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Food Babe Investigates: Is Your Protein Shake Safe?

This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. You can read more about her take on the food industry in her second book, Feeding You Lies!

Protein shakes, powders, and supplements are incredibly popular with the health conscious crowd. Considering what typical protein shakes promise - sleek muscles, weight loss and a quick, easy "healthy" meal replacement - it's logical to see why.

Unfortunately, the food industry is making an absolute killing (maybe literally) selling ones that are filled with highly processed denatured proteins, chemicals, preservatives and other additives. There’s one thing in common for all of them – they are all processed and deciding on whether or not they are actually "real food" comes into question.

Now not all processed things we put in our body are technically bad for us – but understanding what exactly is in your protein shake is critical to deciding whether to consume it, select an alternative, or discontinue use all together.


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 "?" indicates protein supplement has not been tested or proven to have that specific ingredient

GET INFORMED

We've discussed GMO's here, Artificial Colors here, Carrageenan here, Antibiotics here, and rBGH here before so I won't go into them again in detail specifically. Regardless, you should know consuming a protein drink with any of those ingredients is a risk to your health and if you don't know why - please read up on those past posts to learn more.

NOT CERTIFIED ORGANIC

I should also mention that none of the protein brands listed here (Body by Vi, Slim Fast, Designer Whey, EAS Myoplex, Shakeology, Special K, Ensure, Isogen, Pure Protein, Herbalife, Atkins, Gatorade Recovery, Vega, and Muscle Milk) are certified organic nor are they Non-GMO project certified. That means all of them might contain GMOs and most definitely contain pesticides that are considered harmful and potentially toxic with long-term exposure. This increased exposure is linked to birth defects, nerve damage, and even cancer. 

The President’s Cancer Panel has urged us not to consume food sprayed with pesticides and doesn’t believe any amount is safe. Because of this reason, I can't imagine willingly wanting to spend a serious chunk of change (protein shakes are expensive!) to buy any of these listed products as a way to help build muscle, lose weight or replace a meal.

IS YOUR PROTEIN DRINK SAFE? Hmmm...NOT WITH THESE INGREDIENTS:

Heavy Metals

Consumer Reports conducted an eye-opening investigation that revealed several protein powders contain heavy metals - specifically arsenic, cadmium, and lead. EAS Myoplex tested for two heavy metals in higher amounts than the USP limit of exposure per day. Muscle Milk had the highest of all levels of all brands tested.

Here's an excerpt taken from the Consumer Reports investigation on Protein Powders:

Cadmium raises special concern because it accumulates in and can damage the kidneys, the same organs that can be damaged by excessive protein consumption. And it can take 20 years for the body to eliminate even half the cadmium absorbed today." This is a highly toxic metal, and while there are some cases where decisions have to be weighed against relative risks, accepting that you have to be exposed to any cadmium at all in your protein drink after your workout is definitely not one of them," says Michael Harbut, M.D., director of the Environmental Cancer Initiative at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Royal Oak, Mich.
"When these toxic heavy metals are combined in a product that is marketed for daily use, that raises serious public health concerns, especially for pregnant women, children, and young adults," says Burns, who has been a toxicology consultant to state and federal government agencies.

Soy Protein

Many protein drinks use soy protein concentrate or soy protein isolate in conjunction with other proteins. Over 90% of the soy produced in this country is GMO - but that's not the only reason to avoid soy protein.

When soy is looked at from a macronutrient perspective, it can give the illusion of a very healthy food - full of plant based protein, essential amino acids and fiber. However, the soy that is grown and produced today is largely hybridized, making the amino acids largely indigestible leading to digestive issues that have caused many people to be allergic to soy.

What's worse is when soy is isolated to just its protein state, it becomes severely denatured and can cause hormonal disruptions because of the excessive amount of estrogen contained in it. Soy also has an abundance of phytic acid that leeches calcium and other vital minerals from your body.

Maltodextrin

Calling out an ingredient filler like maltodextrin may make you think I'm being nitpicky - but is this carb substitute that is likely derived from genetically modified corn really necessary in protein powders?

Maltodextrin can be used to make a substance like "fibersol" that, for instance, is in the Body by Vi Shakes. This fibersol is made by heating maltodextrin at very high temperatures and treating it with enzymes and acids to make a fiber your body simply can't digest and makes you feel artificially full. If you are eating enough plant-based foods, there is no reason to supplement with this type of chemically derived fiber.

