sales have exceeded $2.7 billion and protein drinks are the category leader. While they may prove beneficial in supporting some fitness goals, if there is an increased health risk when using any product, care and caution are definitely in order. The Consumer Reports review of fifteen protein drinks found increased risk of heavy metal exposure especially with significant supplement use for such metals as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
The lab results revealed there were various amounts of metals present in the three serving samples per protein supplement reviewed. Some samples exceeded the U.S. Pharmacopeia recommendations for safety. Safe intake for arsenic is believed to be 15 micrograms (ug) per day or less and tests on three servings of EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate liquid shake revealed 16.9 ug. EAS Myoplex also contained high levels of cadmium in three servings with 5.1 ug, which meets the maximum recommended safe limit of 5 ug/day. Muscle Milk Chocolate powder also exceeded the maximum level of recommended safety for cadmium providing 5.6 ug in the three serving sample. Muscle Milk chocolate powder was also high in lead with 13.5 ug in three servings compared to the maximum recommended limit of 10 ug/day. Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème powder was also high in lead providing 12.2 ug in three servings.
The Bottom Line
More and more people are using protein supplements in addition to their nutritious diet to help them meet specific fitness goals. This recent finding by Consumer Reports provides an awareness of risk and caution related to what and how much of a supplement you are consuming. If you only use a protein supplement occasionally, there may be little reason for concern. However, if you consume three or more servings of a protein supplement daily or you are pregnant or have children or teens that are using protein supplements on a regular basis, you may want to take a closer look at the report findings to evaluate personal risk.
Why do you use protein supplements? Have you noticed a significant benefit since using them?
 You will earn 3 SparkPoints |
Comments
Do me a favor, see how you feel after you read the article below. They should be using this research study to better educate you about what supplements to take and how much of them to take. Instead, they are just trying to scare you.
FUN FACT: A 6 oz can of tuna has about 150 mcg of arsenic. In other words, you have to drink 26 Myoplex drinks to get the same amount of arsenic in one 6 ounce can of tuna.
QUESTION: Is someone trying to soften up the supplement industry with this kind of misinformation so that they can impose increased regulation, as some senators are now trying to introduce?
Here are a few charts for everyone to look at so "we" can all better understand the supplement industry.
h t t p : / / w w w . o p t i m u m n u t r i t i o n . c o m / n e w s . p h p ? a r t i c l e = 8 7 4
- 6/16/2012 12:03:47 AM
As a reference on whey protein powder information,you can visit: http://www.energyfirst.com/Whey-Pro
tein-Powder
- 8/8/2011 8:29:34 AM
I don't use protein powders. I don't see the point of them. My understanding is that most diets in the US get plenty of protein (going by standard recommendations, although probably not the "high protein" fad diets that aren't really in line with SP anyway!). Even vegetarians. You don't have to eat meat to get protein!
When heavy metals were found in milk and baby formula in China, it was because disreputable suppliers were adding melamine to boost protein content. I wonder if the same is going on here? On the other hand, some of those metals (such as arsenic) occur naturally in the soil and in some water sources, and may be taken in by plants and then animals, so we do ingest some of it. That's why the acceptable levels are not set at 0. It's good to see that the levels are not extraordinarily high (none of them are even twice the normal level) - but even so, it makes you wonder: why are you buying this highly processed and probably unnecessary item when it is contaminated? - 6/7/2010 9:39:51 PM
Although, I consume protein drinks; I do not drink pre-mixed protein in bottles or cans. I read the ingredients in the powder and mix my own. Sure, we can obtain protein from food; however sometimes the amount of food you must eat to reach your intake level (for some) it is not always convenient or practical.
Protein supplements are often misunderstood (and all protein supplements are not the same). You must understand why you are consuming more protein; and what is your individual limit. Some protein powders are high in calories; which requires a trade-off. Protein decrease hunger -- so if you have a "self-made" protein shake with added healthy ingredients, it can be used as a meal replacement.
Exercise decreases my hunger (which is problematic) in both losing weight and remaining healthy. Protein drinks provides me some of the nourishment needed (coupled with a combination of "real" food) each day.
In some cases, many are simply drinking protein without a plan. The plan is -- you must understand the why, the when, what are the expected results and seek expert advice before exploring the complex and controversial world of protein supplements.
In final, we should remember there is risk taking is almost everything! In my opinion, I simply educate and evaluate my personal risk tolerance and from there - a "personal" decision is made.
- 6/7/2010 9:32:28 PM
Eat Real Food. - 6/5/2010 11:29:31 PM
Some people with serious health issues may have to rely on protein drinks, and absolutely they need to be up to standards or else pulled off the shelf, but for most of us this is an unnecessary expense. Eating healthy is what it's all about. - 6/5/2010 8:55:14 AM
- 6/4/2010 3:00:41 PM
However, I know that nursing homes frequently use that kind of thing for residents who are not eating sufficiently, and since many of them are demented, they don't really have a choice about which ones are used! - 6/4/2010 11:15:31 AM
What I want to know is WHY? WHY is there cadmium, mercury and lead in a protein shake? How did those heavy metals get there? Is it a mistake? Did a former employee turn into a terrorist and spike the protein powder making machine with these deadly heavy metals? Are heavy metals "naturally" occurring in protein powder??
If you don't eat enough protein then get a chicken, roast it and put it in the fridge for snacks. Eat the white meat and use the rest for soup if you don't want to eat the dark meat.
If you are vegetarian and don't get enough protein then I suggest you do something similar with beans. I had a bean salad the other day with black beans, bell peppers and corn and lime and it was fantastic. What about dairy products? Milk and yogurt are great sources of protein.
And my bottom line is this: Why would I choose to contribute to a billion dollar industry that is bent on making us ill? I can get more bang for my buck by eating well and not relying on expensive powders to get my protein. All it takes is a little planning. - 6/4/2010 9:56:27 AM
Eating healthy and as natural as possible seems to be our only potection. Heh, what a great idea! DUH!
OK, that was meant to be funny, I'm not trying to be cruel or anything, but my sense of humor might be a little dry today. Sorry. - 6/4/2010 9:56:17 AM
Need more info! - 6/4/2010 9:14:19 AM
I drink my Shakeology from Beachbody each day. Not really for the protein content so much as the vitamin/mineral content. You can't get the same from any of the store-bought drinks. And the antioxidants, prebiotics, digestive enzymes... it gives me the nutrition of fruits, veggies AND protein- when I might not get enough of it in some of my days. I still get my protein from the usual meat sources for the most part- not from a drink.
When you look at some of the "healthy" shake drinks out there- you see that many are just full of sugar (or even HFCS!) and they aren't at all healthy anyway. - 6/4/2010 8:36:34 AM
Too many bottles in the land fills anyway.
Happily our State returns all of those bottles for a price. Pat in Maine. - 6/4/2010 8:00:42 AM
Please Log In To Leave A Comment: Log in now ›