Why I Trust Equip’s Unflavored Grass-Fed Protein for Gut Health & Lead Safety (for Me & My Kids)

If you're like me — feeding your kids foods rich in quality animal protein while navigating

• eczema-prone skin,

• food sensitivities & allergies, and

• the need to avoid hidden toxins

  you’ve probably hit a moment where even "healthy" foods didn’t feel… safe.

This is where quality protein powders have made all the difference for me. I search for 3 things:

1. Gut-health supporting, minimal ingredients
   (sans gut disrupting ingredients: fillers, binders, preservatives and emulsifiers)

2. Good taste
   (no game-y-ness please & no artificial tastes)

3. Truly clean & quality real food ingredients

That’s why Be Well By Kelly Grass-Fed Beef Protein & Equip Prime Grass-Fed Beef Protein (Unflavored) have been my daily go-to for years.

Collagen-rich protein smoothies, yogurts, and energy balls have been my favorite bridge snacks for years.

Let’s dive into what to factor in when choosing your protein.

In addition to being mindful of

• the quality of the beef protein ideally from

  • grass-fed & finished cows that are also

  • pasture-raised

• the extraction process through which the beef is put through to make it into powder is also key.

  • I love knowing that Equip & BeWellByKelly use heat and water only (just like bone broth!). No chemicals like hexane are used and thereby none of those harsh chemicals end up in the powder
    (a key difference that sets Equip & BWBK apart when compared to most protein powders out there).

Collagen is essential — but more isn’t always better

If you’ve been here for a while, you know I often share that quality collagen supports:

• Gut lining repair (critical for my clients on their eczema elimination journey) (Source)

• Joint and bone strength (Source)

• Calmer nervous systems (via glycine + GABA production) (Source)

• Better sleep and lower inflammation (Source)

BUT… overloading on collagen… can backfire. Excessive glycine (in collagen) intake is linked to:

• Elevated oxalate levels (→ kidney stones, gout risk, calcification in the body) (Source)

• Imbalanced amino acid intake (Source)

That's why I appreciate Equip’s Prime Protein (Unflavored): it provides naturally occurring collagen, (~7-8 g per scoop) just enough for daily support — without tipping into excess.

📌 How much collagen do you need?

• Aim for 10-15g per day, from quality sources (be cautious if your collagen &/or collagen-rich protein is sourced from the USA & Brazil)

• Recommendation: please stay under 30g total daily collagen, per most clinical guidelines

• Equip Prime contains naturally occurring collagen/gelatin from beef bones and meat — the best estimate (from third‑party review) is ~30% of the isolate = ~7–8 g collagen / scoop.

• Be Well By Kelly contains testing results of ~16g / scoop. However, due to the nature of the product and naturally occurring collagen, claims cannot be made on the bag because there is a slight variation in each production lot even though their beef protein is a significant source of naturally occurring collagen.

What about LEAD in protein powders?

Let’s talk honestly.

Consumer Reports (CR) flagged lead levels in several protein powders — including Equip’s Cacao flavor. But here’s the truth:

• Unflavored Equip Prime Protein was not the product with the flagged concern

• Lead occurs naturally in many foods (e.g., 1 sweet potato = lead content of ~7 scoops of unflavored Equip Prime Protein)

• CR compared Cacao Equip Prime Protein to other brands Non-Cacao — and Equip was still at the lowest end of the list

• I only use Unflavored Equip Protein daily — which tests extremely clean (my 1 year old enjoys it too with raw honey & unsweetened yogurt)

Equip protein powder is grass-fed, real-food made simple. I love that it never smells gamey or synthetic like many protein powders.

I linked the full lab breakdown in this IG post. Check it out.

Where I Source My Protein Powders

If you’re looking for a clean, daily protein that works for you and your eczema-prone littles — Equip’s Unflavored Protein (for collagen consciousness) is my top pick because I like do 2 scoops / day.

On the days I do 1 scoop / day & want to feel like I’m having a treat, I lean on Be Well By Kelly’s Vanilla Grass-Fed Protein.

The naturally occurring collagen content gives me the benefits of collagen & glycine without overloading my body with gout, kidney stone, and high oxalate risk.

Equip upgraded their products with a new modern kitchen look - while keeping their same clean formula.

Get Equip Foods here — use code MUMWITHABUN to save

Full lineup of Be Well By Kelly grass-fed & finished chemical free protein powders — I personally purchased each flavor well before becoming an affiliate.

Get Be Well By Kelly here — use code: MUMWITHABUN to save $10 anytime

If you’ve ever been frustrated that “health food” can still come with gut baggage… this is your permission slip to simplify. Keep it real. Keep it clean. And find products that work with your body.

Let me know if you have any questions ♡

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FAQ

Q: Is Equip & Be Well Protein safe for kids?
Yes — I give it to my 1-year-old in yogurt with raw honey. Equip's & Be Well By Kelly’s unflavored protein are clean, grass-fed, and free from fillers and additives.

I recommend holding off on sweetened / flavored varieties until 18 months. Kelly Leveque also recommends this even though her Vanilla & Chocolate & “sweeter” protein powders are sweetened with organic monk fruit (the actual fruit ground up) only.

Q: What’s the difference between collagen protein and beef isolate?
Beef isolate (like in Equip & Be Well By Kelly) contains naturally occurring collagen plus all essential amino acids, making it a more complete protein source.