Fibersol is just another additive that does absolutely nothing for your long term health. Why not add a real food like spinach or a banana to your smoothie instead?

Acesulfame Potassium or Acesulfame K 
This is the most common form of artificial sweetener available in protein drinks (and tons of other processed foods) today and according the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) it is anything but safe. CSPI reported the safety tests of acesulfame-K that were conducted in the 1970s were inadequate.

Specifically, two rat studies suggest that the additive might cause cancer, but these studies were never addressed by the FDA before they approved the substance to also be used unregulated in soft drinks. In addition, it is mentioned that large doses of acetoacetamide (a breakdown product of this sugar) have been shown to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits, and dogs. This toxic sugar substitute can be found in EAS Myoplex, Isogen, Pure Protein, Atkins, and Muscle Milk.

Whey Protein Isolate
Whey protein isolate is highly processed, unlike whole protein food concentrate. Most whey protein isolates start from ultra-pasteurized conventional milk that has antibiotics and growth hormones and are then exposed to acid processing, stripping alkalinizing minerals, naturally occurring vitamins and lipids. This processing makes whey protein isolate over acidifying in the body.

Chronically consuming whey protein isolate without appropriate balance of alkalizing foods, can acidify your body and over time increase your vulnerability to degenerative disease. This overly processed form of whey can be found in a lot of popular protein drinks that are not included in this list but marketed under generic or store brand names including the one by Gatorade called "Recover."

Luckily, you don't have to rely on protein drinks because simply eating a variety of real food alone gives you plenty of protein. 

But, if you are still concerned about protein you could make a nut butter based smoothie like Lisa's PB & J Smoothie or choose from any of these real food sources of protein below:

Meat sources of protein - beef, pork, poultry, eggs, yogurt, cheese, fish (very important to choose organic when possible if you go this route)

Vegetarian sources of protein - legumes (dry beans, lentils, and peas), nuts and seeds (almond butter, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds), whole grains (oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, pasta), dark leafy vegetables, and some fruits like avocado

SO ARE THERE ANY HEALTHY PROTEIN POWDERS?

Fortunately, there are a few Food Babe approved protein powders (including Warrior Food Extreme, Tera’s Organic Whey, Nutiva’s Hemp Protein, and Garden of Life Raw) that do not contain any of the ingredients mentioned here, and would fall under the definition of "real food" in my book.

If you decide to supplement your protein, it is very important to double and triple check the ingredient list and check with the manufacturer to see how they process their protein  - visit this post on FoodBabe.com to find out the protein powders that I personally buy and occasionally use in my smoothies.

Comments have been closed on this article, which was written by Vani Hari. If you have a question or comment you can reach her at http://FoodBabe.com.

More Real Food Defined

About Vani Hari

Named as one of the “Most Influential People on the Internet” by Time magazine, Vani Hari is a food activist, New York Times best-selling author of The Food Babe Way, and co-founder of Truvani. For most of her life, Vani ate whatever she wanted—candy, soda, fast food, processed food—until her typical American diet landed her where that diet typically does, in a hospital. Despite her successful career in corporate consulting, Hari decided that health had to become a priority. Her newfound goal drove her to investigate what is really in our food, how it is grown, and what chemicals are used in its production. The more she learned, the more she changed and the better she felt.

Encouraged by her friends and family, Hari started a blog called foodbabe.com and has led campaigns against food giants like Kraft, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Subway, and General Mills that have attracted more than 500,000 signatures and led to the removal of several controversial ingredients used by these companies. Hari’s drive to change the food system inspired the creation of her new company, called Truvani, where she produces real food without added chemicals, products without toxins, and labels without lies. Hari has been profiled in The New York Times and USA Today and has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, and NPR. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Finley, and daughter, Harley.

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    Check out Ultimate ProFit by ItWorks. All-natural products and when put up next to it's competitors you can't deny the facts that it is SO good for you...and it's very affordable.
    http://www.imunderwraps.myitworks.com

  2. Laura says

    You should look into Essante Organics there products are great, read the ingredients !

  3. Troy says

    I recommend you try eWhey Low-Carb Organic Protein. It's independently tested for heavy metals, is pharmaceutical-grade, contains colostrum, MCT powder and probiotics and sweetened with organic coconut sugar. Absolutely delicious!

