I've been enjoying Vega for years and was very disturbed by this study, ended up writing them a very straightforward letter saying I won't be buying it ever again until they can certify they have safe heavy metal levels, and I sincerely look forward to that day, as Vega is delicious and one of the most nutritionally superior proteins out there. I suggest all other vegans do the same and maybe we can get some action out of them. Until then I'm just going to eat more lentils and get protein from one of the cleaner vegan brands. I'm open to suggestions for the cleanest, best tasting and most nutritious! Either way, still gonna keep making those Gorilla Gains...
I recommend tropeaka they have many different powders from protein powders, Acai, matcha, BCAA+, coconut water, goji and a lot more, the ingrediens are clean and tast amazing. I finally got my Package yesterday and got 9 products and I love it
I knew this about protein supplementation and I also heard there are virtually no guidelines or checks when it comes to supplements in general, so i'm sticking with whole foods...
Eelke Aptroot It's true, vitamins are supplements are unregulated in America. Independent testing by Consumer Reports has found high levels of arsenic, lead, etc and often much less of the stated ingredients in general. It's not just Vega. The industry itself is broken and unsafe.
Protein powders of any kind have never made me feel good after consumption. The heck with them all, I will stick to freshly juiced greens for my protein.
Nola Naye Hashimoto's can be reversed! Look into Dr. Brooke Goldner's work (Goodbye Lupus). I just did a free 3-session webinar hosted by her. She's great & has helped many patients reverse autoimmune & thyroid disorders :)
Iv been vegan for 5 years now. Doing high weight training for 3 years it was nice, but after I added in creatine boy oh boy workouts were amazing. Creatine is the only thing I use. I eat around 75-90g of protein a day. Most of that comes from oatmeal and broccoli 🤷♂️
hi nelson, they say you need a gram of protein per pound of body weight. looking at you in your pic youre consuming abut half of what you need daily. have you found those guidelines to be bullshit in your case? surely youve gained muscle mass in 3 years. plenty of it.
@@skyhighvids That is false. Too much protein is bad for you liver. Look at guys in prison. They are jacked and I'm pretty sure none are taking protein supplements or overeating.
This seriously sucks I’m a vegan and trucker so it is difficult for me to get to nutrient dense foods being on the road 90% of the time.The Vega protein shakes are very high in nutrients but now I have to worry about this bullshit ? Wtf Vega!
You can grind a bunch of seeds when you are at home and wack em in your oatmeal. A friend of mind always carries ground seeds in a jar, handy. You can also buy pure hemp or pea protein, those should be safer.
Do you have an updated video on this topic? Would love to know if there have been any other current studies and if there are any plant protein powders that are currently ok? Like almond protein?
lol in my after-school weight training class, we celebrate our accomplishments on super hard days with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! As far as I know, I'm the only vegan but it's great that our go-to pick me up is vegan and tasty!
I love peanuts and peanut butter but unfortunately I have trouble eating them as I get older (peanut butter is actually one of the leading choking hazards out there, most people are unaware of this). Most peanut butters are extremely gummy, and that's where the choking risk comes from. I like PB2 peanut powder in smoothies with a bit of cocoa powder and stevia.
For everyone looking for an alternative to Vega..the report did have one good vegan protein performer, Evolve protein powder in vanilla. I replaced my Vega with this!
Love the channel. I’m a personal trainer so I get asked these questions a lot . “What supplements should I take”. “Do I need a multivitamin”. “What about bcaas. Lol I can’t prescribe a diet so I tell them. Food is wealth and medicine, so eat what you need.
Valeri Ševtšenko if you already drank the Mic koolaid that's totally fine. But if you want to cross check the things you learn rather than to take it on faith... there are others people who offer strong counterpoints
Thank you so much for all of your unbiased, informative, and throughly researched videos. I recently became vegan and you have helped me in so many ways
VEGA recently took B12 out of their formula so I stopped getting it. I just take a vegan B12 tab now. I LOVE that you bring us the studies and do all our homework for us Mic!
I remember in 2011 the health ranger made an article about the garden of life and their protein powder. According to his data they had higher levels of basically every toxic compound even compared to fast food. His website is shit so i'm not sure on the validity of it but it definitely caused me to stop buying their products.
Not at all, it becomes very creamy in my mixer. But it probably depends on what kind of oats you use, and what type of blender you have, and how much water you use...
Mic. the Vegan when you see all our top elite vegan bodybuilding brothers. They have acne. And most take protein powders. Or other “sources “. Personally. It’s all genetics. All these supplements are garbage and unnatural to our bodies.
Horrifying! I'm actually more worried about lead in tea--which I was drinking by the bucketful until recently--but the research into toxic metal content in plant-based protein supplements is distressing, mostly because I presumed that higher-end companies have better quality controls. [sigh] Hope corporate heads over at Vega and GoL are aware of these stats and cleaning up. Interesting info about BCAAs, especially the decrease of protein synthesis aspect. TFP another intensive examination of things that concern health conscious vegans : )
Dr. Gregor indicates that lead in tea is only an issue if you eat the leaves. Lead stays in the leaves when it is brewed, and avoiding sourcing from China is wise. He addresses this about 3:20 before the end of this: facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org/videos/2075682179114947/
Geez, i do the Front Lever and Lseat as part of my workout and i eat just potatoes on somedays. Why so much protein, just listen to your body for what you are hungry for.
