Eating adequate protein is important, but some experts argue that it’s overkill. Mozaffarian says the obsession with protein is based on marketing and hype, not science. Many Americans already consume adequate amounts of protein in line with current recommendations. “From a practical standpoint, these new guidelines may lead Americans to believe they need even more protein than they’re already consuming, when that’s not actually the case,” Mozaffarian added.
Too much focus on protein can cause more harm than good. “Thousands of processed products such as energy bars, cereals and water are marketed as being healthy because they are high in protein, but there is little evidence that they are good for Americans,” Mozaffarian says.
“Additionally, consuming more protein than your body needs can be stored as fat and increase your risk of diabetes, just like eating too much starch or sugar,” he says.
