From Plants to Pounds: Are Heavy Metals Lurking in Your Vegan Protein Smoothie?
The answer is NO, NATURAL VEGAN PROTEIN POWDERS DO NOT HAVE ANY HEAVY METALS ON THE CONTRARY STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT FEW BRANDS OF VEGAN PROTEIN ISOLATE DO CONTAIN HEAVY METALS.
To understand the difference I would request you to read my blog
What is vegan protein isolate?
Now let us run through the research on the subject before I make any statement on the topic.
1) The study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology in 2018 tested 134 different protein powders and was conducted in 2016-2017.
2) The study published in the journal Clean – Soil, Air, Water in 2016 analyzed 52 different vegan protein isolate powders and was conducted in 2015.
3) A study published in the journal Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A in 2018 analyzed 60 different protein powders, including 14 vegan protein isolate options. The study was conducted in 2016 and found that some vegan protein isolate powders had higher levels of cadmium and lead than non-vegan options.
4) A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology in 2019 tested 15 different vegan protein powders for heavy metals. The study was conducted in 2018 and found that almost all of the protein powders contained detectable levels of lead, with some products exceeding the maximum allowable limit set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
5) A study published in the journal Nutrients in 2021 analyzed 27 different vegan protein isolates for heavy metals. The study was conducted in 2020 and found that all of the protein isolates contained detectable levels of heavy metals, with some products exceeding the World Health Organization’s limits for cadmium and lead.
I have summarised all the research on the topic in the following image for easy understanding.
Research on Metal and Protein powders.
Now to understand it better first, let’s define what heavy metals are. Heavy metals are elements with high atomic weights that can be toxic to the human body in certain quantities. They include arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, among others. These metals are found naturally in the earth’s crust, but can also be released into the environment through human activities such as mining, smelting, and manufacturing.
So, do vegan protein powders have heavy metals?
The answer is yes, they can, if brands use various lab-made additives, preservatives, emulsifiers etc., be it health drinks, protein powder vegan or whey it rarely matters. Hence reading labels before making any purchase is so vital.
For instance let’s see that the most common thing found in almost all the packed health drinks and protein powders that are available in powder form does contain –Anti-caking agent, code word used – INS 551, and this is nothing but silicon dioxide, thus increasing silica in the food we consume. Similarly, there are numerous other lab-made chemicals used and all of these are dangerous.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set limits on the amount of certain heavy metals that can be present in food products, including protein powders. For example, the FDA has set a limit of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) for lead in candy and 0.5 ppm in fruit juices. However, there are currently no specific limits set for heavy metals in protein powders.
Several studies have been conducted on the heavy metal content of vegan protein isolate powders. One study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology in 2018 tested 134 different protein powders, including 33 vegan isolate options. The study found that all of the protein powders contained at least one heavy metal, and some vegan options had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-vegan options. However, it’s important to note that the levels found were generally well below the FDA’s limits for these metals in food products.
Another study published in the journal Clean – Soil, Air, Water in 2016 analyzed 52 different vegan protein powders for heavy metals. The study found that most of the protein powders contained low levels of heavy metals, and none of them exceeded the FDA’s limits. However, a few products did contain higher levels of certain metals, such as lead and cadmium.
So, what should you do if you’re concerned about heavy metals in your vegan protein powder? First, opt for natural protein powder brands such as Sattu, or Sheer MADness.
Secondly, make sure you’re purchasing products from reputable brands that prioritize product safety and quality. Look for products that have been third-party tested for heavy metals and other contaminants.
Additionally, consider diversifying your sources of protein. While protein powders can be a convenient and easy way to meet your daily protein needs, they shouldn’t be your only source of protein. Incorporate a variety of whole foods into your diet, such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, to ensure you’re getting a range of nutrients and minimizing your exposure to heavy metals, Nothing beats natural sources of Protein.
Now, here are Few Facts before I finish:
These are the same lines from my book “Great Health Comes from Exercise & Nutrition”
a) Everyone is an individual, so what suits me, may or may not suit the next person.
b) If a person has a medical condition, a doctor’s advice and prescribed medication will only help.
c) While buying any protein powder from the market read the labels carefully, and Watch out for various codes, and words like Anti-caking agent, and INS 551( Also known as Silicon dioxide), All these are Laboratory made chemicals, and although approved by regulatory bodies think twice, will you consume a spoon of Silicon dioxide? And Silicon dioxide is just one product, there are numerous others like BHA ( Butylated hydroxyanisole ), BHT ( Butylated hydroxytoluene ) and the list of lab-made chemicals goes on and on with various codes, that we generally ignore.
Hence read the labels especially the ingredients list of the product before buying.
If you are interested in buying chemical-free Natural vegan Protein powder, Health drinks for kids or our delicious but chemical-free Energy bars and Protein bars shop @ Sheer MADness.
One can also buy our Products From Flipkart, Jio Mart or ONDC in India.
d) Exercise is the key to fitness, we should always keep in mind that exercise and nutrition are two sides of the same coin and always go hand in hand. So only nutrition will not help you attain any goals till it is not supplemented with Exercise.
e) Excess of anything is wrong, it can be the best nutrient-filled superfood, but one should consume only recommended quantities.
f) Regarding health, fitness, and nutrition, remember that Rome was not built in a day. Your discipline and consistency is the key.
g) It’s not only Exercise and protein that builds muscles, there are numerous other factors like a healthy gut, numerous macro and micronutrients, your body type and DNA, the amount of rest the body gets, the lifestyle an individual lives, and on and on it goes. Out of all these, exercise and nutrition are within our control, and one should focus on these two primary aspects.
h) For More benefits related to Vegan Protein Powder, I will request you to read the Post: Muscle Growth to Health, Plant Protein Powders are the future.
i) To clear any doubt related to the topic of “Protein” I would request you to read my post “Protein, Everything you should be aware of.”
j) And the most important part: Nothing is better than a balanced meal.
Article by Chef Ashutosh Awasthi.
Disclaimer: Our products are a source of HEALTHY NUTRIENTS and COMPLETELY FREE OF ANY ADDED CHEMICALS.
We do not claim to cure any medical condition.
The information provided is informational, and we do not claim to diagnose or treat a person with any specific medical condition.
