Hi friends,
I’ve been diving deep into the new Dietary Guidelines, and while they get a lot right, there’s one update that’s already being seriously misused—protein.
The good news is that the new Guidelines are finally recommending we eat more protein! This is a huge, positive step. Protein from whole, nutrient-dense sources like eggs, fish, grass-fed meats, nuts, seeds, and legumes is essential for keeping our muscles strong, supporting our metabolism, helping us feel full, and promoting healthy aging.
But here’s where we need to be careful.
This great advice is quickly becoming a new marketing loophole for the processed food industry. We’ve seen this playbook before. Remember in the 80s and 90s when “low-fat” became the buzzword? Food companies stripped out the fat and replaced it with loads of sugar and refined starches, slapping a “healthy” label on it all. Metabolic health took a serious hit.
The same thing is happening now with protein.
Food manufacturers are adding isolated protein to highly processed products that are still packed with added sugars, refined carbs, chemical additives, and industrial oils. Then, they boldly label the front of the package “High Protein!” This creates a powerful “marketing illusion,” making us believe we’re making a smart choice, even when the product is fundamentally junk food.
When we think something is “healthy,” we tend to eat more of it, feel falsely reassured, and can experience worse health outcomes over time.
The guidelines are crystal clear: eat more whole, nutrient-dense foods and dramatically cut back on highly processed foods. Protein is a necessary part of a healthy diet, but it’s not a magic ingredient that cancels out a list of harmful junk ingredients.
The bottom line is simple: protein from whole foods supports your health; highly processed foods with “added protein” often don’t.
Don’t be fooled by the buzzword! Look beyond the claim, read the ingredient list, and always focus on quality—not marketing.
Warmly,
Lisa
