Health
Protein powders and shakes contain high amounts of lead, new report says – a pharmacologist explains the data
A recent Consumer Reports study reveals that many protein powders contain hazardous levels of lead and other heavy metals, raising health concerns. Most plant-based products had higher contamination than animal-based ones. Consumers are urged to choose cautiously and regulate their intake.
Protein powders and shakes contain high amounts of lead, new report says – a pharmacologist explains the data
C. Michael White, University of Connecticut
Powder and ready-to-drink protein sales have exploded, reaching over US$32 billion globally from 2024 to 2025. Increasingly, consumers are using these protein sources daily.
A new study by Consumer Reports, published on Oct. 14, 2025, claims that some such protein products contain dangerously high levels of lead, as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic. At high levels, these substances have serious, well-documented health risks.
I am a clinical pharmacologist who has evaluated the heavy metal content of baby food, calcium supplements and kratom products. Lead and other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water, so achieving zero-level exposure would be impossible. Additionally, the level of lead exposure that Consumer Reports deems safe is significantly lower than those set by the Food and Drug Administration.
However, regardless of the safety cutoff, the study does show that a few products are delivering a concerningly high dose of heavy metals per serving.
How Consumer Reports did the study
The new study assessed 23 powder and ready-to-drink protein products from popular brands by sending three samples of each product to an independent commercial laboratory.
Consumer Reports considered anything over 0.5 micrograms per day from any single source to be above recommended maximum lead levels. That number comes from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which established recommended maximum levels for a variety of substances that could cause cancer or fetal harm.
It is significantly more conservative than the safety standard for lead exposure used by the FDA for drugs and supplements. The discrepancy is driven by Consumer Reports’ aspirational goals of very low exposure versus the more realistic but actionable requirements from the FDA.
According to the FDA, the limit for the amount of lead that a person should consume from any single dietary supplement product is 5 micrograms per day. That number is 10 times higher than the Consumer Report limit.
The FDA has another standard for the total daily amount of lead a person can safely consume from food, drugs and supplements combined. This number, called the Interim Reference Level, or IRL, for lead is based on concentrations of lead in the blood that are associated with negative health effects in different populations.
For people who could become pregnant, that level is 8.8 micrograms per day, and for children it’s 2.2 micrograms per day. For everyone else, it’s 12.5 micrograms per day. Every food, drug and dietary supplement that contains lead contributes to the total daily exposure, which should be less than this amount.
What the report found
The nonprofit advocacy group found that 16 of the 23 products it tested exceeded 0.5 micrograms, the level of lead in a standard serving that the organization deems safe.
Four of the 23 products exceeded 2.2 micrograms, the FDA’s cutoff for the total daily amount of lead children should consume. Two products contained 72% and 88%, respectively, of the total daily amount of lead that the FDA deems safe for pregnant women.
In addition, Consumer Reports found that two of the 23 products delivered more than what it considers a safe amount of cadmium per serving, and one had more arsenic than was recommended.
The organization’s safety cutoff for cadmium is 4.1 micrograms per day, and for arsenic it is 7 micrograms per day. These numbers align fairly closely with the FDA’s recommended exposure limit for cadmium and arsenic from a single product. For cadmium, the FDA’s limit is set at 5 micrograms per day for a given dietary supplement product and 15 micrograms per day for arsenic.
The study found that the source of protein was key: Plant-derived protein products had nine times the lead found in dairy proteins like whey, and twice as much as beef-based protein.
Where are these heavy metals coming from?
Lead and other heavy metals are present in high amounts in volcanic rock, which comes from molten rock called magma beneath the Earth’s surface. When volcanic rock is eroded, the heavy metals contaminate the local soil and water supply. What’s more, some crop plants are especially efficient at extracting heavy metals from the soil and placing them in the parts of the plants that consumers ingest.
