Are protein powders really that bad?
The short answer to the question posed in today’s headline is “yes”. Most protein powders are rubbish for your body, particularly the ones you see lined up and being promoted at your local gym. They are often pushed onto fitness junkies and touted as a “necessary companion to your workout”, but in reality these synthetic processed protein isolates do more harm than crazy muscle definition will make up for.
Why they are so bad …
# They are incredibly processed
There are two main reasons why this is a problem. First of all, when we consume something that is processed to the point of some of these protein powders, our bodies don’t actually recognise it as food. It will then get confused looking for all of the missing nutrients and start leeching them from your body’s own reserves (usually the bones). Secondly, the act of processing involves the inclusion of extra man-made ingredients that are usually synthetic, chemicalised, toxic and harmful to the body.
# They wreak havoc on your system
Being so highly processed, your body has a hard time breaking down and absorbing protein powders. What we don’t absorb is excreted from the body via the kidneys, which means that if you consume a lot of protein powder, you will be excreting a lot of this crap stuff and putting a lot of pressure on your hard-working kidneys. Many protein powders are also made from whey protein (a dairy isolate), which is highly acidic, or soy, which comes with a whole host of added issues. Click here for more on soy.
# They are loaded with chemical sweeteners
Aspartame, saccharin, fructose, and artificial colours – these are some nasty words you will see listed on many protein powder ingredients labels. They are all toxic (aspartame in particular) and do your body no favours in the short or long term.
# They can contain heavy metals
Many common brands of protein powders and protein drinks contain high levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Dr Mark Hyman has written a great article about the detrimental effect heavy metals have on our health.
When my boyfriend and I first started dating, he too had been sucked into the “protein powder club” and had buckets of the stuff stacked in his pantry. It wasn’t until we were a little further into our relationship and I felt comfortable enough to start throwing my weight around that I told him that his protein habit had to go. Now, he takes none of the aforementioned and I am happy to report that he feels adequately energised and “bulked up” adding things like spirulina, maca, bee pollen to his daily green smoothies. He also reports that he feels much better and doesn’t get that sick-to-the-tummy feeling after drinking them.
Top 8 acceptable protein powder replacements
If you do feel that you are in need of extra protein, there are some on the market that are made from natural, organic, plant-based ingredients. It just important to read the labels to make sure that what you’re buying suits whatever health agenda you have for yourself. Look for brands that are organic, natural and free of any synthetic, chemicalised, and artificial ingredients. Here are some that I recommend:
1. Spirulina
2. Bee pollen (not vegan)
3. Maca
4. Hemp
5. Vital Greens
6. Sun Warrior
7. Vega
8. Surthrival Elk Velvet Antler (not vegan, but this company works with free range, slaughter free Elk farms, where their strong animals live out healthy lives)
Do you take protein powder or any other protein supplement? Were you aware that the processed brands could be doing so much damage?
Positive affirmation for the day: I use my energy to lead by example rather than oppose via aggression.
MY CHRISTMAS GIFT TO GERSON …
I am donating 50% of all sales of my Healing Through The Holidays recipe e-book to the Gerson Institute. Gerson Therapy has saved my life, and so many others like me, and I want to do this as a Christmas present to them. These people work so hard to get the Gerson message out, and help so many people with cancer and other chronic illnesses, and they rely on donations to make it all happen. Click here to buy your copy of Healing Through The Holidays.
Have you bought your copy of The Wellness Warrior Live Well Starter Kit + 10-Day Cleanse? Click here to find out why it’s the best $12 you’ll ever spend.
Like this post? Share the love!
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Google+
POSTED IN: bee pollen, chemicalised, elk velvet antler, gym, heavy metals, muscles, processed, protein, protein powder, protein supplements, spirulina, toxins, workout
join the tribe
Join the green mo revolution! Subscribe to get Jess's updates & Green Mo Revolution e-book FREE with over 80 green smoothie recipes!
Write a Reply
WOW thank you, all powders that my or my daughter or my son use are now in the bin…That makes so much sense that I am ashamed I didnt see it earlier.. I suppose that you buy it from a Health shop you think in your mind its ok. I have heard that they were a waste of money and that if you want to use a protein powder then powder milk is best. I st that try do you think? But I suppose when it boils down eating right and if your needing more protein then eat some I guess(thinking of your 16 who plays footy and is trying to build more muscle) I would be better to cook him and extra meal of steak maybe or chicken and vege. thank you for your story I know put them in the box with V’s and Red bulls, those things will kill you..and I terrifies me when I see a 4yr drinking one OMG what are you think parent!!!