I’ve been Vegan since October 2017 and as of today I’m starting to train as if I was a bodybuilder, I’m doing everything the plant based vegan way and if you’d like to use me as a test subject, I’m all in for science 👍🏼
i'm really looking forward to more food supplement reviews. This is THE industry with the highest health claims notwithstanding the highest processing production process
Obviously, whole foods would be the best, with legumes you can get enough protein you need. But for me, it is kind of hard to eat 100% whole foods. Yeah, I am like the omni who says "I can't give up cheese, it tastes so good", only that I am vegan and does not want to give up processed foods (yet) and just not eating a perfect diet. So on an average day I barely meet the recommended 0,8 grams of protein per kg of bodyweight. As I am also trying to get stronger, this is not ideal. That's why I am now using protein powder from time to time. It's organic and I hope it does not has too much heavy metals in it, but will check that again. Was also thinking about getting BCAAs. I am not sure if just too much is harmful (like bodybuilders do with their 3g of protein per kg) or if it would be okay for me. I mean Leucin is an essential amino acid right? Please keep us updated on that topic and thank you for your videos, you are doing a great job! :)
I just wanted to add that this "report" is not substantiated in any way. They have not made their data publicly available and have no plans to publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal. They do not disclose where their funding comes from other than to say private donors. Their measure of lead, arsenic, and mercury includes the total amount including the non-toxic naturally occurring types (not to mention much of these contaminants are not fully absorbed when eating them in food). Also we don't even know the amounts or concentrations of any of these "contaminants" as they won't release the data. In addition, things like pesticides or solvents are not particularly toxic in low concentrations and are present in most every food we eat organic or not. And the nutritional quality rating is completely ridiculous. It's literally how many grams of protein do you get per scoop and says nothing of the amino acid profile or PDCAAS score or bio-availability, etc. Also the "independent lab" they claim to have used for the testing is not independent at all and seems to have been created for the non-profit to use. Seriously there is nothing scientific about this report and I would not change anything about what products I use based upon its arbitrary rating system. Its just another scare tactic label initiative looking to cash in on scientific illiteracy and paranoia.
Cucumber 0.011 mcg/g arsenic on average Strawberries 0.015 mcg/g cadmium on average Spinach 0.004 mcg/g lead on average That large cucumber you added to your salad, may contain 3.08mcg arsenic based on this study. If you’re enjoying 2 cups of strawberries as your afternoon snack, that would work out to 4.56mcg cadmium on average. Tossing 2 cups of spinach into your morning smoothie? That’s also tossing in 0.24mcg lead, according to this data. As per myvega.com/blogs/content/vega-heavy-metals-testing
You so great AF. DEFINITELY one of my all time favorite channels. Love you man. I hope I can get you on camera for my channel one day. Just started an awesome project and want you in the mix!
I can not express how much I appreciate this video.. Thank you!!!!! Those vegan protein powders wrecked absolute hell on my digestive system/body, they really messed me up. It caused insominia, digestive issues (like you wouldn't believe) and heart palps. Took me damn near a year to figure out that it was my protein powder causing my troubles. I stopped about 6 months ago and my body has done a complete 360 and I feel better than ever and finally sleeping at night!
Protein powder definitely isn't necessary if you're trying to gain muscle on a calorie surplus. The issue is when you're trying to retain muscle on a deficit, you need a greater amount of protein with fewer calories. About 0.8 g/lb bodyweight appears to be optimal on a cut. So for example, a 180 lb guy should shoot for 144 grams on, say, 2000-2200 calories, which means he should be eating about 25-30% of his calories from protein, and that can be a challenge on a vegan diet without some kind of protein powder.
I am vegan and trying to keep my family with kids on clean eating too. It's hard because they did eat McDonalds before we tried to go vegan. We use the Garden of Life "meal replacement" as a way to help keep our kids in good nutrition. Sure, it'd be great if they ate all their greens and stuff, but we struggle to keep the variety in their diet and use the Garden of Life product as a way to feel like we're balancing out their diet. It's really hard when kids can go weeks and longer fighting against eating their greens, leading to a very limited vegan diet which appears to be limited in nutrition as well. Its a really hard situation to manage well and we use these products to help keep things in line while they try to adjust to a wide variety of items on vegan diet. Perhaps I worry too much; they will eat potatoes and home made refried beans, so maybe they do get all they need from the limited diet. We just dont fully believe that because of how limiting that list can get even though it is vegan. Are these powders really just BS when talked about in the context of kids that wont eat variety?
Took it to the “twitterverse “ and FB. I’ve been using GOL for years. Also just found out on Twitter that they got bought out by Nestle. That explains a lot. Thank you Mic for looking out for us 👍🏻😽
I’ve eaten like 3 sometimes 4 containers of vega brand protien per week for a couple years. I’m 25 and in the best shape of my life. Idk it’s my favorite protein because all the vitamins especially Vit k. Well wish me luck lol we will see how long I live.
By the time you're 50 you might have a unique glow , lol...Basically your body cannot function optimally with lead buildup. Your organs get restricted and poisoned at some level.
I ditched protein powder a couple of month ago and still get stronger. The more I learn about protein, the more I find out that we not only get enough protein but mostly more than we need what is unhealthy especially if you consume animal protein. Check out my quick video where I talk about protein: th-cam.com/video/JsjqD8_4j0o/w-d-xo.html
I think we need to look at food as a "Whole" that is why effects of valine, leucine etc.. does not act the same as eating beans in the body. That is why protein powders and BCAA are not really recommended.
