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IMAGE SOURCE: Muscle Milk image from Amazon.com Web site
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Consumer Reports, the respected guide for buying reputable products, has found traces of heavy metals in some protein supplements.
The products are popular among body builders, baby boomers, athletes, and people who want to skip meals with a high protein liquid shake.
An outside lab ran tests on 15 different protein drinks from ready-to-drink supplements to powder mixes.
All of the drinks had at least one sample with arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, heavy metals that can have a toxic effect on the body. The ranges of the metals varied.
On the high range, some of the supplements surpassed a maximum limit recommended for daily exposure.
Among those Consumer Reports tested was EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate Shake – with 16.9 micrograms of arsenic (limit of 15 micrograms a day says U.S. Pharmacopeia) and exposed users to elevated levels of heavy metals when they drink three servings a day.
Other brands tested include Energy First Pro Energy Whey Protein Isolate; BSN Lean Dessert Protein Shake; Muscle Milk among others.
The human body is made up of about 16 percent protein which plays a major role in cell functioning. Many enzymes, hormones and our DNA are composed of protein.
The body cannot make nine amino acids, the building blocks of protein, so they must be found from an animal and plant diets. With an inability to make protein, the body will break itself down to meet its protein need if not enough is consumed.
Humans can source protein from eggs, meat, milk and poultry, and nuts as well as beans and soy. Men reportedly need about 56 grams per day of protein and women, about 46 grams, depending on weight and activity, though some dispute that.
Consumer Reports plans to name names in the July issue of the Consumer Report magazine which is available by subscription. #