Many of us (myself included) use protein powders in various forms and for different reasons. Maybe it’s a quick meal replacement, maybe it’s a post-workout drink. And, you may think that they’re pretty interchangeable. You may not be very brand-loyal, going with what’s inexpensive and convenient. Consumer Reports recently took a look at some of the most popular protein powders on the market and, no surprise, they found some ingredients that aren’t listed on the label, all of which can be detrimental to your health.
They purchased 15 protein powders or ready-to-drink supplements either in local stores or online. What they found was elevated levels of heavy metals…specifically, lead, cadmium and mercury. They also found elevated levels of arsenic. Yup, arsenic.
What brands did they test? Muscle Milk, Jillian Michaels Natural Whey Protein, EAS Myoplex, GNC Lean Shake and Pro Performance, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, Muscle Tech Nitro-Tech Hardcore, Six Star Muscle and Solgar Whey to Go. You may have seen these and/or used them. Every one of them contained arsenic and most of them contained lead at levels at or near the FDA limits (Muscle Milk chocolate had 13.5 micrograms of lead, Muscle Milk Vanilla, had 12.2. The FDA limit is 5 micrograms.).
Now, while micrograms are tiny amounts, the problem is that these metals build up in our system. Doing something simple like avoiding known intake of these substances is a simple step towards optimum health.
This is the primary reason that I, personally, only use Shaklee products. They have a long, safe history. They test the raw ingredients that are going into their products BEFORE they begin production, and then the products are tested again once they are created to ensure that these kinds of ingredients are NOT in their product. They source the finest natural ingredients. Then they conduct over 350 tests on every single new botanical ingredient for heavy metals, pesticides, or any of hundreds of other harmful contaminants. And they continue to conduct over 80,000quality tests annually to guarantee the purity and safety of each and every product.
Prior to being introduced to Shaklee, I have NEVER recommended ANY supplement of any kind to any of my friends, family or clients, because of reports like the one in the latest Consumer Reports. I just didn’t know who to trust and I certainly wasn’t going to bring shakes and products to a local lab for testing. I now use Shaklee products daily and am 100% confident in recommending them to you.
Please take a moment to review the Consumer Reports article yourself. There are better, safer choices out there for you and your family. Click here to make the change now. Get a better, safer (and did I mention tastier?) product today. Do it for your health. Do it for your family.
Remember, it’s not about getting into shape, it’s about getting into life!
