People seem to love to use powders (and pills), even when they're downright dangerous. Think of Lance Armstrong taking erythropoietin to boost his red blood cell production and baseball all-stars Steve Howe and Dwight Gooden, who ruined their careers with cocaine.
But we want to call your attention to the health-threatening powders used by millions of Americans who are concerned about eating enough protein as they age, or those who are pushing hard to bulk up their muscle mass and strength. A new lab study in Nature Metabolism found that mice (and the researchers feel it applies equally to humans) who consume protein powders that are rich in branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs - and most are - put themselves at risk for everything from mood swings caused by shifts in serotonin levels to uncontrolled hunger, obesity and even early death.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic say that is in addition to the risk of getting too much protein in your diet (easy to do with protein powders), which can lead to elevated lousy LDL cholesterol and heart and kidney disease.
On top of that, last year a study found that some protein powders contain high levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium, BPA (an endocrine disruptor in plastics) and even pesticides. (Check out www.cleanlabelproject.org to find which ones did.)
So, to boost your strength, stick with plant-based proteins from legumes, 100% whole grains, nuts, seeds and veggies like broccoli and kale. Choose safe, lean, animal-based proteins from foods such as salmon and sea trout.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Read more http://cdn.kingfeatures.com/rss/feed/editorial/index.php?content=YouDocTips_20190701