I didn’t notice the microphone in the beginning until just now Hahahah. Thank you for this video, I’ve been drinking Vega for a few months & this is scary.
I don't use protein powders or vitamins/supplements for this reason. Also I'm really surprised by the Tea findings. I need to think about where ALL of my food is coming from as well.
Are many of these powders also manufactured and/or sourced with methods/materials from regions that drain into the Mississippi River? I've heard that area is super high in toxic chems.
It’s so confusing I was about to get garden of life meal replacement for my daughter and you said it’s not healthy ??? then which one ???!!! can you please let us know??????
Wow Vega is still testing high😱 I actually came articles on Natural News website a few weeks ago, they were from 2014-15 I believe when Mike Adams (aka 'The Health Ranger'food scientist) had lab tested a bunch of different plant based proteins (for heavy metals etc). Vega was high on the list back then as well as Gardein of Life! Also Health Force brand (warrior force plant based protein powder) was alarmingly high. He's also done articles showing some of the best ones that tested clean. (Just fyi for all you fellow vegans Hemp protein powder tests very clean 😊) Heres a recent article on the motives & funding of clean label project lab study: www.naturalnews.com/2018-03-26-motives-and-funding-of-clean-label-project-lab-study-that-condemns-over-100-protein-powders-called-into-question.html
I found his other article listing the cleanest proteins: www.naturalnews.com/045108_vegan_proteins_heavy_metals_laboratory_test_results.html But he lists VEGA on it and I’m skeptical now...........
So I contacted Garden of Life, and they sent me a email breakdown of the Clean Label Projects report on their product and theirs thoughts on the CLP. Id like to share that email with you, theres some good info in it. How can I get it to you?
I use peanut butter powder in my smoothies. Low fat, low sugar, and minimal ingredients. Tasty too. It's helped me gain about 10 pounds of mostly muscle, along with my weight training. I usually prefer whole foods, but peanut butter powder might be an exception. I was never able to get those gains eating peanuts. I also add raw pumpkin seeds and oatmeal to my smoothies.
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which (among may other awful things) causes me to have problems with diminished absorption. I’ve been supplementing with protein powder because it is in a form that is easier for my body to absorb. Where can I look for info for people who have exceptional medical concerns?
BCAAs aren't really necessary if you're not eating enough anyway mate! I'd try focusing on your caloric intake as opposed to supplements if you're struggling to gain. BCAA's are just used to complete the chains of 'incomplete' proteins already in your system, so without any additional food in there it wouldn't really be worth it for you. Vivo life seem like a pretty good brand from what I've looked up but I haven't tried them out yet ✌🏼
The problem is that any company producing vegan alternatives to anything is generally smaller and less professional in their quality control and product composition. Same is true for vegan sausages, toothpaste, etc., most are just botched together to meet the rising demand without delivering measurable quality for their higher price.
Hey Mic, First of thank you for your extremely informational content as usual! I have only been a vegan for a couple months. I am really enjoying the journey and am trying to really learn how to care best for my body. As a consequence of the desire to understand my health better I just started tracking my macros and realized that I was hugely undereating protein and honestly this was probably still the case when I was consuming animal products but that is beside the point. Anyways I am now trying to make sure I am really getting "enough" protein, which I know alone on this there is very conflicting opinions and studies. However, I am just really trying not to eat soy on a daily basis and having to incorporate highly processed foods such as protein powders but ...FIBER.... I just do not know how it is supposed to be possible to eat enough protein coming from ONLY whole foods without getting WAY TOO MUCH fiber and therefore not only having to deal with discomfort but as for my understanding, this could long term cause major digestive problems?? HELP?!
How come you want to avoid eating soy on a daily basis? Have you tried out Seitan yet? It's a really high protein vegan source and including that in one of your meals would definitely help boost your daily intake up a considerable amount! Also, you can get pastas like lentil pasta, pea pasta, blackbean pasta, where they all contain really high amounts of protein and not too much fibre in comparssion. When I first switched over to a plant based diet I found that I struggled a bit with digestion too, but for me it was because when I used to eat meat I didn't include much fibre in my diet compared to when I switched to a plant based diet, so naturally it's going to be a bit of a shock to the body anyway as plant based diets are generally a lot higher in fibre as you've found out! ✌🏼
i personally do not use protein powders of any kind. The idea is 'unknown food = not going in my system' yeah the gains take time but they are noticeable. I let my body adpt and work its magic. I believe i've done a lot of damage with my previous life style that now i prefer to let my body work at its own pace and evolve the way it's suppose to
Hey Mic. can you possibly make a video about making your own home protien powder? I dont have alot of weight on me and is a full time mom, student, and employee. I dont have a lot of time in the day to eat sometimes so protein shakes help me to get those extra calories when eating is not an option. i enjoy the videos you produce and keep up the hard research!
Could not stop laughing after the chicken went BCAA!!! Hey thanks a lot... I currently am taking bcaas... not any more... your videos really help thank you very much
Guillaume Girod expensive af compared to garden of life which both claim to have the same things such as the same level of bcaas, no soy, digestive enzymes, probiotics, Whole Foods etc. only difference is that vivio has 25g of protein and gol has 22. So I'm not about to pay twice as much for the same benefits I get with gol just because of the heavy metals
What about powdered peanut butter? Pro's? Cons? Toxins? I like the fact that the ingredients are minimal, and that the fat has largely been removed. Usually whole food is better, but this might be an exception, like cocoa powder vs. chocolate. I use it in my smoothies for flavor, texture, and protein. It also happens to be relatively cheap.
