Protein Shake-Up

I have never been one for protein shakes.  Since protein can be obtained from a variety of sources, I find it unnecessary in my family’s diet.  Some recent alarming news is the high incidence of heavy metals contained in protein supplements, and the way the companies that sell protein supplements target the most vulnerable of people for the products: women and children.

An investigation from the ConsumerReport revealed that “All drinks in [the] tests had at least one sample containing one or more of the following contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.”

I’m glad that ConsumerReport decided to do an investigation of protein supplements and found such unnerving results.  Since the FDA does not regulate supplements, there is no other way such news would have come to light.  It greatly upsets me that the FDA does not regulate supplements, because sometimes it is what people rely on when they don’t or can’t get their nutrients from whole foods.  With so much lack of accountability, companies are becoming negligent at the risk of our health, especially that of our children.

If you have children, or are pregnant and nursing and protein supplements are part of your diet, please consider other alternatives to protein supplements.

Here is a great site to calculate how much protein you need in your body on a daily basis, along with some other tidbits of information about protein.

If you are don’t eat meat, or don’t want to eat it every day, there are a few others ways to get proteins without worrying:

• rice and beans (they contain all the necessary amino acids to build new proteins in the body)
• a peanut butter sandwich (on whole grain bread) and a glass of milk.

Amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) are found in meats, dairy, legumes, grains, and nuts.  If you do not consume meats, it is important to get enough of the other sources, to get enough complete proteins in your diet, but it is not necessary to consume copious amounts.

For me, I only need about an ounce of protein in my diet (2-4oz if it is meat,) but that may vary for yourself and for your children, so be sure to check out the website and see how much protein you really need.

Do you, or anyone you know consume protein supplements?  Please be ware, and please pass the information on to those that may be consuming protein supplements on a consistent and prolonged basis, as there is a great risk for heavy metal poisoning, especially for women and children.

To your health!

~Hale Mom

Tagged as: cadmium, consumer report, FDA, heavy metal poisoning, heavy metals, lead, mercury, protein, protein supplements, regulations, supplement regulation, supplements, women and children