Beware: Protein Powders Pack a Hidden Metal Punch

With Olympia storylines still sizzling, fresh controversies erupt as experts spar over who should have won, and a Consumer Reports bombshell warns that your beloved protein shake might be laced with lead.

October 20, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Protein shakes are supposed to help you grow, not poison you. A recent Consumer Reports investigation tested 23 popular protein powders and shakes and found that two‑thirds exceed recommended lead levels, with some products containing up to ten times the safe limit. Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer topped the naughty list with 7.7 µg of lead per serving (1,570 % above Consumer Reports’ threshold), and Huel’s Black Edition wasn’t far behind at 6.3 µg. Garden of Life Sport and Momentous Plant Protein were flagged for sparing use, while Transparent Labs and Optimum Nutrition powders were deemed suitable for regular consumption. Chronic lead exposure can cause fatigue, stomach pain, and long‑term neurological and cardiovascular damage, and plant‑based powders tend to harbor more heavy metals. Because supplements are largely unregulated, experts advise checking brands, varying intake, and not depending on one powder. [See Which Powders Make the Cut!]

Tired of feeling flat on low‑carb diets? This three‑day carb‑cycling protocol synchronizes carbohydrate intake with training intensity. High‑carb days (45–55 % carbs) are reserved for tough workouts like leg day to replenish glycogen and enhance recovery, moderate days (30–40 %) fuel smaller muscle groups without blowing your calorie budget, and low‑carb days (10–15 %) boost fat burning, insulin sensitivity, and maintain muscle with higher protein. The plan pairs these macros with a four‑day bro split—chest/back, arms, legs, shoulders/abs—so you’re always eating for the work you’re doing. [Start Your Carb Cycle Now!]

Four weeks before stepping on the 2025 Mr. Olympia stage, two‑time champion Derek Lunsford tore his chest while incline pressing 70‑kilogram dumbbells. Instead of withdrawing, he iced the injury, monitored swelling, and flew to New York, where bruising surfaced a day later but healing advanced quickly. Lunsford had lost the title in 2024 but regained momentum by winning the Arnold Classic and Pittsburgh Pro. Despite the tear, he edged Hadi Choopan by two points to reclaim the Sandow and became only the second bodybuilder to win back the title after losing it. [Watch How He Powered Through Injury!]

Samson Dauda entered Las Vegas as the defending Mr. Olympia and pushed conditioning harder than ever, but the strategy misfired. He said his prep went perfectly, yet admitted that going ultra‑dry flattened his physique and especially hurt his back‑double‑biceps pose. The 300‑plus‑pounder underestimated how long it would take to fill back out, resulting in a deflated look that dropped him from first to fourth place. Dauda had beaten Choopan and Lunsford in 2024 and battled Lunsford at the 2025 Arnold Classic, making the setback sting. Nevertheless, he’s already training for a comeback, eyeing the 2026 Arnold Classic with its historic $750,000 prize and vowing to balance conditioning with fullness. [Hear Dauda’s Honest Post‑Show Breakdown]

Inside Lunsford vs. Choopan: Pose by Pose

Why did Derek Lunsford beat Hadi Choopan 5–3? IFBB VP Tyler Manion broke down each mandatory pose. He gave Lunsford the front double biceps because of a smaller waist and fuller legs despite weaker arm detail. Lunsford also captured the front lat spread, side chest, and back double biceps thanks to superior shoulder volume, width, and back density. Choopan’s superior thickness and conditioning earned him the back lat spread, ab‑and‑thigh, and most muscular. With the scorecards razor‑close, Manion acknowledged there’s a case for Choopan or Andrew Jacked, but noted Lunsford’s win netted him $600,000 and made him the first bodybuilder to earn over $1 million in a season. [See the Pose‑by‑Pose Breakdown]

