Protein powders are especially popular with those who exercise intensively and especially those who wish to strengthen their body muscles through weight training.
Could they be doing more harm than good though? According to newer scientific findings, these powders are not as healthy as we think.
A new report has revealed that plant-based, organic and chocolate-flavored varieties in particular, which are very popular, may contain dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. The report notes that greater transparency and stronger security standards are needed in the industry.
Plants naturally absorb heavy metals from soil and water, but contamination can be worse if grown in soil further contaminated by industrial waste, mining and some pesticides and fertilizers.
How was the research done?
Clean Label Project researchers bought protein powders from 70 popular brands and ran nearly 36,000 tests for contaminants, including heavy metals and endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A (BPA).
The good news is that BPA and its “relative”, bisphenol S (BPS), were found in just three of the 160 powders tested, compared to 55% of the products analyzed in a similar Clean Label Project report in 2018.
Almost half (47%) of the 160 products tested exceeded regulatory limits for lead, while 21% contained more than double the legally permitted levels.
“Heavy metal contamination is a global food safety problem,” Jackie Bowen, executive director of the Clean Label Project, told CNN.
“These contaminants are everywhere, including in foods that are presented as healthy,” he added.
Risks and advice
There are significant potential health risks from heavy metals in food. No amount of lead exposure is considered safe, and even at low levels, exposure can affect the nervous system, reduce cognitive function, and damage the kidneys. Cadmium is a carcinogen and can compromise kidney function and bone density over time.
If you don’t want to avoid protein powders entirely, you can make more careful choices to minimize exposure to harmful contaminants. “For people on a strict vegetarian diet, pea protein powders have the lowest levels of heavy metals. If you don’t have dietary restrictions, findings suggest that vanilla-flavored whey or egg-based protein powders have the lowest content of harmful substances,” the researchers say.
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