this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2025
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/53452632

This is a long and very thorough article. If you're using any particular brand of protein supplements, it might be worth searching the text for the name to catch all the relevant discussion (the measurements, whether the company is responding, etc.)

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[–] BCOVertigo@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It's been a long time since I read outputs from independent labs assessing supplement product purity but I was pointed towards this around a month ago:

I'm not sure who are the most trustworthy labs at this point though and maybe there's a nutritionist or someone who can give more than my peanut gallery advice.

[–] Meron35@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This is even more confusing, because some of the brands and products on that clean list are explicitly mentioned in the article to have dangerous levels of heavy metals (Optimum Nutrition, Garden of Life)

[–] classic@fedia.io 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It might have to do with protein source. E.g. Garden of Life on the CR list is the plant based one, whereas on this clean list, it's the protein one.

Plant based protein sources were generally found to have more lead

[–] Meron35@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

...no? Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey is on the clean list but is still at 56% of CR's limit. That's not "non detect".

I'm particularly worried about that brand because it's typically highly regarded

[–] wrexer@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

yeah, same. I use optimum and I have more than one a day which CR says isn't safe

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yay, I see my tub there. Hope it's trustworthy.

Edit: mine's actually different flavour. I do hope it's lead free.

[–] starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Notable that it's plant based that have the most, while whey generally has much much less. kinda sad for vegans since your protein options are more limited.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

The cows are probably acting as filters, absorbing the lead from the plant material they ingest. Makes me wonder where that goes — cow liver? brain? muscle?

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

The article noted that some of the plant based manufacturers talked about changing their sourcing from foreign to domestic markets. May be that whey (which is otherwise a waste product anyway) was always sufficiently cheap in western nations where tighter environmental controls would limit exposure to heavy metals.

But your explaination makes sense as well.

[–] miked@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

I read the article. Much of the plant based protein comes from China. Apparently there is much more lead in the soil than other sources.

[–] 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Leading the way… to dementia.

[–] BroBot9000@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Would explain a lot of the right wing muscle bro movement.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I hate that whole side of the fitness community.

There was a guy on YouTube giving OK workout advice that just started giving more and more incel life advice. Haven't seen a video from him in over 10 years now because of it.

[–] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I stopped watching lifting videos on YT for all the douche incel shit and that came with it.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 weeks ago

Of the guys I used to watch as a teenager getting into lifting, the one guy went full incel with his advice while his wife was full tradwife, then later on he went to claim marriage is slavery AND that women keep initiating divorce. Hmmmm. Doesn't sound like an abusive relationship at all, eh..

Then there were the twins who'd give you workout advice, but always followed it up with "Do whatever the FUCK you wanna do", to signify that there's no one 100% correct way to do things. They then later created their third YouTube channel, "ConservativeTwins". I'd say the only political opinion of their that I agree with is their hatred of Israel, buuuuuut.... They only hate Israel because they hate Jews. Yes, they went that kind of conservative.

Needless to say, I haven't watched any lifting related videos since I was 18 or 19. Instead, every few years when I find myself in the gym again, I do my own thing, which is mostly 3x5, compound lifts. And maybe 3x8 of some isolation exercises if I want my needlessly large guns to become rocket launchers or feel like having tree trunks for thighs isn't enough or something. Or basically: I feel like I'm so big, there's no point in doing anything for muscle mass, I just want to be stronger.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's always better to get protein from real bioavailable sources anyway

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

That are all full of microplastics, the chicken is pumped full of estrogen, the fish are full of mercury...

The problem with anything to do with fitness and nutrition is "How deep down the rabbit hole do you want to go.?"

[–] Wigglesworth@retrolemmy.com 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

holds up a bag of pinto beans

this far?

[–] Lumisal@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Considering that plant based powders were the highest in Lead, and there was that whole thing with Cacao last year, and before that with Spinach - I wonder if vegetables might have higher sources of heavy metals.

But then, I wonder why that would be, and how effective can washing them well be? I assume the high heavy metal sources also mean the soil is contaminated and therefore things grown in it too are.

[–] classic@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago

Washing won't help if it's in the plant

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Meh, chasing perfection will tire you out. Just go for minimal changes that have the biggest impact.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 weeks ago

The 20/80 rule probably applies. 20% of effort for 80% result, the rest isn't worth chasing.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

So glad that when I decided to get back into lifting a year or 2 ago, I decided to say fuck protein powder and have just been eating a high protein meal or some eggs / egg whites after my workouts. I've grown jaded by the supplement industry so I didn't want to support them. Also protein has gotten fucking expensive since the last time I was lifting (like 8+ years ago)

[–] Montreal_Metro@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Lead poisoning in kids causes drop in IQ. 🤠

[–] miked@piefed.social 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Kids don't normally take protein supplements.

[–] classic@fedia.io 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Luckily for them lead is also found in other accessible products like.chocolate, cinnamon, turmeric and other spices, baby food, rice based cereals and more #nevergiveup

[–] miked@piefed.social 0 points 2 weeks ago

While I agree with you about lead content this post is about protein supplements.