Protein shakes are often the most common dietary supplement for gym goers. Most people interested in bodybuilding almost blindly follow the routine of consuming a protein powder-enriched diet. However, there are certain dark secrets hidden in the industry, as this late American bodybuilder once tried to unearth. Particularly concerned about adolescents who start hitting the gym and want to get hooked to the supplements, this bodybuilder once openly criticized the multi-billion dollar industry.

Richard Eugene Piana passed away in 2017 from a sudden block of his heartbeat. But before he died, he raised some genuine concerns about protein powders and the entire protein industry.

Late American bodybuilding great was once worried about young kids

In a YouTube video from 2014, Rich Piana talked about the detrimental effects protein powders can have as compared to any naturally healthy food. He said, “I don’t want 16-year-old kids to walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, Hey Rich, what kind of protein powder should I buy? What’s the best protein powder?’” in a worryingly alarming tone. He wanted to change the whole perception about these products from its grassroots level i.e. youngest gymgoers.

He continued, “I look at him and I say, ‘Forget about protein powder son’. Buy food. Food is better. Chicken, steak, rice, potatoes, oatmeal”. However, the supposed allure of protein powder products is so huge and so deeply embedded in many health enthusiast’s minds, that they find it hard to believe it at once.

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“He’s like really. Yeah but I see all the big bodybuilders use all this protein powder”, continued Piana. At this point, Piana makes his point about the protein industry and how he thinks they have manipulated people into buying into their believability. Piana finally said, “Yeah. That’s marketing. They’re being paid to say that”, responding to any kid who questions him about protein powders.

Piana continued his stance against the protein industry up until he died

This wasn’t the first time Rich Piana would wage a war against the protein powder industry. In June 2017, just months before his demise, he sat with ‘Egg White Crystal’ inventor Rodrigo and raised the issue. Calling it a multi-billion dollar industry, Piana accused them of contaminating the nitrogen percentage in their products, raising the percentage with other products, and then selling it as a true source of nitrogen balance and metabolism.

Piana died a few months after that interview on August 25, 2017, without finding any closure to his fight against the protein industry, unfortunately. While brain damage due to a lack of oxygen, after his heartbeat stopped and resumed, was the main cause, there were also allusions to taking performance-enhancement drugs (PEDs). Although he died a sad death, his legacy of fighting against such a massive industry still lives on. Several videos of him are floating around online.

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