protein powder Archives - Amazing Health Advances

WARNING: Your Protein Powder Might be Loaded with Toxic Heavy Metals

The AHA! Team — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:03:04 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Protein supplements are a big business in the United States. In 2023, the market exceeded $9.69 billion. As more people strive to improve their health, lose weight, and get more fit, this figure is expected to continue climbing. The general consensus among consumers is that protein supplements are “natural,” and since they are typically found in health food stores and wellness sites, then they must be safe. But are they? The Clean Label Project’s Protein Category analyzed 160 products from 70 of the leading brands for protein supplements. The 2024-25 Protein Powder Category Report provides vital data regarding some concerning ingredients and potential contaminants that consumers should know before taking them. The results are eye-opening. An alarming 47% of the products tested exceeded the toxic metal safety threshold set forth by California Proposition 65. In simple terms, most of the protein supplements tested were potentially unsafe. Understanding proposition 65: Context for the findings To put the findings in context, you have to understand Proposition 65. This California law has a list of chemicals maintained by the state. These chemicals are believed to cause reproductive harm or cancer in humans. Businesses must place warning labels on foods containing these chemicals at levels that exceed the “safe” levels set forth by the law. The Proposition 65 list contains many synthetic and natural chemicals commonly found as ingredients or additives in solvents, dyes, household products, pesticides, drugs, and food. These chemicals may be used in manufacturing or as a byproduct of a chemical process, such as fumes or exhaust. Key findings from the study The study tested 160 products from 70 popular brands for 258 heavy metals and chemicals, focusing on heavy metals and bisphenols. The analysis yielded a total of 35,863 findings. 47% of all tested products exceeded state or federal safety regulations, including Proposition 65. 21% of all products contained more than double the acceptable levels of lead as defined by Proposition 65. Organic protein powders: 79% exceeded Proposition 65 levels for lead. 41% contained over twice the acceptable levels of lead. Plant-based protein powders: 77% exceeded Proposition 65 levels for lead. Whey protein powders: 28% exceeded Proposition 65 levels for lead. Collagen protein powders: 26% exceeded Proposition 65 levels for lead. Chocolate protein powders: 65% exceeded Proposition 65 levels for lead. 29% contained over twice the acceptable levels of lead. These findings highlight significant safety concerns regarding heavy metal contamination in protein powders, particularly in organic, plant-based, and chocolate varieties. What should you look for in a protein powder? The analysis revealed that plant-based protein powders had the highest levels of contaminants, while whey-based protein powders showed the lowest levels. If you’re looking for a safer option, choosing a product with minimal contaminants is key. For added peace of mind, consider buying from Clean Label Project Certified companies. Some trusted brands include: Genetic Nutrition Gorilla Formula 23 Nutrabox Oziva Puori Ritual Wellbeing Nutrition Wicked Protein You can also visit the Clean Label Project website to learn about more certified products and make informed health choices. Editor’s note: I highly recommend LuvByNature Grazing Goat Whey Protein – which comes from goats that graze – 365 days per year – on pesticide and chemical free pastures. No hormones, antibiotics or pesticides are used – ever. This product is non-GMO and gluten free. Sources for this article include: Cleanlabelproject.org Health.com Oehha.ca.gov To read the original article click here.

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Going Bananas for Leaves as New Source of Protein Powder

The AHA! Team — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 06:44:54 +0000