Conflicting studies doesn't mean you need MORE data. You just need to pinpoint all the variables in the study. This many companies are not transparent with JUST SO they can control what the outcome is. So the answer is not MORE data, its more transparency.
I got over four grams of leucine today just from eating lentils, split peas, oatmeal, chickpeas, kale, brown rice. It just all adds up. Even when I think I'm eating so healthy and getting enough iron, I'm still maybe totally messing up 😩 So frustrating.
this is why fasting is important....you cannot trust anything that goes into your mouth anymore, even if it is from "organic" and "reliable" sources.....
So glad that I never have to worry about contaminants with Shaklee. They test each ingredient for over 300 contaminants - far above organic or any other testing. Wish the company was 100% vegan. Hopefully soon.
Heavy metal should be ingested only through the ears. 🤘
Anthony Tran, Take this comment to the top.
fuck yeeeeeah!!
Hahahahaha love this comment yess
🤙🤘🤘🤘
True
I've been enjoying Vega for years and was very disturbed by this study, ended up writing them a very straightforward letter saying I won't be buying it ever again until they can certify they have safe heavy metal levels, and I sincerely look forward to that day, as Vega is delicious and one of the most nutritionally superior proteins out there. I suggest all other vegans do the same and maybe we can get some action out of them. Until then I'm just going to eat more lentils and get protein from one of the cleaner vegan brands. I'm open to suggestions for the cleanest, best tasting and most nutritious! Either way, still gonna keep making those Gorilla Gains...
+Gaiasi - Gaia's Eye - Gaia is I
Well, there exists Vegan Gains recommendation:
th-cam.com/video/N6SsMNDdkvA/w-d-xo.html
Profuel or Vivio Life
I recommend tropeaka they have many different powders from protein powders, Acai, matcha, BCAA+, coconut water, goji and a lot more, the ingrediens are clean and tast amazing. I finally got my Package yesterday and got 9 products and I love it
In terms of flavor, plant fusion is my favorite.
I'm trying Genuine Health and Organic Greens. I need the calories in my smoothie more than the protein, per se.
Spirulina, Hemp powder, chia and pumpkin seeds seems the way to go for making some vegains💪🏻
I love adding them to oats and smoothies.
That's what I use as well
Spirulina has genotoxins and hepatotoxins
Vega was bought by Clorox back in 2016...Highly doubt they will "clean" up their act.
Someone up top said they are owned by Danone?
I knew this about protein supplementation and I also heard there are virtually no guidelines or checks when it comes to supplements in general, so i'm sticking with whole foods...
Eelke Aptroot It's true, vitamins are supplements are unregulated in America. Independent testing by Consumer Reports has found high levels of arsenic, lead, etc and often much less of the stated ingredients in general. It's not just Vega. The industry itself is broken and unsafe.
I love your videos because you use science and research 🔬 plus you make it entertaining as well as educational! Keep it up 👍🏻👏🏻
Steph Arizona lol his science is all cherry picked
no hate is a plus. xD
My bottle of Vega just ran out and I will not be replacing it thanks Mic!!!
What have you chosen instead? I want to start a new routine at the gym.
@@LaurensDesigns I found vivo life and optimum nutrition vegan proteins are the best. Also, PranaOn if you're from US or AU
Protein powders of any kind have never made me feel good after consumption. The heck with them all, I will stick to freshly juiced greens for my protein.
Same. And I train about two hours a day. There's absolutely no need to supplement protein.
I have hashimoto's, I cannot eat beans or lentils due to immune response, vega was my protein source 😔
MissAllanPoe1989 ok
Nola Naye Hashimoto's can be reversed! Look into Dr. Brooke Goldner's work (Goodbye Lupus). I just did a free 3-session webinar hosted by her. She's great & has helped many patients reverse autoimmune & thyroid disorders :)
i will look her up..thanks
Iv been vegan for 5 years now. Doing high weight training for 3 years it was nice, but after I added in creatine boy oh boy workouts were amazing. Creatine is the only thing I use. I eat around 75-90g of protein a day. Most of that comes from oatmeal and broccoli 🤷♂️
hi nelson, they say you need a gram of protein per pound of body weight. looking at you in your pic youre consuming abut half of what you need daily. have you found those guidelines to be bullshit in your case? surely youve gained muscle mass in 3 years. plenty of it.
Dr. Greger on Nutritionfacts.org has a video or two warning about the dangers of creatine. I don't remember the details. I suggest you check it out.
Thanks ill look into that
@@skyhighvids That is false. Too much protein is bad for you liver. Look at guys in prison. They are jacked and I'm pretty sure none are taking protein supplements or overeating.
I'm not a believer in Creatine. I believe it's just hype.
This seriously sucks I’m a vegan and trucker so it is difficult for me to get to nutrient dense foods being on the road 90% of the time.The Vega protein shakes are very high in nutrients but now I have to worry about this bullshit ? Wtf Vega!
Rogue Planet thank you so much 😊
You can grind a bunch of seeds when you are at home and wack em in your oatmeal. A friend of mind always carries ground seeds in a jar, handy. You can also buy pure hemp or pea protein, those should be safer.