Fossil fuels, which come from deep within the Earth, also billow heavy metals into the air when they are burned. These substances then settle out into the soil and water. Finally, some fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides also contain heavy metals that can further contaminate soil and local water.
High levels of heavy metals have been found in plant-based protein powder, spices like cinnamon, dark chocolate, root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, rice, legumes such as pea pods and many herbal supplements.
Should consumers be concerned? And what can they do?
Occasionally exceeding the daily recommended heavy metal doses is unlikely to result in serious health issues.
Repeated, heavy exposure to heavy metals can cause harm, however. When they accumulate in the blood, these substances can delay or impair mental functioning, damage nerves, soften bones and raise blood pressure – which in turn increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Heavy metals can also increase the risk of developing cancer.
It’s important to note that all the products Consumer Reports flagged have lead levels significantly lower than the maximum daily exposure levels established by the FDA.
Consumers can limit exposure by choosing dairy- or animal-based sources of protein products, since they generally seemed to have less heavy metal contamination than plant-based ones. However, some plant-based protein products in the study did not have high levels of heavy metals. Heavy metal levels vary widely in the environment, so the results from the Consumer Reports study show a snapshot in time. They might not be consistently accurate across batches if, for example, a manufacturer changes the source of its raw ingredients.
For protein products that do show an especially high heavy metal content, using them more sporadically, rather than daily, can reduce exposure. Studies suggest that organic plant-based products generally yield less heavy metal content than traditionally farmed ones.
Finally, the Consumer Reports study measured heavy metals in a single serving of protein products, so it’s helpful to understand what constitutes a serving for specific products and to avoid sharply increasing daily consumption.
Overall, the wide variation in lead levels across different protein powders and ready-made protein products highlights the need for manufacturers to tighten product testing and good manufacturing practices.
C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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health and wellness
Navigating Cholesterol: What You Need to Know for a Healthy Heart
Navigating Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a crucial substance for the body but can pose risks when levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol are too high. The American Heart Association emphasizes regular screenings, healthy lifestyle choices, and informed care to manage cholesterol and reduce heart disease risks. Early screening in children is also vital for long-term health.
Last Updated on April 29, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Navigating Cholesterol: What You Need to Know for a Healthy Heart
(Feature Impact) With so much information available, it can be difficult to understand what cholesterol is – and why it’s important.
Knowing your personal risk of developing heart disease and managing your cholesterol early through healthy habits, regular screening and informed care is key for heart and brain health.
This advice from the American Heart Association can help you understand why cholesterol matters, how to manage it and how lifestyle habits may affect your long-term heart health.
Cholesterol is Essential
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found throughout your body. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs for important jobs, such as helping to build cells and make certain hormones. The concern is having too much “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Having enough “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) in your blood can help reduce your risk.
“Cholesterol itself isn’t the enemy – our bodies need moderate levels to function,” said Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FAHA, chair of the 2026 Dyslipidemia Guideline writing group and an American Heart Association national volunteer expert and cardiologist. “The goal is balance. Healthy lifestyle habits are a powerful step in keeping LDL cholesterol in a healthy range and protecting your heart and brain over the long term.”
Cholesterol in Your Blood vs. Cholesterol in Food
Too much blood cholesterol – the type measured on a cholesterol test – can cause plaque buildup in arteries (atherosclerosis), increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke. Blood cholesterol levels are influenced by overall eating patterns, lifestyle habits, genetics and other health factors, not just the cholesterol found in foods. Enjoy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, unsaturated fats and lean proteins as part of an overall healthy eating pattern. Limit ultra-processed foods that are high in saturated fats, added sugars and sodium.
Know Your Numbers and Understand Your Risk
Adults ages 19 and older should have their cholesterol checked at least every five years, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
A lipid profile, or cholesterol test, is a blood test that will provide results for your HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total blood cholesterol. Other risk factors like age, family history, smoking status and more should also be considered to determine your risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Work with your health care professional to understand your results and design a treatment plan based on your risk.