Yulia Karra via Israel21c – Day 8’s cost-effective method to extract RuBisCO protein from crop leaves could become the ultimate plant-based meat replacement. “I’ve always loved proteins,” says Michal Mayer with a sincere smile on her face. “You don’t dedicate your life to this if you don’t love proteins,” the biochemist and head protein researcher at Day 8 tells ISRAEL21c. Day 8 was established in July 2023 by scientists-turned-entrepreneurs Daniel Rejzner, CEO, and Dana Marom, CTO. This Israeli startup specializes in extracting RuBisCO plant protein, coveted by the food industry, from discarded leaves. RuBisCO RuBisCO (short for ribulose 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is stored in all green leaves and is considered the most abundant enzyme on Earth. Unlike many other plant proteins, RuBisCO is complete, rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, nutrients, minerals and antioxidants. Until a few years ago, there has been a lack of information about the applications of RuBisCO, vis-a-vis human consumption. Recently, the plant-based market industry has been adapting RuBisCO as a sustainable source of protein and commercializing it. But progress is slow due to high production costs. This is where Day 8 comes in. It’s bananas! The Rehovot-based company developed the first-of-its-kind approach to extracting RuBisCO protein powder from discarded crop leaves, focusing primarily on banana leaves. “Bananas have an advantage when it comes to the supply chain because they grow all year round,” explains Marom, a biochemist with 20 years of experience in the food industry. “Banana cultivation is one of the most prevalent in the world, while its leaves are very large and strong, so we’re not in the race against time when collecting these leaves,” she says. Israel does not import bananas, so local cultivation is done at a large scale. This has helped Day 8 clinch agreements with three major domestic banana growers struggling due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Rejzner, who has a degree in physics, says the leaf-collection process doesn’t require any changes to the farmers’ routines. “Farmers are not the biggest fans of innovation, and normally aren’t open to partnerships,” he says, but Day 8’s noninvasive approach was welcomed by them. Eco-conscious agenda One of the main advantages of Day 8’s method is that it eliminates the cost associated with growing raw materials only to extract protein from them, such as soybeans. “We knew that working with waste would make us cost competitive and make it easier to scale up,” notes Rejzner. The method has the potential to recycle up to 2.7 trillion tons of the unwanted leaf biomass, helping the food industry reduce its environmental footprint. “It’s basically taking trash and extracting raw material from agricultural lands that were seemingly emptied,” says Marom. This goes hand-in-hand with the eco-conscious agenda of Marom and Rejzner. Both founded successful startups in the past, but decided to enter a business sphere that they believe will ultimately change the world for the better. In fact, the name “Day 8” is rooted in the belief that the world was created in seven days, and on the eighth day, it became “our responsibility to protect and nurture it.” “On this symbolic eighth day, we find our purpose – to safeguard the planet and its resources by revolutionizing the way we produce and consume food,” says the company’s mission statement. The alternative to the alternatives Despite the alternative protein market currently being valued at $18 billion, it faces a host of challenges, primarily taste, which despite the industry’s best efforts is still incomparable to animal-based protein. The founders say that thanks to Day 8’s unique process, the extracted protein is completely taste-neutral. Additionally, the extracted product is 100% natural, unlike some alternative proteins that involve genetic modification of the host plant. Marom explains the consistency of the Day 8 protein powder is exactly the same as the consistency of the protein derived from eggs. Rejzner adds that Day 8 products can also serve as a potential replacement for whey protein, a byproduct of cheese production widely used in the fitness industry. “Our product is absorbed better by the body, it’s hypoallergenic, vegan, cheaper and has no aftertaste,” explains Rejzner. The same properties are applied to plant-based dairy alternatives created with Day 8 products, such as vegan milk, cheese and yogurt. Marom notes that plant-based dairy alternatives often have an endless list of ingredients, most of which are added to emulate the consistency of animal-based dairy. “Oftentimes these products have a lot of fat and very little protein. Our goal is to minimize that list of ingredients; less chemical ingredients and more healthy ones.” The Kitchen The company currently has five full-time and two part-time employees, working in partnership with food-tech incubator and investor The Kitchen FoodTech Hub. The Kitchen Hub last year launched The Kitchen Labs, an innovation center for startups, with the support of the Israeli Innovation Authority. This is where the Day 8 labs are currently located. With initial funding of $750,000 from The Kitchen Hub, the startup has now opened a seed round to raise an additional $2 million to take the product to market within two years. The first target market is the United States, which has both a larger consumer market share and relatively lenient food regulations. “Once it’s approved by the FDA, it will be easier to get approval in Europe and Israel,” adds Marom. For more information, click here. To read the original article click here.

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Pesto Zucchini Noodle Dinner & How to Eat Plant-Based Keto Zone

