Bonus Preview: Lead in Protein, Training Myths, and Cutting Weight

Barbell Medicine Podcast

Barbell Medicine

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 30 October 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum answers questions on supplements, training philosophy, and competition prep in this extended preview of the Barbell Medicine AMA! This episode debunks common myths and gives you the honest, evidence-based answers you need for better health and lifting.

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In this preview, we cover:

Lead in Your Supplements? 🤯 The recent controversy and why you need to check for third-party, batch testing. We discuss the low lead content of Barbell Medicine's whey and why plant-based proteins, like vegetables, naturally carry higher risks.
The Problem with Group Class Programming: While F45, CrossFit, and Orange Theory are great for adherence, their circuit training often compromises total training volume, force production, and loads, which reduces exercise-related adaptations.
Stop the Endless Stretching! Stretching alone does not reduce injury risk, decrease soreness, or improve performance. Better to use that time for actual strength training.
Weight Cutting: Is 20 lbs Too Much? Get the strong recommendation against attempting an aggressive weight cut for a meet, particularly if you are cutting more than 2-5% of your body weight for a 2-hour weigh-in.
Isometrics vs. Dynamic Exercise: Isometrics are best as a starting point for those who cannot tolerate any dynamic joint movement due to pain. However, dynamic exercises are generally better for strength and health adaptations.
Deadlift Bar Slack: Learn about the two sources of slack in a deadlift system and why practicing with a deadlift bar (which is longer and thinner than a standard power bar) is essential before a competition.
Garage Gym Platform: Do I Need One? Why building an 8x8 platform is recommended for lifting, primarily to eliminate the floor slope common in garages and provide a level, solid surface.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Jordan from Barbell Medicine.
0:10.0	Now this episode preview is from exclusive content that regularly goes out to our Barbell
0:14.8	Medicine Plus subscribers.
0:16.5	In addition to exclusive content, Barbell Medicine Plus subscribers get early access to episodes
0:20.7	and products, ad-free listening, discounts on products and services, and the ability to ask
0:25.7	Dr. Baraki Night questions, all for about the cost of a cup of coffee each month. And in case you
0:30.4	were wondering, the first month is free. To join, head over to barbellmedicine.com slash plus and
0:35.6	sign up to be a barbell medicine plus member today. That's barbomedicin.com
0:39.2	slash plus. All right. Thanks for your consideration. On to the show.
0:46.4	Thoughts on high lead levels found in protein powders in recent consumer reports article.
0:55.0	So the Consumer Reports article put this cut off for lead content in protein supplements at 0.5 micrograms per serving, right?
1:04.6	That is a, they took that from Proposition 65, which was a bill passed in 1986 in California that basically said, look, if you have a lead content higher than this per serving, you got to tell people about it. It's like a right to know labeling thing. It's not based in any sort of science as far as if you have more than this per serving or per day, you're going to have some sort of lead-related
1:29.7	toxicity.
1:30.5	It's just a right-to-know labeling thing.
1:34.2	In fact, the FDA's recommendations for lead intake for adults is like 12 micrograms per day total.
1:41.3	For pregnant women or nursing women, it's like eight micrograms per day, and for infants,
1:45.6	it's 2.2 micrograms per day. The EU, they mandate that any sort of supplement, food, whatever,
1:53.0	has to have less than 3,000 parts per billion of lead. Our weight protein supplement has
1:58.8	0.823 micrograms of lead per serving and has 31 parts per billion, so way under both thresholds.
2:08.6	Interestingly, like spinach, if it's grown in a lead-rich soil would be way above this Prop 65 threshold.
2:21.0	It does matter on the soil and the time of harvest and stuff like that.
2:27.3	But anyway, you can't really make vegetables, plant-based proteins, or most foods without any lead.
	...

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