I've been wondering for ages where the obsession with protein in the diet came from. This article in the New York Times doesn't fully explain, but notes this:
Protein has been the hot macronutrient for a while now. Longtime readers may recall that I gently mocked my husband for his protein obsession in 2023. He had been listening to health podcasts and social media posts, and various protein powders made their way into our pantry. In the two years since I wrote that piece, protein has become even more widespread. This month The Wall Street Journal noted that “in the year to Feb. 22, the fastest-growing grocery items were those with the most protein per serving — 25 grams or more, according to NielsenIQ data.” Members of the extended Kardashian clan, who never met a trend they couldn’t capitalize on, are in the mix. Khloe Kardashian just announced a new line of protein popcorn called Khloud.
Protein-forward diets are easy to market because they appeal to both men and women. Dieting in general is female coded, but men can focus on protein without feeling emasculated because body builders do it and it comes in the form of literal red meat (hello beef tallow, my old friend) and gym-rat powders.
And:
I would like to tell you that I moved away from my protein obsession because I saw that it was silly and that, as a person who is healthy and fit, it was an unnecessary tweak. But the truth is, I stopped because most of those protein-packed products tasted like chemicals and sawdust and they caused the kind of gastrointestinal woe I do not need to go into. “Proteinified food is just slightly better junk. Whether you notice the ‘better’ or the ‘junk’ first is a Rorschach test: You see whichever you care about more in the moment,” concluded Chris Gayomali in Grub Street, after he did a deep dive on how protein took over American grocery stores.Unfortunately, the linked article is behind a paywall. Guess I will have to look elsewhere.
11 comments:
It came from gym culture, the data is very weak. There are recent reports that many older people need to boost their protein intake. There is no need for supplements to do that. Creatine shows benefits but only for power related exercise, not endurance. For people over 60 recent research points to benefits for brain function and there are rumours circulating it could be helpful for depression treatment. Creatine is basically an energy supplement so the brain function benefits make some sense.
The big risk for older adults is that both creatine and protein supplements are ill advised for those with chronic kidney disease. Most older adults will have reduced kidney function which is different from chronic kidney disease but I still have concerns. Another issue is that creatine causes water retention which is not good for blood pressure regulation.
Comes from vegetarianism, surely.
There are a few types of vegetarian. Some do it because they don’t want to be cruel to animals. Others for (perhaps dubious) health reasons. In any case it creates a problem, because if you’re not going to get protein easily from meat, are you going to be monitoring your protein intake every day, minutely measuring each lentil that goes into you?
At any rate, those already disposed to measuring their food intake for good or bad reasons will be easily attracted to foods like protein supplements.
See also sports freaks, accustomed for years to oddities like performance-enhancing colostrum-based drinks.
And in a very real sense, anyway, other oddities like the ‘meat diet’ are just vegetarianism for those who live in the bizarro world. It’s devil’s advocate vegetarianism.
Sorry, forgot to add. That was me. TimT
Tim, there have been vegetarians among us forever, and Sanitarium products even on the ordinary supermarket shelves catering to them. But only in the last 4 or so years that ordinary products are now made with high protein fortification (or so it would seem), to appeal to the "ordinary" eater.
I think it's likely largely from the gym bro/girl influencer group on social media - because, as I never watch them, that would explain why I have missed the reason high protein became so "in".
You have to rely on protein and fat if you want to stay healthy. There are only 3 macro food groups. So I don’t see how you can get away from protein.
These fads come and go though. I love the factoid, and have probably shared it with you before, about strict traditional vegans (Jains) suddenly encountering nutritional deficiencies in the UK simply because there were so many tiny animals that got into their food in India that didn’t in their new country of emigration.
I also must say it can be fun using these weird powders and supplements in food. We had the Pete Evans cookbook for a while; most of his recipes seemed to call for a strange powder or distillation from the health food aisle or organic grocer. I’d say he’s a starting point for the protein powder niche market.
TimT
I had to confirm my vague memory about this. Older adults can be protein deficient, especially now with the high meat prices. It is cheaper to buy whey protein from Bulk Nutrients in Tasmania than pay for good quality meats. Gym junkies can benefit from whey protein but only if they are doing heavy resistance training.
https://thegeriatricdietitian.com/protein-requirements-for-older-adults/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4924200/
Experts in the field of protein and aging recommend a protein intake between 1.2 and 2.0 g/kg/day or higher for elderly adults [3,8,15]. The RDA of 0.8 g/kg/day is well below these recommendations and reflects a value at the lowest end of the AMDR. It is estimated that 38% of adult men and 41% of adult women have dietary protein intakes below the RDA [16,17].
(New device. Will this comment go through?)
I also suspect the protein supplement fad comes as a kind of counter to the fad that came before it - the 'everything has to be authentic' kind of fad pushed by hipsterism. You know, you have to have a personal relationship with each and every chickpea you bake. You have no right to be eating that cow unless you go through school with it and have dated each other's sisters, in which case, you have every right to be eating it. That sort of thing.
Now we're back to hey, it's funky looking stuff in a bag/jar/whatever. I want to eat that!
I'm worried now, after reading John's last post, that I am not getting protein for my age..:) I act quite a lot of tempeh chips in Indonesia - I assume they have lots of protein, which will do me good if the palm oil doesn't get me first!
I think it true, though, when you look at how older people eat that they seem to naturally cut down on protein. Or that's my impression, anyways...
Ate, not "act". And yes, tempeh chips are about 15 to 17% protein by weight, which is not surprising, given they are mostly soybeans.
I guess the salt in them is not going to do me any good either, though.
Tempeh by itself: I should learn more dishes using it, as it is a relatively cheap way to get a big boost of protein.
I'd avoid Tempeh because of the high salt content. That or compensate with high potassium foods. It is possible to maintain protein intake with plant foods but difficult. The advantage of plant protein intake is the relatively low leucine concentration. Many animal studies demonstrate that lowering leucine intake can have pronounced longevity benefits. The molecular biology supports those findings. The same might be true of methionine. However, there is evidence boosting glycine intake has benefits. Not every day, but I take a magnesium supplement with a strong glycine component. BTW, Mg deficiency is surprisingly common.
The problem with vegetarian diets is the lack of choline, long chain omega 3',s and B12. B12 is recognised but choline and DHA\EPA are ignored. Very bad. Also, iron absorption from plant foods is poor. I recently found out I have an iron deficiency. I donate blood and regular blood donation can cause iron deficiency. Not once have I been informed about that. I only learnt about it because of recent bloods showing iron deficiency, I gave blood the week before, put 2 and 2 together, checked, and advice from Mayo clinic even states blood donors should consider boosting iron intake!
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