Evolve was rated 5 stars by the clean label project.
Imminentintent look into Sun Warrior, it is an all vegan company, organic and affordable.
Oh my God, the chicken sound! 😂😂😂 I can't believe you did that with a straight face!
Rosa H bcaa
Rosa H, BCAA! :)
Rosa H I Fucking LOL’d so hard !
Do you have an updated video on this topic? Would love to know if there have been any other current studies and if there are any plant protein powders that are currently ok? Like almond protein?
lol in my after-school weight training class, we celebrate our accomplishments on super hard days with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! As far as I know, I'm the only vegan but it's great that our go-to pick me up is vegan and tasty!
not super related, i know, all my friends are asleep so I've commented on this video or on comments of this video like 5 times now. Sorry, Mic!
My nephew plays college basketball, he said his coaches are always pushing the PB&Js for weight gain.
I love peanuts and peanut butter but unfortunately I have trouble eating them as I get older (peanut butter is actually one of the leading choking hazards out there, most people are unaware of this). Most peanut butters are extremely gummy, and that's where the choking risk comes from.
I like PB2 peanut powder in smoothies with a bit of cocoa powder and stevia.
For everyone looking for an alternative to Vega..the report did have one good vegan protein performer, Evolve protein powder in vanilla. I replaced my Vega with this!
I just read the ingredients and it has sugar in it. Wish it didn't.
THANKS! I scrolled down for a long time to figure out what to take..lol
Is it made in Canada? They say the peas are sourced from North America but I’m not sure where exactly it is manufactured in.
Cheria I looked at my bottles but couldn’t find where it’s manufactured.
Allison Schafer thanks. Ive also emailed them but they haven't replied.
Love the channel. I’m a personal trainer so I get asked these questions a lot . “What supplements should I take”. “Do I need a multivitamin”. “What about bcaas. Lol I can’t prescribe a diet so I tell them. Food is wealth and medicine, so eat what you need.
Hello I’m new in ur channel just wanted to let u know I’m loving this channel I became a vegan a month ago and I love it
Katie Maggioli he is my go too! I love the amount of time and research he put in.
Kayla Phillips yes that’s why I’m loving his channel 😬
Katie Maggioli watch unnatural vegan, she is way more factual and less biased than this clown
Manguy dude It looks more opposite.
Valeri Ševtšenko if you already drank the Mic koolaid that's totally fine. But if you want to cross check the things you learn rather than to take it on faith... there are others people who offer strong counterpoints
Thank you so much for all of your unbiased, informative, and throughly researched videos. I recently became vegan and you have helped me in so many ways
VEGA recently took B12 out of their formula so I stopped getting it. I just take a vegan B12 tab now.
I LOVE that you bring us the studies and do all our homework for us Mic!
I remember in 2011 the health ranger made an article about the garden of life and their protein powder. According to his data they had higher levels of basically every toxic compound even compared to fast food. His website is shit so i'm not sure on the validity of it but it definitely caused me to stop buying their products.
Oats in smoothies = best protein powder!
Ellen hemp seeds are also awesome
yummy oats!
Ellen Does it give the smoothie a grainy texture?
Not at all, it becomes very creamy in my mixer. But it probably depends on what kind of oats you use, and what type of blender you have, and how much water you use...
@@christinamary8008 Old fashioned, (thick rolled) oats also work.
You are the magic bean man.
I still have Vega, and I love it.
I have food sensitivities, and Vega doesn't bother me at all.
Wow, I was thinking about trying BCAA but I changed my mind after watching this video. Very informative! Thank you.
Where's my late night notification squad?
Mic. the Vegan when you see all our top elite vegan bodybuilding brothers. They have acne. And most take protein powders. Or other “sources “. Personally. It’s all genetics. All these supplements are garbage and unnatural to our bodies.
Did you actually film this tonight, Mic? Guess you don't need supplements for energy! :)
lol yeah I did. It's more the editing that takes the energy.
I had the same thought. Possibly a leucine-mTOR-acne connection.
Mic. the Vegan shit, I just ordered Vega LOLOL, oh well
Horrifying! I'm actually more worried about lead in tea--which I was drinking by the bucketful until recently--but the research into toxic metal content in plant-based protein supplements is distressing, mostly because I presumed that higher-end companies have better quality controls. [sigh] Hope corporate heads over at Vega and GoL are aware of these stats and cleaning up. Interesting info about BCAAs, especially the decrease of protein synthesis aspect. TFP another intensive examination of things that concern health conscious vegans : )
Dr. Gregor indicates that lead in tea is only an issue if you eat the leaves. Lead stays in the leaves when it is brewed, and avoiding sourcing from China is wise. He addresses this about 3:20 before the end of this: facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org/videos/2075682179114947/
tamcon72 I drink probably a pot of coffee a day. Still healthy you shouldn't have nothing to worry about.
Heavy metal is in everything and you will need a longer exposure to cause lead poisoning at high concentrated amounts way higher than this
Mic the vegan do you have a list of safe and actually clean meal replacement shakes ?
Melanie yes I would love to know as well
Geez, i do the Front Lever and Lseat as part of my workout and i eat just potatoes on somedays. Why so much protein, just listen to your body for what you are hungry for.