  4. christian barratt says

    Very interesting post about the protein shakes. Ill stay away from anyone on that list ! ps Love your blog.

    • Fabio Okubo says

      Hi Christian,

      Do you take any protein shakes at the moment?

  5. Libbie says

    This should be taken down. Bad research and science.

    • Cal says

      Totally agree.

  6. Ingredient Guru says

    FB- Don't be irresponsible in your journalism. Not sure I can find anything to qualify your teams "expertise" on these ingredients. It would be important that you take a more well rounded approach to your blogging since your are only telling part of the story on these some of these ingredients. Some of the ingredients, like Fibersol-2 for example, which has multiple historical studies to back them up with data to support healthy blood sugar levels and a healthy colony of bacteria in your digestive track that are important for everything from digestion to immune health....look these things up before you write. Rather than generalizing say... whey protein, why don't you track down companies that are offering rBGH FREE whey products and explain that good quality ingredients are available. Ultimately you are carpet bombing and industry and hurting the responsible groups rather than promoting them.

    In closing the majority of the world cannot afford to live off of organic and whole foods or dont have access . The population is in an evolutionary pattern that will require technologies like fermentation to feed us. Perhaps you should broaden your views.

    • Melanie Milletics says

      Agreed!

  7. Connie Graden says

    Did you check on Young Living shake mixes? They have Balance Complete, Power Meal, and Pure Protein Complete. It would be good to see the comparisons.

  8. Nick says

    You list Whey Protein Isolate as an ingredient to avoid. But to anyone who puts in any kind of strenuous exercise especially resistance training an isolate should be viewed as a standard to helping to refuel recover and absorb the needed BCAA's and protein needed before muscle wasting sets in. I understand you are a organic whole foods enthusiast and i believe eating that way is best but whey protein isolate is a supplement and used as such to supplement your diet. No whole food can give a more timely recovery post workout than an isolate.

    • Will says

      Nick, i gather you're a man who does resistance training yes? This arguement of "isolates"....where have you got research for this vague comment. Whole foods are as effective post workout as protein powders, no matter how organic they are. So long as you're getting 3-4g of Leucine and physically eating your chosen recovery meal within 30mins of finishing your workout, research shows that the difference in recovery between the 2 is negligible.

    • Kim says

      Nick, have you tried Purium's Green Power Shake with Master Aminos? The 10-day Celebrity Transformation is a great way to build muscle and lean out while staying 'green'. Check it out! Thanks

  9. Victoria Masters says

    I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS! What intense homework you have done! The shakes we consume are Essante Organics shakes which ARE CERTIFIED ORGANIC AND TOXIC FREE

    this is IMPORTANT TO ME and i urge ALL OF YOU to switch over to ANY BRAND that is certified organic!

  10. Melanie Milletics says

    Food Babe,
    You may be a whole foods, all organic eating 'babe', and I respect that YOU don't consume meal replacement shakes ... but your chart is absolutely and positively FALSE.

    Body By Vi's label states it is GMO free. To state otherwise shows that you are getting your information from false sources, and have not bothered to look any further.
    The 'maltodextrin' used is Fibersol, a source of glucose polysaccharide prebiotic fiber. Its not the junk filler used in the other shakes.
    Antibiotics? rBGH ? No way, no how.
    The ViSalus line of nutritionals is actually CGMP certified - making them 'nutraceutical grade' - something that they do not have to do, but choose to do, as they produce a superior product.

    Now, I don't expect you to drink the Vi-shape shake - but I do expect that you will correct your chart with blatant misinformation.

    Thank you

    • Dianna Stough says

      ViSalus label states 'non GMO soy' it does not state it about any other ingredients. Not trying to get into a fight, for I know some other information is incorrect on the chart, just wanted to give you an FYI.

  11. Brandon says

    take a look at Dave Asprey's Bulletproof Upgraded Whey....

  12. Sarah says

    Shakeology does no have rBGH in it. they do not do an acid processing with their whey. they get many of their foods from small sustainable farms from around the world...places where all food is "organic". and the only thing I can think of as being considered "refined" is the gmo free fructose.

  13. Joanna says

    Just spoke to Vega and their ingredients are organic, from small local farmers who don't have the money or time it takes to go through the lengthy and expensive organic certification process. But Vega is in the process of getting certified. However, they told me that their products/ingredients are organic and therefore GMO-free. Vega is one of the cleanest protein powders I have found. Just sharing what they told me.

