Food manufacturers are adding protein to products that traditionally weren’t considered protein-rich, from cereal and yogurt to coffee and chips. But LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center nutrition expert Dr. Jacob Mey says most people already get enough protein in their daily diets.
“The average person, especially if you’re in the United States, is consuming more than enough both protein and calories overall as a total. So usually, the average person doesn’t need to focus on increasing their protein level,” Mey noted.
Mey says if your meals include lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs and low-fat dairy, you’re likely getting all the protein you need.
“Focusing on those whole food items: your chicken, turkey, fish, items like that; your beans, your dairy, your whole grain products. These are really the ways that we want to get our protein in,” Mey explained.
Mey says protein is important for building muscle and maintaining bone health. He says people who exercise regularly or older adults may benefit from more protein, but he cautions against focusing so much on protein that you neglect nutritious whole foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
“Certainly, what you’re doing is you’re reducing the quality of your diet. You’re reducing all those micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, etc., that we get from the whole food products,” Mey said.