It seems like every health and fitness headline is either touting a magic bullet, miracle, quick fix, or a warning about something killing you.
Earlier this year, links to articles about dangerous levels of heavy metals in protein powder definitely caught my attention.
The headlines did their job. At first I was alarmed. Whey protein powder is one of a few tried and true supplements that can improve performance (others are creatine and caffeine), and something I recommend.
Upon reading the articles, and looking further into it, I came to realize that you don’t need to make a change to your whey protein routine as a result of these findings. Here’s why:
- The worst offending protein powders were plant based, not whey protein.
- The standard used to determine “dangerous levels” is from California’s stringent Proposition 65.
- Other healthy foods, such as leafy greens and beans, actually contain more lead, one of the dangerous heavy metals in question.
After doing some research, I continue to recommend whey protein powder if it’s a good fit for your goals. If you’re concerned about the quality of the protein you’re consuming, do the following:
- Get the vast majority of the protein you consume from whole food sources, like meat and eggs. Remember, protein powder is intended to supplement a sound nutrition plan, not supplant it.
- Choose whey protein powders that are third party tested, such as being NSF certified.
There’s a lot of health and fitness information out there vying for your attention. It’s often sensationalized, making it difficult to know what and who to trust.
The team at CrossFit 781 has well over half a century’s worth of combined coaching experience helping thousands of people reach their goals with a consistent approach: eat real food in amounts that support your goals, not excess body fat, and do constantly varied, functional exercises at a relatively high intensity.
Click here to schedule a free appointment to talk about how we can help you improve your health and fitness.