    • Megan says

      Wal Mart says it pays it's workers well too. Unless it is certified and on the label, companies can and do say anything. Interesting that Vega has no images of these small farms or case studies on their website. It is such a compelling story - as fiction usually is.

  14. dd says

    HAHA GMOS give me a break.

  15. Shelly Heim says

    You really should do your research. Isn't that what you claim you do. Your graph is incorrect.

  16. Dannelle says

    I'm not sure where you found you're resources fir this article but your details about Shakeology are completely incorrect. Please further your research and rectify this. spreading false information is hardly doing you a favor.

  17. Coby says

    You're completely off about Shakeology

  18. Amie says

    I'll just say this, obviously you didn't do much research on Shakeology because what you listed couldn't be further from the truth. Please get your facts straight before copying and pasting some random graph onto your page and considering it "fact".

  19. Liz Cohen says

    Oh and as for Shakeology being GMO Free. Their legal department is in the process of a Certified GMO Free label. Shakeology is 100% ALL NATURAL GMO free. I can guarantee you this!

  20. Liz Cohen says

    Hi. I am a Beachbody Coach and I would like to say that Shakeology DOES NOT use Refined Sugar. The chart above is 100% incorrect. You can go to myshakeology.com and look at the nutrition/ingredient for yourself. Beachbody sweetens everything will Stevia. Which is a NATURAL sweetener. Not Table Sugar. Please correct your information and take this down IMMEDIATELY!

  21. get healthy says

    It's rather a very handy part of information. I'm delighted you contributed this useful information and facts around. Remember to remain you well informed similar to this. Thank you revealing.

  22. Jenny says

    Would you mind citing evidence-based resources for your claims on the above statements in this article? For example, I cannot find evidence of your claims about whey protein isolates, and it would be nice to have a good resource for this. Thanks!

  23. Emer says

    Vega uses GMO products? Really? That comes as quite a surprise to me and is something I will have to research more myself. I have always been impressed with their clean eating, soy, corn,sugar etc free products, as well as their awareness and hard work on being carbon footprint friendly. Hmm... I also use Isagenix. Their protein powders are organic, whole, undenatured whey from organic New Zealand cows. Plus Isagenix doesn't use artificial sweeteners, sugar or colors in the protein powders - and they taste good! So far, Isagenix has been the best whey protein out there that I have tried, researched and can happily recommend.

    • cindy says

      From the Vega website:
      Are the ingredients in Vega One non-GMO?
      As always, we work with our suppliers to source ingredients that are not genetically modified. As the non-GMO certification process is still relatively new—and cost prohibitive, especially to smaller scale, cooperative farmers of crops like SaviSeed (Sacha inchi)—very few ingredient suppliers have officially certified non-GMO status. Without the official certification of ingredient suppliers—even if the ingredients they produce are actually non-GMO—we cannot list the non-GMO status of each ingredient on the label. Our long-term goal is to work toward 100% certification so that we can communicate this on-pack.

  24. Cecil says

    Herbalife also uses artificial favors & colors, not checked on the list.

  25. Carol Ulsh says

    Great information! Have you rated Power Pulse Protein by Eniva? Just curious how it would fair! Thanks!

  26. Sapna says

    What are your sources for this information? Specifically the rbGH in Shakeology?

  27. YULISTIRA says

    I am one Herbalife distributor and consumer, so whether it's really the fact?

  28. wopswife says

    Actually, in doing further research on the various company websites, Body By Vi, Isagen, and Vega... they may use a certain non-GMO ingredient but none of them claim to be completely GMO-free as people are saying in these comments. I will say that I commend Vega for having the most available and honest response regarding GMO's and their powders.

    • Livinglifenaturally says

      Isagenix is GMO FREE, undenatured whey, and all natural ingredients. Nothing artificial. It's real food!

  29. wopswife says

    THANK YOU for writing this post! I am on the hunt for a good all natural, non-GMO protein powder. Per the comments on Shakeology, I did what people here in the comments suggested I do and looked up the ingredient list for myself (from the Shakeology website). Nowhere did I find that the shakes were free of GMO's. The only thing I found was that it contained "non-GMO fructose". What about the "natural flavors with other natural flavors"? If there is updated information that says otherwise, please let me know.

    • Liz Cohen says

      Their legal department is in the process of a Certified Non-GMO label. Shakeology is 100% ALL NATURAL GMO free. I can guarantee you this!