Unreal Jessica – I love this information and I too advocate that solid, fresh & often alternative foods are the go!! I’ll put this link on my FB page wall!!! Thank you…
Adam’s Apple Health
With all respect, I totally disagree! I am on Whey Protein powder and have been for years. I’m also on Ultra Meal powder that I mix with blueberries and juice! Ultra Meal is filled with vitamins, yes, they are freeze dried but that keeps the integrity of the actual vitamin! You can’t just make a general statement like that, and have people throwing there hard earned money away by throwing out the products they have already bought! Now if your talking about immunitec than I totally agree! That is absolutely synthetic stuff which I refuse to put into my body! You need to be specific, and show scientific evidence before making such a claim! Just saying! As a cancer survivor I eat tons of raw veggies, and fruit and nuts and grains, and I enjoy my protein drinks when mixed correctly! It gives me energy to go to the gym! Not with caffine but niacin and vitamin B along with many other vitamins. Just speaking my truth…I wish everyone well 
Hi Jess, I was in search for a shake that was used in emergencies only and I thought that this one- wasn’t too bad. What do you think of the ingredients? http://tinyurl.com/7xlf768 and the ingredients: http://tinyurl.com/8xdx6ab
Hi Phoebe, this one definitely doesn’t look as bad as others however I think there are much better ones on the market. This one is isolated whey and casein – proteins that are highly acidic to the body. Have you looked into Sun Warrior or Vital Greens? xx
Thanks Jess. Do you have a preference?
I would probably say the Sun Warrior brand. x
Hi can I know which hemp powder is good,I cant afford the sunwarrior as its price is too high,will rice protein+pea protein work.
is trueprotein proteins powders worth its money
can u tell me some hemp protein which costs $12 per lbs
What is your feeling about brown rice protein?
Hi Tim, these can be good also if you find a good brand. It’s always important to just read the labels to make sure there are as few ingredients as possible, and that the ingredients that are listed are all natural.
SunWarrior, recommended by Jess to Phoebe is in fact a Brown Rice Protein supplement.
great post Jess I have been using Sunwarrior protein powder for about 6 months now and I find it works best for me. Before then I’d refused to drink any “protein shake” because they’d always upset my system and I have the same view as you, I knew that they couldn’t be very good for our bodies. I’m stoked that Sunwarrior has made it onto your list above
Hey Jess – what about pure whey protein bought for organic food store ? I just made the switch myself recently … Also you’ll be very proud to know I more often than not have a peppermint tea instead of a cappuccino, or desert at night (you gave me my first one! ) …I have wheat grass every morning … And I made my very first green smoothie all by myself yesterday!
That is awesome!! So proud of you! As for powders from the organic store, you just need to read the labels to make sure they are totally natural and free of synthetic ingredients and. The Sun Warrior and Vital Greens brands seem to be the best I’ve come across x
Oh whoops- I didn’t see your list of acceptable protein powders xx
Wow, a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater Jessica.
Protein supplements are not all rubbish, many … in fact most, are very good products but there are also many as you rightly point out that are laced with some nasties that detract from their overall goodness. Nevertheless, the real point you make should be “read the label” rather than to ignorantly bin the lot.
A simple cold microfiltered whey protein isolate is considered by practically all nutrition organisations … including the WHO, FDA and AUSNZFA as the best single source of protein. Its amino acid blend (and more importantly its amino acid balance) is outstanding for protein absorption, bioavailability and synthesis so to cast a net over all protein supplements as crap is being ignorant to the goal of achieving optimal nutrition.
This is not to say that all people should take whey protein supplements. In fact most people with blood type O will have digestive issues with whey protein however to rubbish all protein supplements presuming they are all Whey or Soy is indeed ignorant to the facts and to imply that most whey proteins are loaded with the nasties that you list is also very ignorant to the true facts.
For example … A basic unflavoured Whey Protein Isolate has “no additives”. There more than a hundred brands of this type of product out there. It will be 90% protein which when blended with berries or other natural sweeteners creates a very healthy dietary supplement containing many “essential amino acids” which are essential because one must obtain them from their diet ….. some of which are widely recognised to be deficient in vegetable sources (lysine is just one example).