AHA Publisher — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 07:00:15 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Keto Zone is a high fat, low-carbohydrate diet and lifestyle that uses ketones in the body instead of glucose for fuel and energy. There are many health, focus, and energy benefits to this. However, did you know that Keto Zone can be plant-based? If you’d like, you can make it 100% vegan, a looser vegetarian, or mostly plant-based with select animal products. Here’s how to eat plant-based Keto Zone, and one of our favorite recipes to get you started. Plant-Powered Keto Zone Pesto Zucchini Noodle Dinner Ingredients 4 medium zucchinis 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup thinly sliced red bell peppers (optional) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dry) 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh black pepper ground PESTO: Keto Zone Pesto (see recipe) Optional: fresh basil leaves Instructions Prepare zucchini noodles: Slice off the ends of the zucchini. Using a food spiralizer to make the ‘noodles’ by twisting the entire zucchini through the device. If you don’t have a spiralizer, slice zucchini strips as thinly as possible. Then, cut down zucchini for shorter noodles. Prepare Keto Zone pesto (omit cheese). Next, heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat until warm. Add tomatoes, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add the zucchini noodles and pesto and mix gently. Stir and heat until noodles and pesto are warmed through, just 1-2 minutes. Serve either warm or cold. Why Choose Plant-Based Keto Zone? While not everyone wants to follow a plant-based plan, many people do for cost savings, environmental reasons, to make a strong push against high cholesterol, and more. And what’s more, many non-vegan meat-eating Keto Zone eaters still eat many, many plant foods. Either way, it’s worthwhile to find out which foods make great plant-based keto options, and how to get the protein and healthy fats you need from plans if you forego the animal products. How to Eat Plant-Based Keto Zone There’s great news. You can get into the Keto Zone with a healthy plant-based Keto Zone plan. And, you can do so while getting all the healthy fat and protein nutrients you need for overall health. Here’s what to eat. Start With Fats: Plant-Based Keto Zone Fats Keto Zone starts with fats. Here are great healthy fat options: Extra-virgin olive oil and olives MCT oil or MCT oil powder Coconut meat and coconut oil Avocado and avocado oil Nuts and seeds (see list below) Plant-Based Keto Zone Proteins While proteins make up only a small percentage of Keto Zone calories (just 15-20%), they are still imporant. Proteins provide nutrients that support cell health and repair, metabolism, hormones, and more. Some great plant-based Keto Zone proteins include: Nuts and Seeds Pecans Brazil nuts Macadamia nuts Walnuts Chia seeds Flax seeds (make sure they’re ground) Hemp seeds Sunflower seeds Pumpkin seeds Each 1/4 cup of hemp seeds gives you healthy fats and a protein boost! Edamame and Tempeh Natural edamame is a great source of protein (although it’s best to avoid an overload of processed soy-fortified foods). Choose edamame, organic tofu, and tempeh. You can eat them roasted, dry roasted, and in salads. Each 1/2 cup of edamame can give you an 8.5-gram boost! When choosing edamame and tempeh, make sure they contain no added flavors, seasoning, or grains that increase the carbs. Also, choose non-GMO and organic. Avoid soybean-based processed foods as these often have sugars, carbs, MSG, and other ingredients added. Vegan Protein Powders It can be difficult to find a high-protein low-carb powder with good, wholesome ingredients. But look no further, as Dr. Colbert’s Protein Supremefood delivers all of this. It is an organic-based, non-GMO, brown rice- and pea-based protein powder. It only has 1 gram of net carbs per serving and is fortified with health-promoting ginger and turmeric. What’s more, it delivers a whopping 15 grams of protein per serving! Non-Vegan Options Even while eating plant-based, many vegetarians will still include eggs, dairy, or other proteins as desired. If this is the case, local free-range eggs, plain Greek yogurt and cream, and hydrolyzed collagen powder are great protein sources. Plant-Based Keto Dairy Next, if you’re looking for plant-based keto-friendly milk and/or dairy substitute, there are now many to choose from. Try: Coconut milk or cream, cashew milk, or almond milk (with little or no preservatives and no sugars) Vegan butter with healthy oils like olive oil Cashew cream or low-carb vegan cheeses made with healthy oils Coconut or cashew yogurt (unsweetened) Vegan Keto Carbs: Tons of Low-Carb Veggies Lastly, try to overflow your diet with healthful leafy greens and low-carb vegetables when you’re in the Keto Zone, whether plant-based or not. You can include: Artichokes Asparagus Avocados Artichokes Baby bok choy Bell peppers Broccoli and cauliflower Brussels sprouts Cabbage Celery Collard Greens Cucumbers Edamame Eggplant Fennel Garlic and onions Herbs like basil, mint, oregano, parsley and more Leafy greens, spinach, and kale Mushrooms Okra Onions Radishes Swiss Chard Turnips Zucchini You can also add a small number of fruits like berries (~1/4 cup per day), and/or use Red and Green Supremefood for a Keto Zone fruit and vegetable boost! Healthy Plant-Based Keto Drinks And of course, there are many plant-based Keto Zone drinks that nourish your body. In addition to water throughout the day, add black tea, green tea, and coffee for great brain-health, metabolism, and whole-body health benefits. Bottom Line If you want to eat a plant-based Keto Zone diet, you can certainly do it! You can get in the Keto Zone, without any animal products or only a select few you want to include. The Keto Zone is a wonderful and highly effective healthy eating plan that works well either way! To read the original article click here. For more articles by Dr. Colbert click here.

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