Managing Cholesterol: Lifestyle is Essential
For many people, healthy lifestyle habits are the foundation of cholesterol management. Eating a nutritious diet, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, avoiding tobacco products and managing blood pressure and blood sugar can all help support heart health.
Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
In addition to healthy lifestyle habits, some people may require cholesterol-lowering medication based on their overall risk of developing heart disease or stroke. If side effects occur, talk with a health care professional. Another medication or approach may be a better fit, and staying on the recommended treatment plan can support long-term heart health.
Cholesterol in Children
High cholesterol doesn’t just affect adults. It can begin in childhood, particularly for children with inherited conditions or other risk factors, which is why early screening is important.
Cholesterol screening is recommended for children not previously screened between the ages of 9-11 to help assess risk and guide care, along with kickstarting wellness habits such as prioritizing healthy foods, daily exercise and adequate sleep. These small lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke through adulthood.
For more information and heart health resources, visit Heart.org/KnowYourCholesterol.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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health and wellness
HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research
Using a HEPA air purifier at home for one month was linked to a small but significant boost in executive function for adults 40+, according to new research on traffic-related air pollution.
Nicholas Pellegrino, University of Connecticut; Doug Brugge, University of Connecticut, and Misha Eliasziw, Tufts University
HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research
Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older. That’s the result of a new study we co-authored in the journal Scientific Reports.
HEPA purifiers – HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air – remove particulate matter from the air. Exposure to particulate matter has been connected to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Environmental health researchers increasingly recommend that people use HEPA air purifiers in their homes to lower their exposure to particulate matter, but few studies have examined whether using them boosts mental function.
We analyzed data from a study of 119 people ages 30 to 74 living in Somerville, Massachusetts. Somerville sits along Interstate 93 and Route 28, two major highways, resulting in relatively high levels of traffic-related air pollution. This makes it an especially good location for testing the health effects of air purifiers.
We randomly assigned participants to one of two groups. One used a HEPA air purifier for one month and then a sham air purifier – which looked and acted like the real thing but did not contain the air-cleaning filter – for one month, with a monthlong break in between. The second group used the real and sham purifiers in reverse order.
After each month, participants took a test that measured different aspects of their mental capacity. The test probed people’s visual memory and motor speed skills by measuring how quickly they could draw lines between sequential numbers, and it tested executive function and mental flexibility by asking them to draw lines between alternating sequential numbers and letters.
We found that participants 40 years and older – about 42% of our sample – on average completed the section testing for mental flexibility and executive function 12% faster after using the HEPA purifier than after using the sham purifier. That was true even when we accounted for factors like differences in the amount of time participants spent indoors, with either filter, as well as how stressful they found the test.
This improvement may seem small, but it is similar to the cognitive benefits that people experience from increasing their daily exercise. While you may not experience a sudden increase in clarity from a 12% boost, preventing cognitive decline is vital for long-term well-being. Even small decreases in cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of death. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CKpg3qCMXi4?wmode=transparent&start=0 Studies increasingly show that air pollution can be detrimental to brain health.
Why it matters
Air pollution can negatively affect mental function after just a few hours of exposure. Studies show that air purifiers are effective at reducing particulates, but it’s unclear whether these reductions can prevent cognitive harm from ongoing pollution sources like traffic. Research has been especially lacking in people living near major sources of air pollution, such as highways.
People living near highways or major roadways are exposed to more air pollution and also experience higher rates of air pollution-related diseases. These risks aren’t encountered by all Americans equally: People of color and low-income people are more likely to live near highways or areas with heavy traffic.
Our study shows that HEPA air purifiers may offer meaningful health benefits under these circumstances.
What still isn’t known
Research shows that air pollution begins to affect cognitive function especially strongly around age 40. These effects may become increasingly prominent as people age.
HEPA air purifiers may therefore be especially beneficial for older adults. Our study did not explore this possibility, as fewer than 10 of our 119 participants were over the age of 60.