Two products that you list as protein powder replacements are in fact “protein supplements” themselves. SunWarrior is a RICE protein and VEGA is a multi source vegetable protein supplement. Vital Greens by the way also has 10% Pea Protein in it.
I am not pro-whey. In fact I market a vegan protein to compete with whey however I am pro-infomation ….. in particular accurate information and in this instance you are being way to general with your critical assessment of protein supplements.
Hi Gary, thanks for your comment! However, I have actually stated that there are some on the market that are better for the body than the processed, chemicalised, synthetic brands I am bringing to everyone’s attention.
Yes I took this from you Jessica – it does say “most” protein powders… and more than anything, the reason why I enjoy this article so much, is the fact you have acknowledged how, for me anecdotally, popular culture has propagated nothing but good news about the stuff. I take on board what Gary has to say and I agree with what he has to say, but I did read inbetween the lines on this one, and well done for tackling such a controvertial topic! There will always be people questioning this article or anything anybody writes about protein powder for that matter 
It’s good healthy dabating!
Hey Jess,
I had this same argument with people at work the other day so I’m super glad you posted this article!
I’ve never understood the post-workout protein shake phenomenon, as I find that my body can usually acclimatise to whatever level of exercise I’m doing on its own, given the right support through nutrition and adequate sleep.
Thanks as always for your awesome work and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Michaela
hi Jess,I use pea protien powder ,I get it from the bulk bin at Flanneries health store, there isn’t any information on the bin ?,do you think it would be o k?. Thanks,- Bernie
Hi Michaela,
The idea of the post workout protein shake is that in the process of exercising you are breaking down muscle, which is then repaired during rest time. Your body uses protein to repair and rebuild itself. But having protein in the golden hour after a workout you are helping this process immensely. Admittedly you could have any form of protein but a protein powder is often more easily transported and on top of that digests more quickly than any other form.
Hi Jess.
What’s your thoughts on 180 protein powder (http://www.180nutrition.com.au/)?
I think this article is great place to start. It give us something interesting to think about and encourages us to pay attention. I didn’t get the sense that you were excluding other good brands that may be out there – just giving us some to check out. Thank for the information and all of the great comments! I love hearing all sides.
But I love my protein power!!!
Hi Jess,
I am very familiar with Vega. It is the best from all I have read and experienced. The ingredients are mostly raw , all whole vegan foods. Brendan Brazier, the maker and designer of VEGA is a brilliant young man and his books Thrive and The Thrive Diet describe the workings of nutrition during pre, post and active work outs.
Aout whey, dairy products are not very good foods for anyone. Calves fed pasteurized cows milk DIE in 6 months. That is a fact, so why would whey be good for us?
There are wonderful protein foods all around us and evidence of huge animals that eat those foods. Elephants, giraffes and gorillas eat green leaves and other plants, not animal protein, and are large healthy and long lived! All plant foods have protein and in a form that is easy on our bodies.
Thanks for all your wonderful articles. Very informative and needed.
Blessings on your journey,
Marty
Nice thought Marty however those large herbivores also spend most of their time grazing in order to gain adequate nutrition from their diet. Compare that with the carnivores and it tells you something about the nutrition value and efficiency of the food sources.
In addition, Elephants, Giraffes and Gorillas happen to have a different digestive tract to humans. They are a different species.
Garry, and we to carnivores. the 80-10-10 diet book is a great eye opener (the first few chapters hit me like a bus)
Hey Marty,
In regards to the calves dying from pasteurized milk from their mothers, I think that this is actually due to the way their digestive tract works. Cows cannot break down cellulose from the grasses they eat with out bacteria which are passed to them from their mothers in milk. Cows milk is actually designed to be habitable for bacteria for this reason (which makes it more dangerous for us as we don’t need, and have more trouble dealing with these lactobacterium in large doses). Human milk in comparison is designed to be relatively sterile. (feel free to correct me if i am wrong here anywhere, this is just off the top of my head, based on my studies in microbiology)
I am unsure of what opinion to take on dairy, on one hand it has important amino acids as well as weight maintenance properties, and on the other it seems to be an odd thing to be eating, and it causes allergies in so many people.
