LadyButterfly she/herYOGHURT ISN'T CAKE
Whats_your_reasoningThe protein part needs to be repeated. People in the US (at least) already consume far more protein than required. It’s not without risks, as too much protein can screw with your liver and kidneys, and even lead to osteoporosis, among other health issues. Yet companies keep shoving it into everything as if we’re in a famine, and people don’t seem aware that too much protein can have downsides at all.
Yeah but gainz bro
Harvey656People in the US (at least) already consume far more protein than required.
I don’t think it’s that far above the recommended minimums. CDC data shows that Americans get about 15-16% of their calories from protein, and on a 2500 calorie diet that might mean 100g of protein per day.
There research that there is some benefit up to about twice the recommended minimum before excess protein starts to cause cardiovascular or kidney issues, depending on activity levels.
So for that 90kg person on a 2500 calorie diet, with the American average of 16% of calories from protein, we’re talking about 100g of protein per day. Basically in the middle between the recommended minimum (0.8g per kg of body weight or 72g for our 90kg person) and the upper limits of optimum amounts for the very active (1.5g per kg, or 135g for a 90g person).
The protein fad is annoying, but it’s probably one of the less harmful issues facing public health in the United States today.
I wonder how much that cdc data is averaged though… I definitely know way too many people who have completely bought into the protein fad, and they greedily lap up all of the ‘protein’ offerings from stores and restaurants believing it’s the ‘real way to lose weight!’
Well I could go on all day about this, but I think the vast majority of people overestimate how much protein (in the strict definition of the macronutrient made out of amino acids) is in meat products and underestimates how much protein is in plant products, especially grain products.
For example, the typical hot dog on a bun has nearly half the protein from the bun itself. Typical bun is 5g of protein, and typical hot dog itself is 6g of protein.
Same with things like deli sandwiches where the two slices of bread provide a substantial amount of protein and the cured meat and cheese in between is sometimes not substantial enough to really add a lot of protein.
Peanut butter sandwiches are a staple in my home and just regular bread and regular peanut butter makes a snack with 17g protein (more than 2 eggs).
To whatever extent processed food is substituting in protein, they might actually be reducing carbs and fat in a way that makes people consume fewer calories overall.
And frankly, some of the labels are just outright misleading about how much protein is in them. High protein pop tarts have as much protein as plain slices of bread (5g each).
90kg is waaaay above what an average person should weight. 70 kg is much closer to a healthy weight.
I guess obesity has the upside of making protein consumption of USians appear reasonable? Silver lining!
NikeluiI’m not sure. Unless you are 1.90m or very buff, 90kg pits you in the overweight category.