ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – In recent years, grocery store aisles have been taken over by products offering increased amounts of protein with the taste of junk food. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been a dietitian a while, so we\u2019ve seen a lot of phases,\u201d said Kayla Scherf, Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital senior dietitian.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin the last five years, you\u2019ve really seen an acceleration of things. You go to Costco and I feel like the shelves have more and more protein powders, protein bars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Protein has also become a hot topic for people involved in fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a thing that they see on social media or on the news or on a lot of products coming up,\u201d said Rene Rangel, a personal trainer and owner of The Natural Studio.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople just want to know how much they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much protein does a person need each day? There doesn\u2019t seem to be one answer among experts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re about 150-pound person, you need about 50 to 60 grams of protein a day,\u201d Scherf said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that person is going to start lifting weights or training for a marathon or, you know, some kind of chronic illness, they\u2019re actually going to need less.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rangel had different opinions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s goal dependent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I have somebody who\u2019s trying to put on weight and get really strong, whether it\u2019s for sport or just for their aesthetics, then maybe like a gram of protein per pound.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to Alaskans, Scherf said that the average person isn\u2019t hurting from a lack of protein, but rather fiber-packed foods like fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re just eating your whole foods, like up here in Alaska, your moose, your fish, your salmon, your halibut, we have plenty of that up here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is naturally out there for us versus buying these expensive products that are fortified with a bunch of protein.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rangel also felt that too much emphasis is put on protein in today\u2019s diets.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople demonize carbohydrates, [but] they\u2019re a great source of fuel as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtein is part of it, but I don\u2019t think it should be like the main thing, right? Protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, and then having a good balance between the three of those and I think makes a pretty good meal plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Convenience and cost seem to be the most prominent factors leading to the recent surge in protein foods.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone is starting to rely on those convenience foods, and that\u2019s where we\u2019re running into trouble,\u201d Scherf said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you want to start to see happen is more of those fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken, eggs, like whole foods brought into the home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are tied with time, money, resources,\u201d Rangel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you just kind of have to refer to some protein bars or protein shakes or whatever. But like I said, I think as long as it\u2019s a supplement and not like your main diet, we\u2019re okay with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both experts said that the rise of GLP-1s, such as Ozempic and Retatrutide, are also leading to people eating more protein than necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes you feel full,\u201d Scherf said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know there\u2019s a lot of different medications and weight loss meds, and [they] are really pushing hard on the protein.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat throws a whole curve bind to people\u2019s relationship with food because of the way that these drugs work,\u201d Rangel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely becomes a challenge for people to want to eat and to eat plenty of protein.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there is no evidence linking these products to any health issues, both experts emphasized prioritizing whole foods for a long-term and balanced diet. <\/p>\n