Protein powders have become a wellness staple – the go-to answer for everything from building muscle to ‘getting enough protein.’
But despite their popularity, these powdered supplements may not be as healthy or safe as we think.
In fact, one medical expert says they could be doing more harm than good – and in some cases, manufacturers don’t even know what’s in them.
‘I can tell you for a fact that advertised vs. actual amounts varied wildly,’ Dr. Khameinei Ali, an MD who also happens to be an MBA (Cambridge), MPH (Harvard), President of the Westchester County Medical Society, and a board certified clinical informaticist, told DailyMail.com.
Before medical school, he even worked as an analytical chemist for the Department of Defense, analyzing over-the-counter supplements for accuracy.
His biggest concern? That protein powder labels aren’t telling the full story – and the regulations in place aren’t strong enough to protect consumers.
‘The main issue with protein powders is that we don’t know what’s in them or if they contain the advertised amounts,’ Dr. Ali said.
‘Most importantly, the manufacturers may not know what’s in them.’
Protein powders get regulated at much less stringent standards than other food and drugs (stock image)
Unlike prescription medications or even standard food products, protein powders fall into a legal gray zone.
Dr. Ali explained that these protein powders are regulated mostly by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and only partly by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Plus, they get inspected under much less stringent standards than food and drugs.
‘This opens them up to all sorts of misleading labeling and extremely poor industry standards,’ Dr. Ali said.
Translation: That expensive, vanilla-flavored powder you picked up because it said ‘clean’ or ‘lab-tested’? There’s a good chance it was neither.
‘There is very little to any independent laboratory verification of contents and authenticity of claims,’ he added.
‘Unfortunately, that means they could contain all sorts of toxic chemicals and byproducts.’
Beyond the risk of inaccurate protein counts, powders derived from whey, soy, or hemp often include extra ingredients you probably didn’t sign up for.
Protein powders raise concerns about long-term safety because of their inclusion of additives, sugars, and even toxins (stock image)
‘These powders… frequently contain hidden additives, added sugars, and even toxins like heavy metals and BPA – up to 25 times the safe limit according to independent tests,’ he said.
This raises concerns about long-term safety.
If that sounds terrifying, it’s because it is – and the lax oversight doesn’t help.
‘Again, the FDA doesn’t regulate them closely, leaving consumers in the dark about what’s really in each scoop,’ he emphasized.
In most cases, it’s probably a good idea to ditch the protein powder – especially if you’re generally healthy and using protein powder to meet vague fitness goals.
The expert advises against using them unless a medical professional tells you to.
‘Unless medically supervised – such as for post-surgical healing, cancer recovery, or advanced frailty – I advise sticking to whole food sources like eggs, dairy, legumes, and lean meats in most cases,’ Dr. Ali said.
And if you have underlying conditions, like kidney disease, the stakes are even higher.
‘Toxins aside, people with kidney disease have to monitor their protein intake to prevent further damage,’ he said.
Until tighter regulations are in place and independent testing becomes standard, your safest bet is to stick with real food.
Whole eggs and chicken breast may not come in chocolate flavor, but at least you know what’s in them.
