The subject of lowering heavy metals in plant-based foods has been a key initiative addressed by Growing Naturals since 2011. Taking pride in setting new bars in the brown rice protein industry, the Growing Naturals team specializes in nutrition, research, food/beverage formulation and production and continues to act rapidly upon any new information. Below you will find general facts plus information about the latest topic(s) we are dedicated to researching and taking action regarding.
Heavy Metals in Growing Naturals Ingredients:
Growing Naturals has been committed to lowering its naturally occurring heavy metal levels year after year with a significant change expected in 2014. Growing Naturals’ goal is to lower levels faster than any external trends, while relying upon the speed of current research and technology that still maintains the natural structure of our product.
Subject: Tungsten
Based upon new concerns related to Tungsten, we are putting massive resources towards researching testing options, recommended levels vs. effects and methods for limiting its presence in our products. Being a new element that is not currently tested in most accredited labs with minimal research and no set standards, we are progressing as quickly as possible and will provide updates as we receive them. Initial investigations appear to confirm that tungsten levels in Growing Naturals’ products are naturally occurring and not due to industrial pollution, due to the pristine crop locations nowhere near manufacturing or disposal facilities.
Heavy Metals in Plant-Based Foods:
• Heavy metals have been part of Earth’s soil, water and air since it was formed millions of years ago.
• All plants grown in the ground have some level of naturally occurring heavy metals. Rice, in addition to plants, such as spinach, collard greens, sunflower seeds, spices, etc., tend to have more than other plants due to the amount of water that is absorbed during the growing cycle.
• Vegans are clinically shown to have higher heavy metal levels in their bodies due to a 100% plant-based diet. Vegans have been clinically shown to live longer than non-Vegans.
• The amount of heavy metals in plant-based foods can be reduced in the following ways, all of which are employed by Growing Naturals’ ingredient sources:
• Sourcing:
• Identifying ideal geological areas that inherently have less naturally occurring heavy metals (i.e. heavy metals can be higher in areas with higher levels of historical volcanic activity). Tests show that levels change over time, thus new sources need to constantly be at hand.
• Growing certified organic crops in pristine, unpolluted regions
• Testing:
• Continuously testing product in accredited labs, utilizing the newest and most reliable standards and making alterations as test results and industry knowledge changes.
• Processing:
• Developing new procedures and technology for limiting heavy metals, at every stage possible, while still maintaining a natural status.
• Errors can occur in both managing and testing levels because natural conditions can change. Accredited labs report that levels can vary by 50% when the amounts of heavy metals being found and tested are so small. The amounts are similar to taking a cube of sugar, chopping it into 1,000 pieces, taking one of those pieces, chopping it into 1,000 more pieces and then testing that final piece.
• How much one ingests is not indicative of how much is retained. The body is a natural filter, dependent upon health factors and levels of nutrition. Many foods act as natural antioxidants and help to further filter heavy metals.
• Heavy metals are best compared when reported as parts per million (ppm):
• Parts per million is the measurement used by most standards, including California Prop 65.
• There is an unnecessary fear when a number is reported in parts per billion (ppb). Numbers in parts per billion appear larger because the decimal point is moved 3 places to the right. For example, a number that is 5 ppm is equivalent to 5000 ppb.
Consumer Education:
We believe consumers can make better decisions for their well-being by having a well-rounded education about the positives and negatives of heavy metals and rice proteins.
In conjunction with our ingredient supplier, Growing Naturals is embarking on a consumer education program to help buyers make informed decisions. Our goal is to educate consumers about more beneficial plant-based alternatives to the dairy products tens of millions of people cannot utilize due to intolerances, allergies or health benefits.
Current programs include:
• Press releases distributed to general and niched media contacts.
• A national consumer media tour and online education program, featuring Dr. Janet and other experts.
• General educational articles and research available for sharing, which can be found on www.GrowingNaturals.com. Visitors can go directly to www.GNstudies.com for study-based information and www.GNscoop.com for contributions from experts, including Growing Naturals’ in-house Registered Dietitian.
We are proud that Growing Naturals’ source for rice protein is the company which:
• Introduced the first organic, melamine-free, hexane-free, EU-certified rice protein when no other manufacturer had attempted to meet those standards.
• Continues to develop new sources, testing, research and technologies in order to continuously improve their ingredients, setting new bars as the industry evolves and information becomes known.
• The FDA trusts them, after thousands of approved inspections, to not only have the only special status for more rapid plant protein approvals, but also to be on track to being the first GRAS certified rice protein, followed by the US Pharmacopeia monographed standard.
• The NSF has asked Growing Naturals to be the first rice protein certified for sport.
• Was used in third party clinical trials and showed a plant protein to be as beneficial as whey, while also helping to control satiety in a weight management program.• Is a founding member of the World Rice Alliance, which opens up new rice sources worldwide.
• Is helping hundreds of millions of restricted consumers worldwide find allergen-friendly, all-inclusive, plant-based alternatives that nourish their body.
• Is helping cross over natural plant-based ingredients for mass-market acceptance.
