According to Hartman Group, a consumer research firm based in Bellevue, Washington, many Americans are obsessed with protein, with about 60% trying to increase their protein intake.
From protein shakes and bars to protein pizza and carnivorous diets, Americans don't seem to get enough of the main ones.
But is this too good? And is today's obsession with protein stuffed foods likely to add pounds?
Fitness experts and nutritionists have considered this issue.
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Garry Reinham of California told Fox News Digital that the protein is “the golden child of muscle growth, strength and performance.”
Reinham is the co-founder of Human Garage, a Golden State-based wellness company.
The Carnivore diet is a popular option for Americans today. But are they good for you? Read what health and wellness experts said. (istock)
“While carnivorous movements explode and claim plants are not needed, vegans claim the exact opposite, referring to longevity research and plant-based champions like Wade Wrightheart.
“I went on a vegan diet and my cholesterol has risen – why here?”
Rather than focusing on either a carnivorous diet or a vegan diet, most people can benefit from a diet that includes both plants and meat, Reinham said.
“The real secret? Flexibility – the ability to change, adapt and evolve your diet as your body changes,” he said.
“Evolve your diet as your body changes.”
Protein said, “We're not the enemy. We're not fat. No carbohydrates either. The enemy is stiff.”
Instead, they need to try a diet that shifts to eat more or less protein and observe how their bodies react, Reinham said.
People need to experiment with different diets to see how their bodies react, one expert said. (istock)
“Want to know what's useful for you? Stop the discussion and start the test. Your body already has the answer,” he said.
“Extra strain”?
Stephen Sheehan, a Florida-based dietitian on the website Barbend, told Fox News Digital that eating too much protein is dangerous.
Too much protein “can cause extra strain on the kidneys, leading to digestive problems, and if it's not balanced with other nutrients, it pushes out important carbohydrates and fats,” he said.
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Additionally, people who generally eat a lot of calories can “save excess protein as fat,” he said.
The average person in the US eats enough protein, Sheehan said – about 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
“A lot of people just frontload carbs and fats and hit a big protein at dinner.”
“It's not necessarily better,” he said. “There are points where the excess protein doesn't contribute much beyond meeting your needs.”
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Sheehan said the amount of protein people eat doesn't matter.
Protein is not a bad thing, but it is possible to eat too much, experts said. (istock)
“The real problem is not the total protein, but the quality and distribution throughout the day,” he pointed out.
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“A lot of people frontload carbs and fats and instead of spaced it out at dinner, they just hit big protein,” he said.
Many protein-rich products add sugar and fat, he said, “it cancels out the metabolic benefits that protein may have.”
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As Reinham did, Sheehan advocated a mixed carbohydrate and protein diet for most people.
“The focus should be on balance — it's not just stuffing as much protein as possible,” he said.
