Arnold Schwarzenegger believes it’s best to exercise caution when choosing a whey-based protein powder. In a recent Arnold’s Pump Club Newsletter, Schwarzenegger reveals that some brands use a protein concentrate, meaning a ‘lower-quality’ product that includes less protein than advertised.
As a former seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, Arnold Schwarzenegger has always taken his diet seriously. Even though exercise was obviously a factor in how he achieved his famous physique, food also played a major role. His dedication to eating right hasn’t changed since he stepped away from the competitive stage. Now, health and dietary concerns are an even bigger part of his agenda.
Several years ago, Schwarzenegger revealed that he switched to an 80% plant-based diet, which has significantly helped regulate his blood pressure. However, just because Schwarzenegger abstains from meat most of the time, he still needs to take in a significant amount of protein to support his active lifestyle.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Calls Out ‘Dirty Secret’ of Protein Powders
Most of the protein Arnold Schwarzenegger consumes is from whole foods like eggs, salmon, lentils, and beans but he also supplements with pea powdered protein. In the past, ‘The Austrian Oak’ has stressed that quantity tends to trump quality with protein, adding that ‘high absorption’ options aren’t always necessary.
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Taking to his latest newsletter, Schwarzenegger recently shared that when using a whey protein concentrate, you could be getting far less protein than advertised.
“Your Protein Powder Might Have a Dirty Secret
The next time you buy a protein supplement, make sure you take a look at the fine print on the ingredient label.”“If you use a whey protein concentrate, you might be getting much less protein than you think.”
Since it is a concentrate, the range of protein by weight can vary as much as 20 percent to 80 percent.
Due to loopholes in the supplement industry, Schwarzenegger says it’s easier for companies to ‘deliver a lower-quality product.’
“Whey protein concentrate is a high-quality form of protein, but because of the many loopholes in the supplement industry, it’s easy for companies to deliver a lower-quality product without your awareness.”
“You can think of “concentrate” as a way to grade the purity of a protein. Whey protein concentrates can be anywhere from 20 percent to 80 percent protein by weight — but you don’t always know what you’re getting.”
Schwarzenegger explains how significant this discretion can be when supplementing your protein.
“Let’s say your protein supplement shows 20 grams of whey protein concentrate on the label. If the product uses WPC20 (whey protein concentrate that’s 20% protein by weight), the absorbable whey protein is just 4 grams — even though the label shows 20 grams.”
Unfortunately, brands aren’t required to specify the percentage on the label, meaning you can be left in the dark. Schwarzenegger recommends looking for a product that is certified to ensure better accuracy.
“And you won’t necessarily know what percentage is being used because your supplement label does not need to specify the type of whey protein concentrate. It’s why we encourage you to look for NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport products, as both require label accuracy. Again, there’s nothing bad about whey protein concentrate. But the lack of clarity can mean you’re getting less protein than you think.”
Schwarzenegger also provides an alternative to a protein concentrate which is a whey protein isolate that has a minimum of 90 percent by weight.
“Alternatively, you could buy a whey protein isolate, which is standardized at a minimum of 90 percent protein by weight.”
This isn’t the first time that Arnold Schwarzenegger has warned fans to take a closer look at the fine print of labels. In the past, Schwarzenegger has called out supplement brands for mislabeling their products that contain harmful and toxic ingredients. He has even singled out fish oil for underdosing the recommended intake of DHA and EPA.
Misconceptions have swirled about how much protein individuals should be taking and if it can potentially cause adverse health concerns. Thankfully, Schwarzenegger is using scientific research to provide fans with only the facts to keep them healthy and happy.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Guide to Muscle Growth: 25g vs 100g Protein for Optimal Results
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