Depending on the individual’s diet, added protein from a snack may be beneficial. The negative connotation of carbs and fats has twisted the meaning of a balanced diet, leading to misinformed decision making. Labeling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has produced a very toxic and flawed perception of nutrition. Because diet culture has villainized the first two, protein wins by default. Our diet consists of three macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats and protein. Diet culture prioritizes thinness and aesthetics over well-being, which allows food and health industries to profit from our health misconceptions. The root cause of our protein-mania is diet culture, which asserts a “moral hierarchy of bodies” and is fueled by health myths. There are concerns that protein over-consumption can harm the kidneys and increase the risk of heart disease. In fact, we should be wary about consuming too much protein. We’ve adopted the ill-founded belief that more is better. My brother is one of millions of Americans seeking to add more protein into their diet - but they’re fixating on a problem that largely doesn’t exist. When I questioned how he was able to stomach the entirety of the smoothie, he said, “It’s for the gains.” With 25 grams of protein per serving, I seriously doubted whether this protein powder was necessary, considering his diet of chicken, eggs and steak is high-protein anyways. After reading that his protein powder was birthday cake and fruity pebbles flavored, I wasn’t surprised at all by the sour taste. Admittedly, the concoction looked appealing sitting in a tall glass, but upon touching it to my lips, I was immediately repulsed. I watched as he scooped a heaping serving of a chalky, cream-colored powder into a blender containing two bananas, frozen berries and multiple servings of peanut butter. I first took note of this phenomenon with my 17-year-old brother. So what is making us so protein obsessed? Contrary to the public’s perception, research suggests that most Americans are already meeting, and even surpassing, their daily protein needs. But protein deficiency in the United States is rare. Social media has helped convince people they should increase their protein intake to reach their health goals.Ĭertainly for those with specific medical conditions, vegetarians or people consciously restricting calorie intake, nutritionists may recommend additional protein. Long before social media made protein trendy, diet culture praised it for its ability to aid in weight loss: Protein speeds up your metabolic rate and is extremely satiating. It’s not surprising, considering that we rely on protein to build muscle, regulate hormones and produce antibodies that fight off infection. While protein is undoubtedly an essential component of nutrition, people tend to view it as a “universal elixir,” as Bee Wilson from The Guardian puts it. Two percent cottage cheese contains 12 grams of protein per half cup serving, and it’s sending people into a cottage cheese craze. And the revitalized demand is largely due to what you read on the nutrition label: its high protein content. The versatility of cottage cheese was highlighted by TikTok’s recent obsession with this supermarket staple. While some people simply spread it on bread, others throw it into a blender with fruit and honey and call it ice cream. This past July, the term “cottage cheese” reached a 19-year high in Google search interest.
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