Protein mania has taken over the junk food sector – and impacted other manufactured foods – with the promise that added protein makes the foods healthier. But there’s a down side that isn’t getting the mainstream or social media coverage it deserves…
Too much of a good thing
The truth, doctors tell us, is that the vast majority of diners in the Western World get more than en-ough protein in their daily diets. So why add more?
Maybe its because consumers are well aware of the role protein plays in the lives of top athletes and body builders, who add protein to their diets to help maintain and build muscle. And protein powd-ers and other additives have been very visible symbols of ‘healthy living’ for decades on the shelves of so-called health food stores and supplement outlets.
But there’s a down side we should all be aware of… Too much protein, especially if taken over pro-longed periods of time, can have have serious consequences that far outweigh its benefits: dehyd-ration, constipation, bad breath, and weight gain. Long-term dangers can include kidney strain, heart problems and nutrient imbalances.
What happens
If you have too much protein in your system, your body tries to break it down and excrete the re-mains in your urine. If you consume a lot of excess protein, that’s a lot of work for your kidneys.
If you don’t get enough fibre in your diet – and the vast majority of Americans and Europeans don’t – that’s where the lower-digestive issues arise.
And those nutrient imbalances we mentioned can have widespread unwelcome affects on your body.
My take
Makers of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) have been making hay lately about ‘fortifying’ their products – from snacks to sodas – with added protein. That’s become a common practice among junk food pushers these days, to make their products appear healthier than they really are.
Adding protein doesn’t change the fact that most snacks and sodas – and many breakfast cereals and other prepared foods – contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients – not the least of which are salt, fat and added sugar.
My questions to you:
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- Do you agree that added protein in UPFs is overkill?
- Do you agree that added protein in UPFs is merely a tactic by manufacturers to make consumers think their products are healthier?
- Do you agree that added protein in snacks, sodas and other foods can have a down side to health?
Given the foregoing…
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- Do you endorse the addition of protein to UPFs? Or…
- Will you avoid foods with added protein?
And given the proven dangers of too much protein in your diet…
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- Should Doctors be warning patients against the dangers of protein-boosted UPFs?
- Should the government clamp down on UPF makers who push their protein-boosted products without stating the dangers?
Muse on that!
~ Maggie J.