Consumer Reports has been delving into more studies on consumer goods that go into our bodies, rather than the characteristic cars, cell phones, washing machines and televisions. In addition to current reports on chicken nuggets (and their related fat and sodium content) and antidepressants, a new study establish in their July issue takes on protein drinks and sends a warning about the quantity of protein and lead contaminants found in these popular beverages.

Consumer Reports tested 15 protein drinks and establish that all the products had at least one example containing one or more of the following detrimental ingredients: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. In some cases, the amount of lead in a single daily serving of eight of the products exceeded California Proposition 65 levels, which would necessitate caution labels.

Protein drinks offer an easily ingested protein basis for low-carb dieters and for high-energy athletes. At the same time as serving recommendations differ from product to product, drinking numerous servings per day may provide considerably more protein than your body needs and may prevent you from getting other optional daily requirements from other sources (such as vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables). Additionally, manifold servings per day over a long period of time could have an unfavorable health effect, given the attendance of damaging metals which do not easily disperse over a period of time.

There is no system in place for the regulation of protein drinks. The Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) does not do any reviews prior to products coming on the market and their health claims are not confirmed or challenged. Consumers Reports “believes that the FDA’s oversight under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act is insufficient to make sure that protein drinks and other dietary supplements are consistently low in heavy metals and other contaminants. These ready-to-drink or powdered protein drinks are often marketed as meal replacements, and given the option that heavy metals are contaminating the products, care should be used overall, but mainly for growing children and teens and women who are pregnant or nursing.