Whey too much!<\/p>\n
We know that protein is good for us \u2014 it increases fullness, reduces appetite and builds muscle \u2014 but does it really need to be packed into every single thing we eat, including junk food?<\/p>\n
Starbucks recently launched a new menu of protein-boosted beverages<\/a>, while the makers of Pop-Tarts and Doritos just announced that the protein-fortified versions we never knew we needed are heading to grocery shelves.<\/p>\n The powerhouse nutrient is being crammed into every food imaginable, from cereal to chips and even coffee<\/a> and water \u2014 and there may not be as much benefit as you think.<\/p>\n Khloe Kardashian started releasing her Khloud popcorn in April. Khloud Foods<\/p>\n Registered dietitian nutritionist Jessica Crandall,<\/a> medical adviser at\u00a0FuturHealth<\/a>, said it\u2019s easy to fall for high-protein nutrition labels and think the product is good for you \u2014 even when it\u2019s very much not.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of foods out there marketed as \u2018protein-packed\u2019 are still highly processed and loaded with added sugar, sodium or artificial ingredients that can ultimately sabotage whatever benefits the protein might offer,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at how processed treats are being dressed up as healthy with added protein.<\/p>\n Pop-Tarts<\/p>\n Sure, you could have eggs, bacon or even avocado toast to start your day with a protein packed plate \u2026 but we guess Pop-Tarts<\/a> will do, too.<\/p>\n These sugary rectangles tend to have 2 or 2.5 grams of the macronutrient<\/a>, but twice as much will be packed into the new versions of the brown sugar cinnamon, strawberry and blueberry flavors due out in November.<\/p>\n A rep for Kellanova North America \u2014 which produces the jam-filled envelopes \u2014 told Bloomberg<\/a> this week that these Pop-Tarts will taste a bit different because wheat protein concentrate and milk protein concentrate have been popped into the dry ingredients.<\/p>\n Pop-Tarts Protein will be available in three flavors in November. Pop-Tarts<\/p>\n Doritos<\/p>\n Macro-tracking gym bros, meet couch potatoes \u2014 you may now have something in common.<\/p>\n PepsiCo said last week<\/a> in an earnings call that it will introduce a new line of \u201cprotein-packed\u201d Doritos.<\/p>\n The nacho cheese flavor<\/a> boasts about 2 grams of protein in 11 chips. It\u2019s unclear how much protein will be stuffed into the new bags \u2014 but probably not enough to make it a healthy pre-workout snack, post-workout snack\u2026 or anytime snack.<\/p>\n Starbucks cold foams<\/p>\n Coffee as the new muscle milk? Apparently our morning cup of joe needs to offer up more than just a caffeine fix these days.<\/p>\n The espresso empire launched protein cold foams and lattes and protein-boosted milks to its\u00a0permanent menu<\/a>\u00a0in September, with 15 to 36 grams of the macronutrient poured into each grande 16-ounce beverage.<\/p>\n Starbucks launched protein cold foams and lattes and protein-boosted milks to its\u00a0permanent menu\u00a0in September. Starbucks<\/p>\n Peanut butter<\/p>\n Yes, you read that right \u2014 peanut butter, already one of the most protein-dense foods around, had gotten its own protein boost.<\/p>\n Skippy has found a way to jam even more in \u2014 to the point where it\u2019s quite literally nuts.<\/p>\n Skippy\u00a0Peanut Butter Blended with Plant Protein Creamy<\/a> has a whopping 10 grams of protein in every 2 tablespoons. The standard creamy version<\/a> contains 7 grams in the same serving size.<\/p>\n Khloe Kardashian\u2019s Khloud popcorn<\/p>\n The family that brought us diarrhea-inducing \u201cdetox tea\u201d may not be everyone\u2019s top source for healthy advice \u2014 but that didn\u2019t stop Khloe from giving kernels a glow-up.<\/p>\n While most air-popped popcorn typically features a gram or two of protein per cup, the new Khloud popcorn<\/a> \u2014 which dropped in stores in April \u2014 is puffed up with 7 grams<\/a> in each serving. <\/p>\n Water<\/p>\n OK, water is healthy. And if you\u2019re thirsting for protein, you have a few infused options.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t just eat your protein \u2014 drink it, too! Isopure Protein Water boasts 15 grams of the good stuff. Isopure<\/p>\n A 20-ounce bottle of Isopure Protein Water<\/a> contains 15 grams of protein.<\/p>\n In last week\u2019s earnings call, PepsiCo also floated Propel Protein Water, which will have 20 grams of whey protein.<\/p>\n Candy<\/p>\n You\u2019ve heard of protein bars, but how about protein gummies<\/a>?<\/p>\n Chocolate<\/a>, marshmallows<\/a> and taffy<\/a> are also the latest candies to be enhanced with protein. Finally, something to feel good about when gorging yourself on Halloween.<\/p>\n Cereal<\/p>\n Cereal makers have long been flexing in the protein space. There are protein-supplemented versions of Special K<\/a>, Kashi<\/a>, Wheaties<\/a>, Cheerios<\/a> and more. A whiff of nostalgia and protein powder in every bowl!<\/p>\n Mac and cheese got a makeover! Move over carbs \u2014 protein is now the star of the show! Goodles<\/p>\n Mac and cheese<\/p>\n Even carb-friendly mac and cheese has gotten a protein punch, thanks to brands like Muscle Mac<\/a> (a massive 40 grams of protein in one box) and Goodles<\/a> (about 37.5 grams per box).<\/p>\n How much protein do you actually need?<\/p>\n The Recommended Dietary Allowance<\/a>\u00a0is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight \u2014 or 0.36 grams per pound. For a 150-pound person, that\u2019s 54 grams of protein daily.<\/p>\n Even though Americans are getting their recommended fill of protein \u2014 primarily through meat, poultry and eggs \u2014 they\u2019re still craving more<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr.\u00a0Daryl\u00a0Gioffre<\/a>,\u00a0celebrity nutritionist and author of\u00a0\u201cGet Off Your Sugar,\u201d<\/a> said there are better options for your protein fix than ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n \u201cThese foods are loaded with inflammatory seed oils<\/a>, artificial dyes and refined sugars designed to hit your brain\u2019s bliss point and keep you addicted,\u201d he told The Post.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many cleaner ways to get protein: grass-fed steak, wild-caught salmon, raw nuts and seeds, without putting that toxic, inflammatory stuff into your body.\u201d<\/p>\n