      • wopswife says

        Well until they have that GMO certification, I will not be using their product. Unfortunately, you just cannot trust the "trust us" claims made by companies or their distributors anymore. Hopefully they follow thru.

  30. Nicole says

    Unless you've had Herbalife, don't knock it. Did you notice the FDA had a top person leave and come to Herbalife because he knows the products work? We have a Nobel Prize winning doctor that studied the benefits of nitrous oxide. There is nothing bad in any of Herbalife's products. There are people in 88 countries that agree

  31. Todd says

    What about good old Wegmans Natural Whey Protein Powder? Non-GMO Soy, no rBGH milk sources, Fair trade cocoa (for chocolate flavor), etc?

  32. Jennifer Schmitt says

    What are your thoughts on the spirulina protein powders?

  33. Amber says

    Also my sister in law sells Visalus and she is a pharmacist. She has researched every ingredient in it. And if its so bad for you then why have doctors started prescribing it to pregnant women? Their has been thousands of lives changed through body by VI. And thousands of people not taking as much medication as they were before starting Visalus. So people do your own research and not someone's opinion.

  34. Amber says

    Also my sister in law sell

  35. Amber says

    Actually Body by VI is non-gmo certified. Get your facts right. And it's not a "pyramid scheme" if the person selling honestly cares about the health of the consumers of the product, not just making money.

  36. Robin says

    Thoughts on Paleo Meal-DF? JJ Virgin promotes this and it is great for smoothies. I use coconut milk and berrie with flaxseed.....sooooo good!

  37. Carrie says

    Here is a safe protein supplement. Vísi Probíta with Hydrolyzed Collagen, the most absorbable protein, provides just what you’re looking for when it comes to superior-quality protein.

  38. Tara says

    Hello and thank you for the info. I don't know why all the shakeology ppl are in an uproar, perhaps because it's a pyramid scheme like body by vi (which I was on..any meal replacement will make you lose weight)..and I don't believe in those. I want HEALTH. I don't want crap in my body.

    I now take Vega and it is AWESOME. No soy, dairy or artificial anything in my products. I eat clean and I don't pump anything anymore like the others. My conscience AND my eating are clean..thank goodness.

    Vega One is good, Vega Sport is great as well. Has BCAA's and glutamine and is really great for recovery. Chocolate and vanilla chai are the best tasting ones. Care about your health, not your wallets.

    • Erin says

      Direct Marketing is not pyramid marketing. Some long term brands are direct marketing including Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Arbonne, Amway, Scentsy and many other companies. The reason people bag on direct marketing is because you have to be motivated, as if it were your own product. Really the only difference between direct marketing and e-tailing is that the profit margin goes to the individual rep, not the corporation. The different layers of people in an organization aren't any different than the different layers of management in a large corporation.

      Secondly- if it is not CERTIFIED non-GMO, you have no guarantee that the ingredients are GMO free. Until it's on the label, you can't say for sure. Perhaps one GMO labels are required, we can forgo this step and companies might just see the value in GMO labeling at that point, but unless you get a product certified, unless it's labeled organic, it could have GMO's in it.

  39. Brad says

    great article on protein shakes! Thanks for sharing your info!

    • Dee says

      On this article I decided to buy garden of life raw protein but as I read the ingredients there's the ""other ingredients'' list that says it contains fermented soy. It doesn't say anything about it being organic so I'm wondering if it's gmo soy. Along with this there's other ingredients that says organic but not where it says soy. I don't like having any soy in my food. So I'm not so sure this is a protein drink that should be recommended . Any comments from anyone, escp the lady who wrote this .

  40. Tasha says

    I have to comment for Shakeology. There are NO GMO's in the product, it IS Certified Organic, there are NO rbGH as well as the products in it are all Fair Trade. The whey protein isolate is part of a propriety super food blend. And it is only in the Regular Chocolate or Greenberry flavors. But the VEGAN Tropical and Chocolate do not have isolates, they are made with several plant proteins, including sprouted chia protein, pea protein and sprouted brown rice protein. Beachbody prides itself in maintaining high standards for their products, and all nutrition labels are available to view at http://www.shakeology.com.

    • Tasha says

      I also must state the "refined sugar" you mention, is NOT in Shakeology. They use (very little) non-gmo fructose, stevia and coconut flower nectar.