Heavy metal should be ingested only through the ears. 🤘

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...

Spirulina, Hemp powder, chia and pumpkin seeds seems the way to go for making some vegains💪🏻 I love adding them to oats and smoothies.

Oh my God, the chicken sound! 😂😂😂 I can't believe you did that with a straight face!

Vega was bought by Clorox back in 2016...Highly doubt they will "clean" up their act.

I love your videos because you use science and research 🔬 plus you make it entertaining as well as educational! Keep it up 👍🏻👏🏻

My bottle of Vega just ran out and I will not be replacing it thanks Mic!!!

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?

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 🤷‍♂️

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

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...

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!

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.

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 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: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gNmapKdpxJrOYKM.html

No more Vega. Good to know. Anyone know a good vegan protein powder???

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!

Where's my late night notification squad?

Mic the vegan do you have a list of safe and actually clean meal replacement shakes ?

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

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.

Oats in smoothies = best protein powder!

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.

Vega was 50% off & discontinued at my health food store, I’m thinking this study was probably the cause.....

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.

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!

Hey heads up, the still image of the video (the one you see in your sub box) says ‘BPAA’ instead of ‘BCAA’.

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

Wow, I was thinking about trying BCAA but I changed my mind after watching this video. Very informative! Thank you.

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.

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 : )

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.

Thanks mic. I actually seen this study and was hoping that you would do a video. You just answered my questions. Great video.

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.

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 👍🏼

How do I get enough vegan protein without eating things like soy but also without over-doing fiber? I'm trying to transition into a vegan diet but it's so confusing and I can't figure out what to properly eat.

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??????

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! :)

Noooo!!! I use Vega every day as a quick meal. I'm so sad to hear this :(

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

Throwing my garden life out asap

was there anything on vivo life?

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!

Can you do a video on best vegan protein powder? Taste, nutrition, safe etc.

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?

Since this video, there has been a lot more research on BCAAs and protein powder. Could you do an updated science video on this?

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.

Your humor was on point in this video!

Thanks Mic! I always learn so much from your videos.

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.

Thanks for the vid. There’s so much different information out there

no protein powder = no worrying

In terms of heavy metals ... Wouldn’t eating Whole Foods be just as bad as consuming a plant protein powder because they are both grown with the same contaminated water..?

Your videos are so informative. The best part about it no nonsense just clean data.

Great video Mic love your work Also notification squad

This is so interesting and great to help me procrastinate my homework at 11:00 at night. Thanks Mic!

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.

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!

What's the best bro????

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.

Umm, Derek Tresize absolutely does take protein powder: interviewed on PlantBuilt and he said "My staples are multi-source raw protein powder".

Quite open and critical analysis, well formulated.

So should I give up and stay fat avoid exercise and start drinking jack Daniels?

I'm a hard gainer so I need help. Please do a video on BCAA and powders I can use.

Vega response: myvega.com/blogs/content/vega-heavy-metals-testing Info from Garden of Life: www.gardenoflife.com/content/about/why-gol/testing/

I'm so disappointed.... 😦

You're such a great resource! Funny too! Thanks for all the help!

It's tough when the led is from piping or something

Thank you Mic for your videos..keeps me motivated.

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 drink my protein and I watch him 😂😂😂

Mic: this type of information is priceless - thank you.

Anything about vivolife ?

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

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 👍🏻😽

Brilliant. Thanks for the awesome work.

I'm curious about the legitimacy of this study... do you have any updates on this?

there's also a research of dr Robert Lustig where he points out a correlation between BCAA intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

You always do such a great job. Thank you so much!

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.

Thank you for a wonderful video. I appreciate all the effort you place in creating great content. If you need any ideas for a future video, I would love to learn more about collagen...plant sources of collagen vs. the various animal collagen supplements/powders and what it actually does to the body. Thank you for your consideration and time. I hope you have a happy day.

Great topic! Thank you for sharing!

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.

I didn't find the brand of protein powder I use on the list:/ Genuine Health Protein.

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

Is Orgain protein powder safe? Someone answer please

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?

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 💚

SO WHAT PROTEIN POWDER SHALL I TAKE THAT WONT KILL ME

This was super informative! Thanks for this vid! :)

I stopped eating Vega couple years ago. I was always getting sick. Like bloated and feeling crappy. Now I'm grateful!

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!

Shit I've been using vega for years.. which protein would you reccomend? Is the sun warrior one safe?

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?

Is Vega still high in Lead?

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.

Curiously enough, millet is fairly high in BCAA's as far as vegan protein sources go. Millet makes great Asian-style porridges (Confucius listed millet, not rice, as one of the five sacred grains of ancient China).