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[@RenaissancePeriodization] Lab Tests Found Lead in Protein Powder — Should You Worry?

· 4 min read
[@RenaissancePeriodization] Summarizer
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@RenaissancePeriodization - "Lab Tests Found Lead in Protein Powder — Should You Worry?"

Link: https://youtu.be/aDEjrRT82nE

Short Summary​

Consumer Reports found elevated lead levels in some protein powders, exceeding California's Prop 65 safety standard, which is much stricter than FDA guidelines. However, the video argues that this standard is unrealistically low, as many common foods like spinach and cinnamon contain far more lead than the Prop 65 limit, suggesting the protein powder scare may be overblown and shouldn't cause alarm for most adults.

Key Quotes​

Here are four quotes from the video transcript that represent valuable insights or surprising statements:

  1. "That's what Consumer Reports used as their cut off. And it showed that some powders were as high as almost eight micrograms per serving, which is like almost what 16 times higher. That's crazy, you would think." - This highlights the initial concern about lead levels in protein powder based on Consumer Reports' findings and the strict California Prop 65 standard.

  2. "A teaspoon of cinnamon, which is a common ingredient in many foods, has about 2.6 micrograms of lead, which means that's already five times higher than the Prop 65 threshold." - This provides a surprising and valuable comparison point, demonstrating that common foods can contain significantly more lead than the Prop 65 threshold allows.

  3. "Raw spinach, like the healthiest food ever, right? has in a 100 gram serving 22 micrograms of lead, which is more than two times higher than the FDA limit for women in of reproductive age." - Further highlighting the amount of lead consumed on a regular basis and putting the protein powder lead levels in context.

  4. "The roughly 10 microgram figure the USP and FDA use is already 10 times below the population bloodled averages that the Centers for Disease Control would label as time to act and bring those down." - Dr. Mike explains that the standards for lead are well below the amount that would be dangerous.

Detailed Summary​

Here is a detailed summary of the YouTube video transcript, using bullet points, highlighting key topics, arguments, and information:

Key Topic: Lead contamination in protein powders and shakes, and the context of those levels compared to other foods.

Arguments:

  • The news media is exaggerating the dangers of lead in protein powders based on overly strict standards.
  • Lead is present in many common foods, some of which contain significantly more lead than most protein powders.
  • The California Proposition 65 standard (0.5 micrograms per day) is an "out of thin air nonsensically low standard" and impractical to meet in a normal diet.
  • The FDA and USP standards (around 10 micrograms) are more reasonable and based on actual health risks.
  • Toxicity is related to dose over time, not a single small exposure.
  • It's impossible to have zero lead exposure in the modern environment.
  • For most healthy adults, multiple shakes and powders per day are unlikely to cause measurable changes in blood lead levels that affect cognitive performance, fertility, or kidney function.

Information:

  • Consumer Reports Study: Analyzed 23 protein powders and shakes, finding that more than 2/3 exceeded their own level of concern.
  • Clean Label Project Study: Found that around half of protein products tested exceeded at least one heavy metal threshold.
  • Different Standards:
    • California Proposition 65: 0.5 micrograms of lead per day (reproductive toxicity).
    • FDA (Food and Drug Administration): 8.8 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age, higher for others.
    • USP (United States Pharmacopeia): 10 micrograms per day (voluntary institution).
  • Lead Levels in Common Foods (examples):
    • Cinnamon (1 teaspoon): 2.6 micrograms of lead
    • Potato Chips: 3.6 micrograms of lead
    • Sunflower Seeds (30g): 10 micrograms of lead
    • Raw Spinach (100g): 22 micrograms of lead
  • Huel's Response: Claims Consumer Reports' methods overestimate lead levels, their internal testing showed around 2 micrograms per serving.
  • Margin of Safety: The USP and FDA standards (10 micrograms) are 10 times lower than the amount that would start to show evidence of symptoms of lead exposure in population levels.
  • Historical Context: Lead levels were much higher in the 1970s.
  • Recommendations:
    • Maybe reduce the number of vegan ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes you consume until safety data is available.
    • Otherwise, multiple shakes and powders are unlikely to cause harm for the majority of people.

Additional Points:

  • The video uses humor and sarcasm throughout.
  • The presenter critiques the news media for sensationalism.
  • The presenter suggests that California's Proposition 65 standard is driven by political reasons or overcautiousness.
  • The video promotes the RP Diet Coach app and the RP Hypertrophy app.