Fitman, owner of the Fitman Performance & Physique Center in Abington, knows the importance of protein.

“Without clean protein, whether from food or powder, you end up weaker, softer, and short on muscle. Protein is one of the three macronutrients required to build a top-flight physique,” he said. “Specifically, protein builds and repairs muscle so that you can get strong and jacked. But recently, a Consumer Reports study found that many protein powders on the market are contaminated with lead. This is not great news. Protein is important but not at the expense of consuming excessive amounts of lead.”

The Value Of Protein Powder

Protein powder is one of if not the most valuable supplement on the market.

“There is not anything magical about powdered protein,” Fitman said. “You don’t drink a protein shake and all of a sudden go from Peter Parker to Symbiote Spider-Man.”

“Despite what some of the fake hustle marketing from the late 1990s and early 2000s told you, you won’t look like an IFBB pro bodybuilder by just drinking protein shakes. To gain that type of extreme size requires something just a tad more powerful than whey protein,” Fitman said.

That said, many novice lifters and athletes find it difficult to reach their protein requirements for the day. The reason why protein powder is so valuable for lifters and athletes is that it helps them reach their protein goals easier.

“Let’s say you are trying to eat 150 grams of protein a day,” Fitman said. “A serving of protein powder containing 30g of protein takes care of 20 percent of your protein requirements in that scenario. Getting to 120 grams of protein in food is now easier to reach instead of eating the entire 150 grams in pure food. For a beginner, eating 1.5lbs of lean meats a day can present a massive challenge.”

“But if your protein powder contains high amounts of heavy metals, you will naturally avoid it. I would definitely avoid it if I knew it was laced with lead! I’m not trying to be out here looking like the three-eyed fish from the Simpsons,” Fitman said laughing. “Regular exposure to heavy metals like lead or cadmium can damage your kidneys, disrupt hormones, and slow your muscle recovery. But all hope is not lost.”

Better Brands

There are clean protein powder brands that go through a more thorough manufacturing process.

“If you check out the recent testing by Consumer Reports, there are a couple brands that were low risk in terms of lead exposure,” Fitman said. “The primary brand of protein powder that I currently use is Levels. Outside of Levels having a great taste and excellent macros, Levels is Clean Label Project certified.”

From the Clean Label Project website, they state: “The Clean Label Project Purity Award dives deep, testing for hidden high levels of toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, and plasticizers not listed on labels. By comparing the test results of products against best-sellers, we reveal which brands go the extra mile to reduce harmful chemicals.”

“Having this certification gives me more peace of mind that Levels is a clean whey protein brand and I’m not drinking chocolate lead powder,” Fitman said.

The Last Rep

“Protein is non-negotiable if you want a great body, great performance, or great health. But make sure you do your due diligence on what protein powder you want to consume,” Fitman said. “You want safe protein powder brands, not ones that hit your body like kryptonite hits Superman.”

“If you are ready to take control of your nutrition, supplements, and training my 21-Day Fit program is the ideal starting place.”

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