Are Protein Drinks “Dangerous”?
The July 2010 issue of Consumer Reports (CR) magazine investigates protein drinks with not very flattering findings:
… [O]ur investigation, including tests at an outside laboratory of 15 protein drinks, a review of government documents, and interviews with health and fitness experts and consumers, found most people already get enough protein, and there are far better and cheaper ways to add more if it’s needed. Some protein drinks can even pose health risks, including exposure to potentially harmful heavy metals, if consumed frequently. All drinks in our tests had at least one sample containing one or more of the following contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Those metals can have toxic effects on several organs in the body.
It’ll take some time to fully dissect the findings. Obviously, nobody needs to ingest unsafe levels of heavy metals. But 12 of the 15 did not contain unacceptable levels of any heavy metals in a full three (3) servings daily. Of the 3 that did show unacceptable levels, again, it was only at 3 servings daily, not one or 2. Only one product had levels of arsenic above the proposed USP limit. Further, the USP limits are based on a person weighing only 110 pounds — considerably less than many if not most protein shake drinkers.
The Natural Products Association, a dietary supplement industry trade group, has issued a response observing that the levels found were all below the FDA’s own standards for what is tolerable, and that the levels were far below what is found in many foods! “For reference, the FDA’s Total Diet Study Statistics on Element Results report offers summaries of element analytical results in food and nominal element analytical limits across a wide range of foods,” the response points out. “From that study one can plainly see that much greater levels are commonly found in the food supply without concern, and certainly without a Consumer Reports article fueling the public’s worry.”
While the CR article mentions proposed legislation sponsored by Senator John McCain of Arizona ( a bill from which he has, in fact, backed off), it mysteriously fails to mention the new Good Manufacturing Practices that FDA has now established for dietary supplement companies — practices that are designed to ensure that unsafe contaminant levels are detected before products hit the shelves.
Where CR goes off the rails most, however, is with respect to protein requirements for active, exercising people. CR interviewed “experts” who cling to the notion that folks only need minimal protein daily to attain great physical shape. That’s just not so, according to the latest research findings. With all due respect to CR and their sources, check out the International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise and you’ll find a very different view, to say the least.
The Great American Diet Disaster we describe in Alpha Male Challenge isn’t caused by too much protein (among other things, it’s a result of too many overall calories and too many carbohydrates as compared to protein). Protein drinks can be healthy supplements to your diet (follow the Fuel Rules!) to change your body composition for the better!
9 Responses to “Are Protein Drinks “Dangerous”?”
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5-9 grams of protein an hour is outdated. Medical pros and nutritionists have been ignorantly sticking to these conservative recommendations. The field of sport nutrition has come a long way. Furthermore, protein consumption aids much more than just nitrogen retention. There is a tremendous hormone up-regulation effect and ghrelin levels affecting saiety in weight loss clients and those seeking lean mass.
Thank you…thank you…thank you! I was taken back by this report. I wonder if CR ever looked at the hazards of a Big Mac or any other fast food. With the majority of the nation bordering on obese you’d think that CR would want to “warn” consumers of the deadly effects of fast food, processed foods and the contaminants on our fruits and vegetables. Instead, they target a very small group of manufacturers that are actually producing a real product and employing people. Sure we don’t want to ingest heavy metals, etc. but look at apple seeds…they contain arsenic; how come CR hasn’t put out a warning label on apples?
CR is a mainstream rag, so it’s not surprising that they hew closely to the dominant media narrative: Supplements Are Dangerous! With a capital D! Even something as innocuous as protein has to be bad: if bodybuilders use it, it’s suspect by definition.
I think the worst bit of fearmongering I’ve seen recently, was this Dec. 2009 column by Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune. I laughed my a** off at one especially ridiculous factoid:
“For athletes, the benefits of taking supplements rarely outweigh the risks. With the exception of creatine, there’s little evidence that sports supplements, a $2.7 billion industry in the U.S., actually enhance performance. Yet even seemingly benign ingredients have potential dangers.
Protein, for example, is relatively safe. But some products may contain multiple sources of protein, said personal trainer Erin Palinski, a registered dietitian who specializes in adolescent athletes.”
Multiple sources of protein!? Oh NOES!
Evidently it never occurred to Ms. Palinski – RD though she apparently is – that a freakin’ cheeseburger contains “multiple sources of protein” too… So what? But it sounded appropriately ominous, so Deardorff ran with it.
But that’s the media story line. Supps occupy a special category where reason and common sense simply don’t apply.
Greg,
Good point. What about the mercury in our waters? The arsenic in the gulf after this oil disaster! The cadmium found on the Skrek glasses from McDonalds!
How about the lead in lipstick? Of the 22 red lipsticks FDA tested, they found lead in every one. http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100525/ARTICLES/100529568?tc=ar
[...] metal contamination. So when the Consumer Reports (CR) article on protein drinks came out (click here to read Rick’s take on it), I put him on the [...]
This CR article which is misleading to the protein drinking consumer novice and has been getting a lot of publicity reminds me of the infamous Time Magazine article that claimed Exercise Makes You Fat.
That article had the fitness industry reeling and many of the heavy hitters in our industry wrote rebuttal after rebuttal providing scientific research and studies proving this article wrong which made the writer of that article eat his words.
I see the same happening to CR with this report.
The sad part about all of this is that many people look at publications such as CR and Time Magazine as being responsible, reliable and credible sources of information. The hard part is convincing people
just because you read it in a magazine doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.
Just curious — but which ones contained the unacceptable levels? With so many acceptable protein shakes available, I want to make sure I am not taking the one with higher unacceptable levels.
Being professional trainers i think our clients trust us to not lead them astray, and more than likely will follow our advice. Eat clean and supplement with 1-2 shakes a day. Below the test criteria. Plus I have not heard of anyone dying of protein shake overdose. I also would love to see the individuals at the CR and their DIETS! And their exercise habits.