WACO, Texas (KXXV) \u2014 Walk into any grocery store or scroll through your social feeds, and you\u2019ll see it everywhere: high-protein products. From cereals to snack bars to pasta, protein has become a buzzword in the food industry.<\/p>\n
Watch the story here:<\/b><\/p>\n
Is the High-Protein Trend Worth the Hype? A Dietitian Explains the Benefits, Risks, and Budget Tips<\/p>\n
Clinical Dietitian Lauren Williams shares insight on how to get protein right, potential risks, and ways to keep it affordable.<\/p>\n
The Benefits of Protein<\/p>\n
Protein plays a crucial role in keeping your body strong, energized, and full. For athletes, Williams says, it\u2019s especially important.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking sure that people are meeting their overall protein needs\u2014especially athletes\u2014is key for recovery and supporting performance,\u201d she explains.Beyond training, protein also helps with satiety\u2014the feeling of fullness after eating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t have protein with breakfast, you might feel hungrier a lot earlier than if you had prioritized having some protein,\u201d Williams says.<\/p>\n
The Risks of Too Much Protein<\/p>\n
While the fitness world often promotes massive protein intake, Williams warns there\u2019s a limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of patients come in saying they need 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight, and that\u2019s actually not true,\u201d she notes.Instead, the general maximum is 2 grams per kilogram of body weight\u2014unless otherwise advised by a medical provider.<\/p>\n
To calculate: take your weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 to get kilograms, then multiply by two.<\/p>\n
Going beyond that can strain your kidneys, especially if you have underlying health issues.<\/p>\n
Protein Prices Are Rising<\/p>\n
Adding more protein to your diet can also hit your wallet. The USDA predicts overall food prices will rise 2.9% in 2025, with poultry (like chicken) expected to jump 2.5%.<\/p>\n
So how can you keep protein a priority without overspending?<\/p>\n
Dietitian-Approved Ways to Save on Protein<\/p>\n
\u201cThe foods that have a lot of added proteins are often highly processed and tend to be more expensive\u2014especially with high demand,\u201d Williams cautions.<\/p>\n
Bottom Line<\/p>\n
Protein is essential\u2014for muscle maintenance, recovery, and feeling fuller longer.
But the key is balance: get enough for your lifestyle and needs, avoid excess, and shop smart to avoid breaking the bank.<\/p>\n
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WACO, Texas (KXXV) \u2014 Walk into any grocery store or scroll through your social feeds, and you\u2019ll see…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":245292,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[407,210,53276,40224,130448,1182,1929,67,132,68,52279],"class_list":{"0":"post-245291","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-education","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-high-protein-diet","11":"tag-high-protein","12":"tag-mclennan-county-texas","13":"tag-nutrition","14":"tag-protein","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-waco"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115245589799522921","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245291\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}