I forgot an important meeting this week and I have been kicking myself about it. The thing is, I feel like I have a limited amount of bandwidth and when the tank is full, anything new that comes in will knock something else out. Still, I’m doing better than when I was post-partum with the girls.

In those days I was completely disabled by the sleepless nights. I arrived at work one day with no shoes on. I put the iron away in the fridge.

I washed all the bottles and stored them in the freezer instead of the cupboard. It’s a wonder we all survived!

This time, I’m a little less tired, thanks to Atticus, and so while things are sometimes foggy, they are mainly, mostly, manageable.

When you’re close to your limit, regardless of the cause, anything that helps cut through the fog is handy.

I find that a lot of my clients come to me with questions that they could research and Google, but they just need someone else to do it for them instead.

I’ve seen a ton of dietary trends come and go and an even larger number of faddy supplements, so I love to help people filter through the junk and provide a voice of reason.

Of all the things that cause my clients confusion, protein powders are probably top of the list.

Whey, soy, hemp, pea, brown rice, collagen-based proteins … which are better?

Protein powders came under scrutiny lately when a long list of brands were found to have exceptionally high levels of heavy metals or BPA.

Heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead and cadmium, have become increasingly prolific in our environment due to pollution and agricultural practices so that the food we grow or raise becomes a source.

A protein powder is a concentrated food source so it makes sense that consequently, these protein powders often come with a concentrated dose of heavy metals too.

Unfortunately, that’s not a good thing, so it’s important to pick the right brand. For this and a few other reasons, here’s what to look for.

What to look for in a protein powder:

1, Third-party testing

Whilst whey-based proteins may contain heavy metals, this is more of an issue in plant-based proteins due to the prevalence of metals in our soils.

Pea protein tends to have lower levels, but it’s still worth checking your source. Bean and rice-based proteins definitely need a check.

Go to the website of the manufacturer and make sure they use third-party testing, to check any heavy metals are present only in safe limits.

Be especially strict about this if you use a protein supplement every day. My favourite brand for protein has been Garden of Life, but as they’ve just been bought out by Nestle and have crazy minimum orders, you will likely see less of this in Bermuda.

By all means stock up overseas. But we are getting a new brand in at Miles in a few week’s time that I am really excited about. Watch this space!

2, If you choose an animal base, go for grass-fed

Grass-fed cows have a much cleaner amino acid profile than factory-farmed cows. I’m a firm believer that eating products from a sick animal and expecting to be well yourself just does not make any sense. Choose a grass-fed whey, or better, a grass-fed collagen protein.

3, Look for sprouted plant-based proteins

Using sprouted grains or legumes improves the bioavailability of the amino acids and makes the product easier on your digestive system, due to the removal of enzyme inhibitors.

It’s one thing to consume protein, it’s quite another to absorb it. I remember being taught “you are what you eat, but more importantly, you are what you digest and absorb”. It’s so true!

4, Natural sweeteners

Check the ingredient listing. Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame just aren’t good for you. Sugar alcohols such as xylitol or erythritol are arguably better, but they can have quite the laxative effect so easy does it! Stevia and monk fruit are by far my favourite options here.

Aside from all this, while I am a fan of protein powders for an on-the-go solution, there’s nothing better than a more natural approach.

If you were to add 2 tbsps Linwoods ground seed mix (especially the flax, sunflower and pumpkin version from Miles), 1 scoop of Great Lakes collagen powder and 1 tablespoon of hemp to your smoothie, you would be adding 18g protein.

That’s the equivalent of three eggs. Not bad! Do remember no more than 1.5 cups fruit in your smoothie or you will completely overdo the natural sugars.

• The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Somorjay Burns BA Hons, Dip ION, BNTA is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in Britain. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda or instagram @naturalbda