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New diets come and go often, but every now and then, some stick around. The latest: protein. Everyone seems to be looking for more ways to add it to their diet.From coffee shops to grocery stores, you couldn’t miss the promotion of protein even if you tried. But how much do you need? Doctors and nutritionists say it’s less than what social media might lead consumers to believe. Prioritizing protein isn’t new, but the number of people doing so is.”Things tend to go to an extreme at first,” said Kim Flannery, director of nutrition at the Wisconsin Athletic Club. “And I think that’s kind of where we are right now.”It’s everywhere, from social media influencers and now in coffee shops.For the first time, Starbucks added protein to its menu of drinks, even allowing customers to add it to their cold foam on top of their coffee.The trend has continued at the grocery store, too.Emilie Williamson with Metro Market said she’s seen a substantial increase in protein-filled snacks. “A big goal of ours is to meet shoppers where they’re at,” Williamson said.Walking down the aisle of your local grocery store, you will quickly find protein in many everyday snacks, like muffins, cereal, pretzels, chips, and even protein pastries.Dr. Lisa Morselli, assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin, said this is where she gets worried about the quality of the product.”These are all foods that are pretty processed,” Morselli said. “The protein snack marketing probably gives people license to snack without really paying attention to what they put in their mouth.”Morselli believes the trend has been influenced by social media.Morselli said those on GLP-1 weight loss medications need more protein in their diet for muscle gain.Separately, those looking to lose weight can find success in protein, too, according to Dr. Morselli.”Protein is involved in the control of hunger,” Morselli said.Morselli explains that protein-rich foods can make you feel full longer.Protein can also be great for balancing blood sugar levels. But for muscle gain or weight loss, protein isn’t a magic pill, either.”It’s not that if you take a higher protein, or if you have a higher protein intake, it will magically protect your muscles; you still need to exercise them,” Morselli said.Flannery said when talking to nutrition clients, she hopes to emphasize that protein is just one piece of the pie. “People tend to focus so much on the protein that they tend to lose the balance,” Flannery said.Flannery worries the trend of sharing personal protein goals could be going too far.”One number does not by any means apply to everyone,” Flannery said.Flannery said personal protein goals are different for everyone, with age, sex and activity levels all taken into consideration.According to the recommended dietary allowance, when calculating protein goals, the person should take .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight.For example, if the person weighs 150 pounds, a modest protein goal would be around 54 grams of protein.Arguably more importantly than any goal is the quality of protein the person is consuming.”A lot of the health problems that we have are due to the, all the processed foods,” Flannery reminds.A New York Times investigation in October found many popular protein powders and shakes contain dangerous levels of lead.Flannery said this is what worries her about the rise in protein snacks.”We’re just adding protein to junk food,” Flannery said.Flannery recommends getting protein from real foods like beans, tofu, meat, fish, and in some cases, pasta that can be healthy, too.”My opinion is that it’s better to eat real food and get your protein from real food,” Morselli agreed.
New diets come and go often, but every now and then, some stick around. The latest: protein. Everyone seems to be looking for more ways to add it to their diet.
From coffee shops to grocery stores, you couldn’t miss the promotion of protein even if you tried. But how much do you need?
Doctors and nutritionists say it’s less than what social media might lead consumers to believe.
Prioritizing protein isn’t new, but the number of people doing so is.
“Things tend to go to an extreme at first,” said Kim Flannery, director of nutrition at the Wisconsin Athletic Club. “And I think that’s kind of where we are right now.”
It’s everywhere, from social media influencers and now in coffee shops.
For the first time, Starbucks added protein to its menu of drinks, even allowing customers to add it to their cold foam on top of their coffee.
The trend has continued at the grocery store, too.
Emilie Williamson with Metro Market said she’s seen a substantial increase in protein-filled snacks.
“A big goal of ours is to meet shoppers where they’re at,” Williamson said.
Walking down the aisle of your local grocery store, you will quickly find protein in many everyday snacks, like muffins, cereal, pretzels, chips, and even protein pastries.
Dr. Lisa Morselli, assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin, said this is where she gets worried about the quality of the product.
“These are all foods that are pretty processed,” Morselli said. “The protein snack marketing probably gives people license to snack without really paying attention to what they put in their mouth.”
Morselli believes the trend has been influenced by social media.
Morselli said those on GLP-1 weight loss medications need more protein in their diet for muscle gain.
Separately, those looking to lose weight can find success in protein, too, according to Dr. Morselli.
“Protein is involved in the control of hunger,” Morselli said.
Morselli explains that protein-rich foods can make you feel full longer.
Protein can also be great for balancing blood sugar levels. But for muscle gain or weight loss, protein isn’t a magic pill, either.
“It’s not that if you take a higher protein, or if you have a higher protein intake, it will magically protect your muscles; you still need to exercise them,” Morselli said.
Flannery said when talking to nutrition clients, she hopes to emphasize that protein is just one piece of the pie.
“People tend to focus so much on the protein that they tend to lose the balance,” Flannery said.
Flannery worries the trend of sharing personal protein goals could be going too far.
“One number does not by any means apply to everyone,” Flannery said.
Flannery said personal protein goals are different for everyone, with age, sex and activity levels all taken into consideration.
According to the recommended dietary allowance, when calculating protein goals, the person should take .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight.
For example, if the person weighs 150 pounds, a modest protein goal would be around 54 grams of protein.
Arguably more importantly than any goal is the quality of protein the person is consuming.
“A lot of the health problems that we have are due to the, all the processed foods,” Flannery reminds.
A New York Times investigation in October found many popular protein powders and shakes contain dangerous levels of lead.
Flannery said this is what worries her about the rise in protein snacks.
“We’re just adding protein to junk food,” Flannery said.
Flannery recommends getting protein from real foods like beans, tofu, meat, fish, and in some cases, pasta that can be healthy, too.
“My opinion is that it’s better to eat real food and get your protein from real food,” Morselli agreed.
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