With the popular health and supplement industry releasing a new diet or muscle building supplement concoction every month, people who workout and need a quick fix to help feed their muscles on the run opt for healthy protein drinks such as Whey and Casein.
But a recent Consumer Reports study shows that not all of these supplements are safe and that some protein drinks may not be “healthy” and cause long term health problems if taken consistently. The investigative report found that some harmful things like arsenic, cadmium and lead were found in many of the powders and supplements.
On The Early Show CBS News took a hidden camera to nutrition stores in New York City asking employees about these supplemental drinks safety, but not one single sales person warned about possible health risks or side effects.
Some personal trainers and supplement sales people say taking more than recommended doses wouldn’t hurt.
But trainer/dietitian Erin Palinski who spoke to CBS says, otherwise. “They’re actually going to harm their health if they do excessive amounts,” said Palinski.
Experts say too much protein can lead to dehydration and digestive problems, increase your risk for osteoporosis, and for some people, cause kidney problems and damage.
Watch CBS Early Show video on dangerous protein shakes
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In an investigation report appearing in the July issue of Consumer Reports findings show protein drinks could be toxic, if you take too much.
Consumer Report’s Urvashi Rangan said “We tested about 15 different types of protein drinks. … And we actually looked for four different heavy metals. We looked for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead.”
Test results found heavy metals present in all 15 protein drinks with some having more than others.
Consumer Reports says 3 of the products tested were of major concern because consuming three servings a day could result in exposure to arsenic, cadmium or lead that exceed proposed limits for contaminants:
• Eas Myoplex (Arsenic, Cadmium)
• Muscle Milk-Chocolate (Cadmium, Lead)
• Muscle Milk-Vanilla Crème (Lead)
Once the body metabolizes the harmful metals they tend to stay in our systems for a long amount of time and are hard to get out.
The supplement industry and supplement makers dispute the claims that protein shakes could be harmful and are very safe to drink.
On the other hand, Andrew Shao, with the Council for Responsible Nutrition said the reports are nothing to worry about “The results of this analysis aren’t alarming. The heavy metals that were found are well below the limits FDA (Food and Drug Administration) would be concerned about, so they don’t pose a health risk to consumers at all.”
If you are worried about risking your health to harmful metals in protein shakes, you can get your protein in natural sources such as eggs, milk, and chicken.
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