Rich Gaspari, a legend from bodybuilding’s golden era, didn’t mince words when dissecting the 2025 Mr. Olympia. He said defending champ Samson Dauda downsized too much chasing conditioning, and that Hadi Choopan’s flat prejudging cost him a shot at gold. He heaped praise on third‑place finisher Andrew Jacked, calling him huge, balanced, and confident—so good that fans wouldn’t have complained if he’d won. Gaspari lauded Martin Fitzwater’s symmetry but labelled Nick Walker the weekend’s biggest disappointment, citing his lack of aesthetics and mistimed peak and doubting he’ll ever win a Sandow. [Dive Into Gaspari’s Hot Take]

Retired pro Lee Priest weighed in on the Olympia controversy and said he would have crowned Hadi Choopan or Andrew Jacked instead of Derek Lunsford. Priest stressed that personal physique preferences are like car choices—subjective and not a sign of “hate.” He felt Lunsford acted out of character during the lead‑up and suggested some fans dislike perceived inauthenticity. Priest also speculated that Lunsford’s outspoken faith may rub some people the wrong way. Despite his critique, he congratulated Lunsford on completing the sport’s first Triple Crown and condemned online harassment. [Hear Priest’s Candid Commentary]

Shawn Ray and Bob Cicherillo argued that Hadi Choopan should have won the 2025 Mr. Olympia and that Nick Walker deserved no better than eighth place. Ray said Choopan won both days of competition and lamented Samson Dauda’s flatness, even though he believed Dauda had the best structure. They were stunned that judges placed Walker sixth; Ray insisted he belonged in eighth, and Cicherillo thought ninth. [Catch the Ray & Cicherillo Recap]

Coaches Milos Sarcev and Dennis James supported the judges’ decision, calling Derek Lunsford the “deserving winner” for his combination of width, thickness, and size. Sarcev reminded critics that winners are decided by qualified judges and noted that Lunsford’s legs were almost disproportionately big. James argued that Lunsford peaked once—at the Arnold Classic—and brought a slightly softer but fuller look to the Olympia that proved optimal. Both agreed Hadi Choopan or Andrew Jacked could have won in another scenario, and said Nick Walker lacked the freaky conditioning needed to match his mass. [See Why They Back the Judges]

Wesley Vissers offered his own recap, predicting Derek Lunsford would beat Hadi Choopan but calling Samson Dauda’s slide to fourth the night’s biggest shock. He explained that Dauda’s attempt to come in super‑lean left the tall champion too flat to regain fullness. Vissers celebrated Ramon “Dino” Queiroz’s Classic Physique win, noting his confidence and proportions outshone favorite Mike Sommerfeld. He said Sommerfeld struggled with the height/weight cap, which left his lower body looking stringy from behind. [Watch Vissers’ Olympia Breakdown]

Curious if your lifts are average or exceptional? Fitness Volt’s strength standards calculator lets you compare your squat, bench press, deadlift, shoulder press, pull‑ups, and more against recognized benchmarks. For example, an intermediate male lifter should squat around 290 lb, bench 226 lb, and deadlift 337 lb, while an intermediate female lifter should hit about 164 lb, 120 lb, and 194 lb, respectively. These standards help assess your current level, set meaningful goals, and stay motivated by tracking progress over time. [Measure Your Strength Today]

Classic Physique Olympia champ Ramon Dino got the full rock‑star treatment when he landed in Brazil 📹💪

Advanced Training Tip of the Day: Use Auto‑Regulation

Rigid programs look great on paper, but your nervous system doesn’t read spreadsheets. Auto‑regulation means adjusting weight, volume, and intensity based on how you feel on a given day. Use tools like RPE (rate of perceived exertion) or RIR (reps in reserve) to auto‑tune each set; if a weight that should feel like an 8 RPE feels like a 9, back off or cut a set, and if it feels like a 6, add load or reps. This flexible approach lets you push hard when energy is high, dial back when stressed or sleep‑deprived, and ultimately recover better while still progressing.

The Strength Bulletin

  • Sitting in a hot tub before exercise increased vertical‑jump height and lower‑limb power by warming muscles and enhancing stretch‑shortening cycle efficiency—a reminder that passive heat can prime the nervous system for power. [Read the study]

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