I’ve been Vegan since October 2017 and as of today I’m starting to train as if I was a bodybuilder, I’m doing everything the plant based vegan way and if you’d like to use me as a test subject, I’m all in for science 👍🏼
i'm really looking forward to more food supplement reviews. This is THE industry with the highest health claims notwithstanding the highest processing production process
Vega was 50% off & discontinued at my health food store, I’m thinking this study was probably the cause.....
Noooo!!! I use Vega every day as a quick meal. I'm so sad to hear this :(
sassies :[
Same. The first and Last bucket I buy 😅
Me too!! I can’t believe it :-(
I just bought it :( I've been using it
Jedimindfunk me too I'm depressed now
Hey heads up, the still image of the video (the one you see in your sub box) says ‘BPAA’ instead of ‘BCAA’.
Eline Anne the word is "thumbnail" btw ;)
THANKS! That's what happens when you rush make a thumbnail at 1 am! Fixed it!
Do you plan to make a video about BPAA's soon though? I'm just effing with you. I love you. Great video as always.
Obviously, whole foods would be the best, with legumes you can get enough protein you need. But for me, it is kind of hard to eat 100% whole foods. Yeah, I am like the omni who says "I can't give up cheese, it tastes so good", only that I am vegan and does not want to give up processed foods (yet) and just not eating a perfect diet. So on an average day I barely meet the recommended 0,8 grams of protein per kg of bodyweight. As I am also trying to get stronger, this is not ideal. That's why I am now using protein powder from time to time. It's organic and I hope it does not has too much heavy metals in it, but will check that again. Was also thinking about getting BCAAs. I am not sure if just too much is harmful (like bodybuilders do with their 3g of protein per kg) or if it would be okay for me. I mean Leucin is an essential amino acid right?
Please keep us updated on that topic and thank you for your videos, you are doing a great job! :)
I just wanted to add that this "report" is not substantiated in any way. They have not made their data publicly available and have no plans to publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal. They do not disclose where their funding comes from other than to say private donors. Their measure of lead, arsenic, and mercury includes the total amount including the non-toxic naturally occurring types (not to mention much of these contaminants are not fully absorbed when eating them in food). Also we don't even know the amounts or concentrations of any of these "contaminants" as they won't release the data. In addition, things like pesticides or solvents are not particularly toxic in low concentrations and are present in most every food we eat organic or not. And the nutritional quality rating is completely ridiculous. It's literally how many grams of protein do you get per scoop and says nothing of the amino acid profile or PDCAAS score or bio-availability, etc. Also the "independent lab" they claim to have used for the testing is not independent at all and seems to have been created for the non-profit to use. Seriously there is nothing scientific about this report and I would not change anything about what products I use based upon its arbitrary rating system. Its just another scare tactic label initiative looking to cash in on scientific illiteracy and paranoia.
C Hill why would it have changed
Cucumber 0.011 mcg/g arsenic on average
Strawberries 0.015 mcg/g cadmium on average
Spinach 0.004 mcg/g lead on average
That large cucumber you added to your salad, may contain 3.08mcg arsenic based on this study.
If you’re enjoying 2 cups of strawberries as your afternoon snack, that would work out to 4.56mcg cadmium on average.
Tossing 2 cups of spinach into your morning smoothie? That’s also tossing in 0.24mcg lead, according to this data.
As per myvega.com/blogs/content/vega-heavy-metals-testing
You so great AF. DEFINITELY one of my all time favorite channels. Love you man. I hope I can get you on camera for my channel one day. Just started an awesome project and want you in the mix!
What about me?
I can not express how much I appreciate this video.. Thank you!!!!! Those vegan protein powders wrecked absolute hell on my digestive system/body, they really messed me up. It caused insominia, digestive issues (like you wouldn't believe) and heart palps. Took me damn near a year to figure out that it was my protein powder causing my troubles. I stopped about 6 months ago and my body has done a complete 360 and I feel better than ever and finally sleeping at night!
Hi, I’m curious if you’ve found an alternative or you’ve just cut protein powder all together?
which powder?
Protein powder definitely isn't necessary if you're trying to gain muscle on a calorie surplus. The issue is when you're trying to retain muscle on a deficit, you need a greater amount of protein with fewer calories. About 0.8 g/lb bodyweight appears to be optimal on a cut. So for example, a 180 lb guy should shoot for 144 grams on, say, 2000-2200 calories, which means he should be eating about 25-30% of his calories from protein, and that can be a challenge on a vegan diet without some kind of protein powder.
I am vegan and trying to keep my family with kids on clean eating too. It's hard because they did eat McDonalds before we tried to go vegan. We use the Garden of Life "meal replacement" as a way to help keep our kids in good nutrition. Sure, it'd be great if they ate all their greens and stuff, but we struggle to keep the variety in their diet and use the Garden of Life product as a way to feel like we're balancing out their diet. It's really hard when kids can go weeks and longer fighting against eating their greens, leading to a very limited vegan diet which appears to be limited in nutrition as well. Its a really hard situation to manage well and we use these products to help keep things in line while they try to adjust to a wide variety of items on vegan diet. Perhaps I worry too much; they will eat potatoes and home made refried beans, so maybe they do get all they need from the limited diet. We just dont fully believe that because of how limiting that list can get even though it is vegan. Are these powders really just BS when talked about in the context of kids that wont eat variety?