Unsure of all the facts but in short 2g per Kg of body weight is all the protein one requires to maintain muscle condition and recovery. Do the maths on your diet and you will be surprised of how much protein you are actually already consuming (assuming that your diet is a healthy one)…I used to take protein powder after exercise for recovery but found I recover and maintain muscle without the need for powder drinks etc. Each to their own I suppose…just beware that overdoing protein intake from wheys and the like can increase blood acidity and to combat this the body neutralises it by releasing calcium from bones….therefore reducing bone strength. Just don’t overdo it if you are doing protein supplements eat healthy…excercise properly and regulary and be happy with how you look … ride hard all…:)
Love this post Jess, thanks so much for writing about protein powder! Just made my fiance read it and he’s gone and dug out the tub of Vital greens he bought a while ago but had since retired to the back of the fridge.
I think im going to win the protein powder war finally!
Protein poweder is not that bad, it helps mantain your muscles. Your organs, and your immune system are made up mostly of protein. Sure you can get protein from the other sources you mentioned but the ones you have outlined are all incomplete proteins 
Think of your body like a Lego set and you try and build and repair with half the parts- that’s why vegetarians are more prone to getting sick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whey_protein
All the best
Hi Brian,
I have been vegan/vegetarian for the past 4 years and I get sick far less than when I ate meat. It is false to say that vegetarians are more prone to getting sick. It’s the opposite actually. When someone eats a varied plant-based diet, they prevent sickness because their diet is usually loaded with nutrient-, fibre-, phytonutrient-dense foods. Yes, our bodies do need protein, but not as much as people think. Too much protein in the diet causes more harm than good putting pressure on the kidneys and creating acidity. Vegans and vegetarians consume more than enough protein. I eat only vegetables, fruits and a little whole grains and my protein levels are always perfect.
The proteins I have outlined are not incomplete:
Spirulina is about 60% complete protein. Compare this to beef or chicken, which have approximately 25% protein each. ‘Complete’ protein means that it contains all eight of the essential amino acids that our bodies require to thrive. It has 10 other non-essential amino acids that play important supporting roles in good health.
Hemp seeds contain 10 essential amino acids in nutritionally significant amounts, making it a complete protein. This protein also has a similar cellular structure to a protein manufactured in human blood, making it easily digestible.
Not quite right with the complete protein definition Jess. A complete protein is one that not only contains all of the “essential” amino acids but it must also contain them in the correct balance (ratios).
Hemp (like pea and rice proteins) may contain all essential amino acids however they are not in adequate ratios so they are incomplete proteins like all other plant based protein sources other than Amaranth , Quinoa and Spirulina. This is precisely why vegetarians more than any others are encouraged to obtain protein from a variety of sources in their diet …. because all but a few sources have an inadequate amino acid profile to meet the essential requirements of the body and using multiple sources will generally overcome the deficiencies of single source plant proteins.
The most important factor tat is missed in this plant v animal protein debate is that the critical factor is not how much protein you consume .. it is how much protein your body absorbs that is important. ALL nutritional research (that’s 100% of it) shows that plant based proteins have significantly lower bioavailability than animal sourced proteins (such as whey, eggs or beef)…..this is a fact that is indisputable. What this means for vegetarians and vegans is that they must understand that they not only consume mostly incomplete proteins (ie: deficient in essential amino acids) but any protein they do consume is also less bioavailable for their body to utilise.
I just wanted to add to the vegetable/animal protein question, that the following book provides detailed scientific evidence on this topic for anyone who’d like further information: http://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1932100385
nice photo!
Hi Jess,
I like your article. Whey Proteins can be confusing and not all products contain natural ingredients. In the same way that complementary medicines are often confusing, you dont always know the quality of the ingredients or the source. The spectrum of quality is long and with so many companies putting profits first (not the health of consumers), clinical trials and claims are often referenced, however the ingredient is a synthetic version of the actual ingredient used in the trial.
Not all Protein Powders are of equal quality and nutritional benefit. Informing the community and gaining healthy awareness to the quality of different products is not easy. Maybe this could start a healthy debate to inform the community of which ones are higher in quality and can be effective.
This is all part of the reason I founded MyWhey. Its a meal replacement formula and supporting program. With the meal replacement formula we engaged independent medical experts from the Centre for evidence based complementary medicine to do a complete evidence based assessment on the ingredients. We not only wanted to be natural and high in quality we wanted it to work. We use only 100% isolated Whey – high in Branch Chain Amino Acids. Its the best Isolated Whey we could buy in Australia (even when it comes to Isolated Whey there are a few sources). We then selected Organic Green tea (550ml) as the active ingredient. We use only natural Xylitol and Stevia, which are natural as the sweeteners. From there we chose only organic real Flavours (Vanilla Bean, Real Coffee Bean and Organic Cocoa). Because the food standards in Australia require a vitamin and mineral profile we do have a small amount (less than 5%) of vitamins. All the ingredients are natural, gluten free and where possible organic.
