Some protein powders and shakes tested by Consumer Reports contained levels of lead, a heavy metal, that experts say could raise the risk of long-term health problems.

Scientists hired by Consumer Reports, an independent non-profit based out of the U.S., tested 23 popular protein products, and found lead levels ranging from zero to 7.7 micrograms per serving — above the stringent limits set by the state of California, but below U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard for females of childbearing age.

There is no safe level of lead for human consumption, though it finds its way into many foods because lead is present in the environment.

  • chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
    7·
    2 days ago

    Amazon reviews say the book doesn’t debunk our need for protein. The bigger you are in terms of muscle mass, the more protein you need in your diet. That doesn’t change if you’re vegan.

    Vegan strongman Patrik Baboumian eats 410 grams of plant-based protein per day, a lot of which is made up of vegan protein powders. These are exactly what this report about lead is warning against.

    Plants are ultra-concentrators of metals in soil, including heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Protein powder is an ultra-concentrated product, further increasing the risks of high lead levels. Anyone like Baboumian who wants to build a lot of muscle while maintaining a vegan diet needs to be very careful about where they source their protein powder.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Amazon reviews say the book doesn’t debunk our need for protein.

      I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone make that claim. I sure hope no one is out there making that claim. I surely am not. I’m talking about the way it gets treated in society as if it’s somehow “healthy” to be eating massive amounts of protein, especially animal protein. Just pay attention to how it’s marketed for everyday foods, including at restaurants.

      And yes, in some cases, there are people that may need more protein if they are trying to build/maintain muscle mass. I’ve seen the documentary w/ Patrik in it. This is hardly typical kinds of intake, though, and I’d wager a lot of people that are eating lots of protein are just overworking their kidneys and pissing most of it out a few hours later. Even athletes.

      If I had the ability, I’d actually be curious to measure my own intake vs. waste, much like the author of that Bowflex book I mentioned. This guy was also a body builder…

      • chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 day ago

        Most people these days are terribly out of shape, overweight/obese, and have way too much body fat and way too little muscle mass. People eat way too much fat and carbs and way too little protein. They also don’t move nearly enough, of course, so eating protein without doing the work is not going to help.

        Since I’ve started lifting weights and trying to build muscle and lose weight, I’ve begun to realize how difficult it is to get enough protein to do that without spending a lot of money on meat or eating a bunch of legumes (and feeling awful all day the next day).

        Forget 410 grams per day. It’s hard enough to get 100 grams per day without supplementing.