Throwing my garden life out asap
What a great job you did on covering all the aspects of this issue! Confirms my decision to dump the plant protein powder. Thanks so much!
Took it to the “twitterverse “ and FB. I’ve been using GOL for years. Also just found out on Twitter that they got bought out by Nestle. That explains a lot.
Thank you Mic for looking out for us 👍🏻😽
No more Vega. Good to know. Anyone
know a good vegan protein powder???
I’ve eaten like 3 sometimes 4 containers of vega brand protien per week
for a couple years. I’m 25 and in the best shape of my life. Idk it’s my favorite protein because all the vitamins especially Vit k. Well wish me luck lol we will see how long I live.
You will still live long, but they’re just saying you’re at higher risk of developing diseases and possibly aging.
By the time you're 50 you might have a unique glow , lol...Basically your body cannot function optimally with lead buildup. Your organs get restricted and poisoned at some level.
I ditched protein powder a couple of month ago and still get stronger. The more I learn about protein, the more I find out that we not only get enough protein but mostly more than we need what is unhealthy especially if you consume animal protein. Check out my quick video where I talk about protein: th-cam.com/video/JsjqD8_4j0o/w-d-xo.html
Thanks mic. I actually seen this study and was hoping that you would do a video. You just answered my questions. Great video.
This is so interesting and great to help me procrastinate my homework at 11:00 at night. Thanks Mic!
I think we need to look at food as a "Whole" that is why effects of valine, leucine etc.. does not act the same as eating beans in the body. That is why protein powders and BCAA are not really recommended.
I didn’t notice the microphone in the beginning until just now Hahahah.
Thank you for this video, I’ve been drinking Vega for a few months & this is scary.
Great video Mic love your work Also notification squad
I don't use protein powders or vitamins/supplements for this reason. Also I'm really surprised by the Tea findings. I need to think about where ALL of my food is coming from as well.
Are many of these powders also manufactured and/or sourced with methods/materials from regions that drain into the Mississippi River? I've heard that area is super high in toxic chems.
It’s so confusing I was about to get garden of life meal replacement for my daughter and you said it’s not healthy ??? then which one ???!!! can you please let us know??????
was there anything on vivo life?
Dylan Watson vivolife does heavy lead testing...
Since this video, there has been a lot more research on BCAAs and protein powder. Could you do an updated science video on this?
Wow Vega is still testing high😱 I actually came articles on Natural News website a few weeks ago, they were from 2014-15 I believe when Mike Adams (aka 'The Health Ranger'food scientist) had lab tested a bunch of different plant based proteins (for heavy metals etc). Vega was high on the list back then as well as Gardein of Life! Also Health Force brand (warrior force plant based protein powder) was alarmingly high. He's also done articles showing some of the best ones that tested clean. (Just fyi for all you fellow vegans Hemp protein powder tests very clean 😊) Heres a recent article on the motives & funding of clean label project lab study:
www.naturalnews.com/2018-03-26-motives-and-funding-of-clean-label-project-lab-study-that-condemns-over-100-protein-powders-called-into-question.html
I read that too. Really disappointed to see these new results :(
Thank you for this
I found his other article listing the cleanest proteins: www.naturalnews.com/045108_vegan_proteins_heavy_metals_laboratory_test_results.html
But he lists VEGA on it and I’m skeptical now...........
What do you think of the company “Clean Machine?” They make vegan protein
@Siyovaxsh En-sipad-zid-ana but that extra 20g of protein without eating ???
Mic: this type of information is priceless - thank you.
Quite open and critical analysis, well formulated.
Thank you Mike! I am getting over a head injury and taking Vega in smoothies. Thanks for the heads up 🤦♀️ I’m trying to avoid the toxins
So I contacted Garden of Life, and they sent me a email breakdown of the Clean Label Projects report on their product and theirs thoughts on the CLP. Id like to share that email with you, theres some good info in it. How can I get it to you?
Bruce Caruso make a vid so we all can see
Copy and paste here.
could you share the report with me,
I use peanut butter powder in my smoothies. Low fat, low sugar, and minimal ingredients. Tasty too. It's helped me gain about 10 pounds of mostly muscle, along with my weight training. I usually prefer whole foods, but peanut butter powder might be an exception. I was never able to get those gains eating peanuts. I also add raw pumpkin seeds and oatmeal to my smoothies.
Your videos are so informative. The best part about it no nonsense just clean data.
Umm, Derek Tresize absolutely does take protein powder: interviewed on PlantBuilt and he said "My staples are multi-source raw protein powder".
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which (among may other awful things) causes me to have problems with diminished absorption. I’ve been supplementing with protein powder because it is in a form that is easier for my body to absorb. Where can I look for info for people who have exceptional medical concerns?
did you ever get any info? I got the same problems
I'm a hard gainer so I need help. Please do a video on BCAA and powders I can use.
BCAAs aren't really necessary if you're not eating enough anyway mate! I'd try focusing on your caloric intake as opposed to supplements if you're struggling to gain. BCAA's are just used to complete the chains of 'incomplete' proteins already in your system, so without any additional food in there it wouldn't really be worth it for you. Vivo life seem like a pretty good brand from what I've looked up but I haven't tried them out yet ✌🏼
Great topic! Thank you for sharing!
I stopped eating Vega couple years ago. I was always getting sick. Like bloated and feeling crappy. Now I'm grateful!
Can you do a video on best vegan protein powder? Taste, nutrition, safe etc.
