Protein powders and protein drinks are readily available these days, either as standalone drinks or mixed. Advertised as something of a super food, they can actually be harmful instead. Aside from the digestive issues, Consumer Reports Magazine reports that of 15 protein drinks tested, they found some could expose users to potentially harmful levels of heavy metals!

Protein helps create qi (energy) and blood, muscles, tissue, immunity, endurance, strength, and heat.  Excess protein though can tax the kidneys, leach calcium from the bones, and create toxins.

Different people have different protein needs, and those needs differ over time. Generally speaking, mental work requires more protein, while physical labor requires more carbohydrates. There is also evidence that those with type O blood need more protein. Living in colder climates definitely requires higher protein intake.

Protein is absolutely essential to our lives, it is clear. But the fact that its use is extremely excess in these times probably comes from a need that is manufactured by those who make money from its sale. In the U.S., supplements aren’t generally required to undergo a pre-market review like prescription drugs. Health claims are not assessed for validity, and protein drinks are promoted as an answer to shedding unwanted pounds, building muscles, to fight aging, and more.

Before you supplement with protein powders, know that:

Protein powders are mostly made from soy or whey, and are sold either pure or mixed with some form of sugar and/or other additives such as vitamins and minerals. The soy types tend to be genetically manufactured with added sugar. They are harder to digest. Also the manufacture of soy protein powder tends to leech aluminum into it! And so along with the fact that whey protein metabolizes easier, I recommend whey protein powders over soy, if I were to recommend it at all (which I dont.)

Protein powders metabolize quickly, but a small part generally stays in the stomach unless they’re taken with carbohydrates (whole grains, vegetables, fruit) which help metabolize the residue protein, the bulk and fiber moving it through the stomach and intestines. If taken alone, the undigested portion remains in the stomach and is a potential health problem. The less pure powders also tend to cause skin outbreaks – a reflection of their part-toxicity.

Heavy Metals found in Protein Drinks

A recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine reports that out of 15 protein powders tested between 2009 and 2010, all drinks had at least one sample containing one or more of either arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury! Though for most of the drinks, levels were in the low to moderate range if detected at all, but still, the amount of lead in a single daily serving of 8 of the protein supplements would require the products to carry a warning in California!

Levels in three of the products tested showed 3 servings a day could not only result in daily exposure to arsenic, cadmium, or lead, but also those levels even exceed the liberal maximum limits proposed by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). This is very bad news.

Some of the brands with the highest levels of contaminants:

	Muscle Milk Nutritional Shake Chocolate
	EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate Shake (liquid)
	BSN Core Series Syntha-6
	Designer Whey
	GNC Lean Shake

The full Consumer Reports Article goes a long way to show you that they aren’t good for you.

For the most part, my answer to questions about vitamins and supplements is that it is always better to eat a whole food rather than its parts, because the whole food contains other components (enzymes, co-enzymes, …) that metabolize and balance its other elements. This principle is the main reason I generally dont recommend supplementation. In the case of protein powders,  obviously there is also the considerable issue of heavy metals.

All in all there really isn’t any compelling need to consume protein drinks, especially if you look at all its negatives.  As for getting protein, the combination of grains with seeds, nuts, and legumes provides all the amino acids necessary to form a complete protein.  For some people, those in cold climates and athletes, eating some meat in addition to a whole foods diet can further supplement protein requirements.