It might be the algorithms I’m getting (I follow a lot of cooking and some exercise channels) but I’ve never seen a similar obsession about getting enough fiber (something the average person actually undereats.) Is it just less sexy than meat? How important is it nutritionally compared to other things if you’re not an athlete or a vegan or something? Why is a meal that’s “high in protein” often positioned as good and why do you need to “boost” your meals?
Source: https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/too-much-protein-health-risks
In: Biology
There are actually two different facets to this question.
The first is that the fixation on protein is mostly based on gymbro culture – people lifting weights and bulking, therefore requiring “more” protein while keeping carbs and fats low. You can absolutely make gains without consuming excess protein. However, it’s worth noting that the protein required to maintain mass goes up as mass goes up, which contributes to the constant need for protein. The flip side is that many people don’t actually need so much as to consume protein shakes and bars, and the average person certainly is consuming enough protein in a regular diet, with only vegans being specifically identified as at risk due to fewer protein sources and lower absorption rates for plant proteins.
The second issue touched on is that the Western diet is very imbalanced, being more carb-heavy. So yes, people are getting enough protein, but they’re also consuming carbs on the side that is less satiating, leading to more frequent hunger and more frequent eating. The burger patty alone is probably enough protein and carbs, but then you have the bun and condiments, and then you have the fries and soda on top of that.
The marketing of “high in protein” is really meant to appeal to a specific kind of person who is consuming the same amount of food as an average person but needs a different balance of macros (more protein, less carb/fat), but like with “low fat” products, the general market kind of ignores that and follows the “protein is good, more protein is more good” mindset.
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