The problem is that any company producing vegan alternatives to anything is generally smaller and less professional in their quality control and product composition. Same is true for vegan sausages, toothpaste, etc., most are just botched together to meet the rising demand without delivering measurable quality for their higher price.
Shit I've been using vega for years.. which protein would you reccomend? Is the sun warrior one safe?
there's also a research of dr Robert Lustig where he points out a correlation between BCAA intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Hey Mic, First of thank you for your extremely informational content as usual!
I have only been a vegan for a couple months. I am really enjoying the journey and am trying to really learn how to care best for my body. As a consequence of the desire to understand my health better I just started tracking my macros and realized that I was hugely undereating protein and honestly this was probably still the case when I was consuming animal products but that is beside the point. Anyways I am now trying to make sure I am really getting "enough" protein, which I know alone on this there is very conflicting opinions and studies. However, I am just really trying not to eat soy on a daily basis and having to incorporate highly processed foods such as protein powders but ...FIBER.... I just do not know how it is supposed to be possible to eat enough protein coming from ONLY whole foods without getting WAY TOO MUCH fiber and therefore not only having to deal with discomfort but as for my understanding, this could long term cause major digestive problems??
HELP?!
How come you want to avoid eating soy on a daily basis? Have you tried out Seitan yet? It's a really high protein vegan source and including that in one of your meals would definitely help boost your daily intake up a considerable amount! Also, you can get pastas like lentil pasta, pea pasta, blackbean pasta, where they all contain really high amounts of protein and not too much fibre in comparssion.
When I first switched over to a plant based diet I found that I struggled a bit with digestion too, but for me it was because when I used to eat meat I didn't include much fibre in my diet compared to when I switched to a plant based diet, so naturally it's going to be a bit of a shock to the body anyway as plant based diets are generally a lot higher in fibre as you've found out! ✌🏼
i personally do not use protein powders of any kind. The idea is 'unknown food = not going in my system' yeah the gains take time but they are noticeable. I let my body adpt and work its magic. I believe i've done a lot of damage with my previous life style that now i prefer to let my body work at its own pace and evolve the way it's suppose to
TY I’m sharing this on my page and in vegan groups 💚
Your humor was on point in this video!
You're such a great resource! Funny too! Thanks for all the help!
Hey Mic. can you possibly make a video about making your own home protien powder? I dont have alot of weight on me and is a full time mom, student, and employee. I dont have a lot of time in the day to eat sometimes so protein shakes help me to get those extra calories when eating is not an option. i enjoy the videos you produce and keep up the hard research!
As a child, if you were to tell me that people didn't like Black leads, i would have been so confused cause this was my favorite show
Vega response: myvega.com/blogs/content/vega-heavy-metals-testing
Info from Garden of Life: www.gardenoflife.com/content/about/why-gol/testing/
Brilliant. Thanks for the awesome work.
Could not stop laughing after the chicken went BCAA!!! Hey thanks a lot... I currently am taking bcaas... not any more... your videos really help thank you very much
What's the best bro????
no protein powder = no worrying
I made a killer, protien packed, multi-bean and lentil soup today!!! Yummmy!!!!
Thanks Mic! I always learn so much from your videos.
Anything about vivolife ?
Guillaume Girod expensive af compared to garden of life which both claim to have the same things such as the same level of bcaas, no soy, digestive enzymes, probiotics, Whole Foods etc. only difference is that vivio has 25g of protein and gol has 22. So I'm not about to pay twice as much for the same benefits I get with gol just because of the heavy metals
Thanks for the vid. There’s so much different information out there
So glad i've never been gooped into the protein powder craze. Pass me the beans!
I don’t understand why people need powdered protein? I have been a vegan for 10 years and get my protein from vegetables. I think it’s crazy.
So should I give up and stay fat avoid exercise and start drinking jack Daniels?
I didn't find the brand of protein powder I use on the list:/ Genuine Health Protein.
What about powdered peanut butter? Pro's? Cons? Toxins? I like the fact that the ingredients are minimal, and that the fat has largely been removed. Usually whole food is better, but this might be an exception, like cocoa powder vs. chocolate. I use it in my smoothies for flavor, texture, and protein. It also happens to be relatively cheap.
Ive got so many containers of protein powder that i never finish cause they make me feel like shit.. Damn colourful advertising
I'm curious about the legitimacy of this study... do you have any updates on this?
All the studies he referenced are in the description box of the video.
Conflicting studies doesn't mean you need MORE data. You just need to pinpoint all the variables in the study. This many companies are not transparent with JUST SO they can control what the outcome is. So the answer is not MORE data, its more transparency.
I got over four grams of leucine today just from eating lentils, split peas, oatmeal, chickpeas, kale, brown rice. It just all adds up. Even when I think I'm eating so healthy and getting enough iron, I'm still maybe totally messing up 😩 So frustrating.
this is why fasting is important....you cannot trust anything that goes into your mouth anymore, even if it is from "organic" and "reliable" sources.....
Thank you so much for this video!! I will definitely be tossing my BCAA supplements out!! And finding a better protein brand than garden of life 😭
So glad that I never have to worry about contaminants with Shaklee. They test each ingredient for over 300 contaminants - far above organic or any other testing. Wish the company was 100% vegan. Hopefully soon.
Love your videos. Please also caption in english if possible so that the hearing impaired part of the community can also benefit :)