What’s Hiding In Your Protein Powder?
december 2, 2025 • Written by naturopathic doctor, hannah webb & Naturopathic Doctor, Patrick Callas
Should you be worried?
Did you see the recent Consumer Reports investigation about lead contamination in protein powders?
It made waves because many popular brands contained measurable amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium. These were mostly American products, but given that most ingredients are sourced internationally, it’s fair to assume the products on the Canadian market are similar.
So — should you be worried? Unfortunately, yes.
While a single smoothie isn’t going to cause lead poisoning, the real issue is chronic exposure. Tiny amounts, day after day, add up over time. And it’s not just protein powders — we see trace contaminants in greens powders, cocoa, rice, certain root vegetables, and even tap water. The body has ways to process and excrete toxins, but heavy metals accumulate slowly, often without obvious symptoms until there’s a meaningful burden.
This is one of the key reasons our clinic only carries professional brands that publish batch testing and guarantee purity. Unlike pharmaceuticals, Health Canada doesn’t routinely test supplements unless a complaint is filed, so the responsibility falls on companies, practitioners, and individuals. Given that heavy metals aren’t something you can taste or feel, it’s easy to see how this system falls short.
Acute heavy-metal poisoning is well recognized in medicine — for example, from an industrial exposure or contaminated water supply. But chronic, low-grade toxicity is less defined, harder to diagnose, and can contribute to fatigue, brain fog, hormonal disruption, and nervous-system changes. These vague symptoms often overlap with other conditions, which means chronic toxicity can easily be missed.
That’s why choosing clean, tested products matters so much. It’s also why “detox” isn’t just a buzzword — true detoxification is a medical process, not a juice cleanse. Understanding how to safely assess and support the body’s elimination systems is crucial.
Lead’s impact on kids
Lead is particularly harmful to children because of their smaller body size and developing brains. It can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems, as well as physical issues like abdominal pain, fatigue, and anemia. This is well-established science — and it’s the reason leaded fuel was banned decades ago.
Chelation is more than detoxification
A chelator is a molecule that binds to metal ions, forming a complex that can be excreted from the body or otherwise neutralized. The most effective chelators for lead are EDTA and vitamin C. Binders in the bowel play a different, though important, role — examples include modified citrus pectin and bentonite clay. Many other substances are marketed as chelators (such as chlorella or zeolite), but evidence is limited. Activated charcoal, for example, does not bind heavy metals effectively, though it can bind mold toxins.
Testing matters
A standard blood test for lead only detects recent exposure. To understand what the body is retaining, a urinary toxic-metal test using a chelating medication (EDTA or DMSA) is more informative. Hair testing can sometimes reflect retention of certain metals but may miss older exposures. Lead can also be stored in bones for decades, only to re-enter circulation later in life as bone density naturally declines.
True detoxification requires precision, not guesswork — and it’s worth doing right.
— Dr. Hannah Webb, ND & Dr. Patrick Callas, ND
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Disclaimer: Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. Health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature and should not be taken as medical advice nor should it be used as a substitute for a visit with a licensed health care provider.