Our program is designed by psychologists, Doctors, nutritionists and researchers. The latest research shows that 95% of people who diet fail. In fact on average on average over 5 years following a diet people gain 115% of the starting weight. Our program is designed to be a long term lifestyle intervention. agains the latest research shows this is both more effective and safer in managing weight.
So to summarise I like your article. I’d like to see a comparison of which brands are good so as to really inform people and our community. What do you think?
Jess this another fabulous post, I have also been mostly vegan for 7 years and rarely get sick – my iron and protein levels are great and I have lots of energy.
Garry pls stop commenting – there always has to be one doesnt there…
I’m with Jess, however, Garry has a right to comment – if you don’t believe in freedom of speech for all then you don’t believe in it at all. My understanding is that we are the only species on the planet that regularly consumes breast milk from another species, let along after teething age.
What about Pea Protein Powder?
Hi Volume,
The Vital Greens protein that I listed is a pea protein.
Before using any powder you should research all the side effects. My dear friend (37 years old) has been in the hospital for 5 weeks now suffering from acute pancreatitis. She and her family follow a strict diet with their autistic son. The family and doctors were searching for answers and realized the Spirulina which she used to make shakes was the culprit.
Adverse Reactions
Infrequent: Nausea, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia
Rare: Cyanotoxin (e.g. anatoxin, saxitoxin, microcystins) contamination of AFA-algae and possibly Spirulina may cause hepatotoxicity, renal failure, neurotoxicity, seizures, respiratory arrest, acute pancreatitis, and cardiomyopathy.
She has a cyst the size of a softball on her pancreas, she’s been on a ventilator, has a feeding and drain tube, now has fluid in her lung and she’s still in ICU 5 weeks later.
PLEASE be careful what you put in your body.
I asked Charlotte Gerson (while we were at the clinic in TJ this month) if my husband (pancreatic cancer) could use Spirulina (after reading http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au/2011/10/super-spirulina/) to get some protein because it’s hard for him to eat most of the time. She was not in favor of it. Two days later Melissa’s mother told me they found out why she was in the hospital. We are following the Gerson therapy and completely believe in it. But if my husband had the same reaction Melissa had, he wouldn’t be alive today.
Wow! Thanks for the info on Spirulina Kristi. I hope your friend gets better. I’ve also read negative things hear and there about Spirulina but I had no idea it could lead to something so serious!
I just read an interesting point about protein powders on Dr Mercola’s site…..he says that ultra heated proteins increase the risk of colon cancer. He talks about all types of proteins, not just powders. But as I read his article, I recalled reading your article about various protein powders. I personally love the Raw protein powders made from brown rice protein. The raw is important because you know they haven’t been heated. I love the Garden of Life Raw Protein and Sun Warrior’s. Here is what Dr Mercola says: “Avoid protein powders which are exposed to ultra heat or heat/acid treatment. These often include protein isolates such as casein and whey isolates as well as soy, hemp and rice protein isolates.”
“Thank you, nice post! This was the thing I needed.”
Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my site something like that. Can I include a part of your post to my website?
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and web and this is really frustrating. A good site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
I know I’m a bit late in commenting on here – but I wanted to add my two cents. As someone who has studied exercise and health for three years at university – all of what I learned told me that commercial protein powders are not essential for someone going to the gym. For the average person with the average diet, they will get adequate protein from their food without having to supplement. If they are working out quite hard and feel the need to supplement – a drink made with skim milk powder is more than enough. And wayyyyyyyyyyyy cheaper. For vegans – we didn’t study veganism particularly, although in my opinion – what’s wrong with eating foods high in protein like quinoa, nuts and seeds? In my opinion, whole foods always win.
The Healthy Chef has created her own whey protein powder. All natural… using Pure Native Whey Protein, organic vanilla bean & stevia (natural plant derived sweetner) And that’s it! I ordered it off her website.
Native Whey protein is obtained through a very specific process that differs from standard whey protein: the proteins are extracted directly from skimmed milk using membrane technologies at low temperature (microfiltration and ultrafiltration). The state of the art low temperature process removes casein, fat and lactose to leave only the purest, most biologically active whey protein.