Also, our participants only used a HEPA air purifier for one month. It’s possible that longer durations of air purification may sustain or even increase the improvement in cognitive function we observed in our study.
Finally, it is unclear exactly how air purifiers improve cognition. Some studies suggest that exposure to particulate matter reduces the amount of the brain’s white matter, which helps brain cells conduct electrical signals and maintains connections between brain regions. The brain regions most harmed by air pollution are the ones that control mental flexibility and executive function, the same domains in which we saw improvements in our study.
We plan to study whether reducing particulate matter by using air purifiers is indeed protecting the brain’s white matter, and whether it could reverse some cognitive decline. We will explore that possibility by studying how levels of molecules called metabolites, which cells produce as they do their jobs, change in response to breathing polluted air and air cleaned by a HEPA filter.
The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.
Nicholas Pellegrino, Research Associate in Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut; Doug Brugge, Professor of Public Health Science and Community Medicine, University of Connecticut, and Misha Eliasziw, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
Lifestyle
Stopping the ‘Silent Killer:’ How to Check, Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure
Stopping the Silent Killer: High blood pressure poses significant health risks for people of all ages, but there are effective ways to both prevent and manage this “silent killer” by working with a health care professional to make lifestyle changes.
Stopping the ‘Silent Killer:’ How to Check, Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure
(Feature Impact) High blood pressure poses significant health risks for people of all ages, but there are effective ways to both prevent and manage this “silent killer” by working with a health care professional to make lifestyle changes.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is when the force of blood flowing through blood vessels is consistently too high. This condition makes the heart work harder than normal and can damage arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and other health problems.
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke and heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Strengthening evidence also shows high blood pressure is linked to risk of cognitive decline and dementia, which is why the American Heart Association is working to increase awareness and encourage people to manage blood pressure. Protect your heart and brain both now and in the future with this information and wellness advice.
Who Can Have High Blood Pressure?
Anyone can develop high blood pressure, which is why it’s encouraged for everyone – in all age groups, including children and young adults – to have their blood pressure checked at annual physicals or wellness checkups. For those with a history of high blood pressure or risk factors for developing the condition, more frequent measurements may be recommended.
Major risk factors for high blood pressure include excess weight, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption and a diet high in sodium and low in potassium.
Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure and many don’t even know it. Of those with high blood pressure, about 75% don’t have the condition under control. Because it typically shows no symptoms, it’s often called a “silent killer.”
How is Blood Pressure Checked?
To get the best blood pressure reading, sit in a chair with support for your back with both feet flat on the ground.
Use a validated, automatic, cuff-style, upper-arm monitor. Remove clothing over the arm that will be used and rest for at least 5 minutes. Extend your arm and support it at heart level while staying quiet and still then take multiple readings and record the results. Aim to measure at the same time each day.
For most adults, a normal blood pressure reading should be less than 120/80 mm Hg.
What Happens After a High Blood Pressure Diagnosis?
Recognizing and taking quick action to control high blood pressure can significantly lower the risk of severe health consequences, including heart attack and stroke, and improve overall health. If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, work with a health care professional to design a treatment plan that works for you. It may include lifestyle changes to your diet or activity levels or medication.
How Can High Blood Pressure Be Prevented or Managed?
Preventing high blood pressure is possible. Talk with a health care professional to create a plan that works for you, which may include small steps like eating a heart-healthy diet, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight.
For those diagnosed with high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight by staying active (at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week) and eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains are important. Even losing 5% of your weight can help improve blood pressure.
It’s also important to reduce or avoid alcohol consumption and tobacco use. Consider stress-reducing activities, including meditation, breathing control or yoga. For many individuals, adhering to prescribed medications is essential to effectively control blood pressure and reduce the risk of serious health complications.
To learn more about blood pressure management and how to check it properly, visit heart.org/bp.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
