is 'more protein' just the latest new fad?

[BarrelOfOtters]

Like no carbs or intermittent fasting....

I don't mind eating more protein but I don't want to go the protein shake route.

I was thinking this the other day. I swear nobody are hardly any protein in the 2000's especially if on a diet (well other than Atkins). These days people have replaced the Muller lights for Arla protein pots, and the diet shakes for protein shakes, but it's just more UHPF rebranded for the current health obsession in order to monetise peoples weight and health anxieties as far as I can tell. I wonder how much protein we do really need, doesn't seem anywhere near as much as is being touted by this new generation of diet 'experts'

I've been eating full fat greek yoghurt after being advised it's high protein - then I checked the percentages and its actually much higher fat than protein which only seems to be the normal for any yoghurt! There are SO many things that you 'should' and 'shouldn't' eat these days - am I the only one totally confused?

I did try this new social media influenced weight loss method of calorie counting with quite a high protein goal, but found that it was really hard to do without resorting to these protein products, which are usually UHPFs.

No it’s not new, body builders and athletes have been doing it for years! It’s just that it’s more well known now and science has evolved to tell us more

protein builds muscle and people are now moving to strength and fitness than just being thin but having weak/less muscles (see any muscles on Kate moss?)

you can lose muscle mass significantly if you are a female cutting calories so it’s actually important to keep your muscles and build strength as you age. So it’s not all bad

Protein sends satiety signals to the brain, so you feel full sooner eating high protein than eating carbs. So overall you eat less calories. I think that’s something to do with it.

Definitely that

Like if I eat pasta and no protein, I could eat a huge plate and not be satisfied, or a chicken breast with a bit of pasta and loads of veg and I would be
Think it's to do with spiking insulin as well but I need more coffee to post about that
I know eating say some cheese won't spike your blood sugar as much as a piece of toast

Why oh why do people seem to think drinking calories in the form of a protein shake is beneficial for weight loss?

Honestly I’m on week 2 of protein shakes and it has been the best. I think I have been stuffing my face for years in search of protein. I am barely even thinking about food any more as I’m so satisfied. Hopefully I will lose weight and if so then protein shakes are the best weight loss tool ever! I feel better but my scales are awful so don’t know if lost anything yet.

Because it’s a set amount of cals and satisfies you to stop picking and eating in between meals. It’s a tool. I definitely was reluctant to try but I am eating so much fewer calories on these shakes. Yes they’re UPF, yes they’re not real food, but it’s a short term thing to give a kick start.

Use the calories and eat more food then. Drinking protein isn't the same as eating it and the satiating effect isn't the same.

I bodybuild and use them every single day but during a cut they're first thing I get rid of.

I think it's hard to over eat chicken and salmon but you could carry on eating loads of rice, pasta and potatoes.
It's a more natural way for our bodies to be in tune to how much food we actually need.

@Vegetus Cool. I’m glad you’re doing what you want! I am too 😊 I don’t want to eat more.

So you'd rather drink your calories which are not satiating than use the same amount of calories on satiating protein like lean meat and eggs?

Makes sense.

There is some really interesting research in both animals and people which says people will keep eating until they get enough protein even if they’ve had enough calories.

For the next 5 weeks, yes. Not sure why you’re pissed off about it 😄

@Justkeepswimmingswimming that's really interesting.

I don’t use protein shakes in any way for weight loss or exercise in a regular sense as part of any regime, but I have bought one of those 330ml protein milkshakes for when I have been rushed off my feet and running between meetings etc, when eating a lump of cooked chicken breast hasn’t really been the right fit 😂

I don't. I can't physically eat that much food to get the protein I need. They're useful.

Good for you if you can trough, not everyone physically can.

A lot of it is a marketing gimmick. I laughed seeing protein milk in Iceland. I thought nobody would be that dim to pay that much for that amount of milk but the next time I went in, it was sold out.

I eat the same amount of protein that I always have which is around 50g each day.

I've lost 80lbs in 7 months eating high protein, low carb. It fills me up, it stops my blood sugar spiking and it protects me from muscle mass loss. All good things.

Protein will keep you fuller for longer. It’s a good way to become leaner but a lot of products are sold as “high protein” but are much higher in carbs and fats. You need to know what your macros should be for your body weight/goal and activity level and stick with food that falls within that so X grams of fat/protein/carbs per day.

My diabetic hospital has still says that they can't yet support low carb, because there isn't yet enough data on it. How do we know what the long term affects are until we've got 10,20,30 years of good solid data on the long term effects.

I don't know if people will think that protein per se is bad, but it drives people to have more animal products (oh I just have chicken/salmon/eggs for every meal) which is really bad for the planet.

I think the next trend would be a planetary health diet with far less animal products.

Actual dieticians have been saying the same thing for ages - Mediterranean diet or local equivalent is best with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, wholegrains, not much animal fat, barely any processed, fried or sugary foods.

Basically, all things in moderation. An emphasis on protein drives lots of people to eat animal products immoderately.

I also always think it's nuts people have protein shakes costing £££ but they're made from pea protein which is cheap as chips, or whey which is a cheese by-product that otherwise goes in animal feed.

I don't drink protein shakes because I don't like normal milkshake or hot chocolates and I also don't like yoghurt but since increasing my protein intake since the start of the year I have dropped a dress size.

For me it is about the fact that by having a higher protein breakfast such as eggs instead of just toast or cereal and having more chicken/fish alongside my carbs (with increased veg/salad too) I feel fuller for longer and so don't over-eat or snack.