{"id":83202,"date":"2025-05-30T15:31:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T15:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cred.ai\/news\/?p=83202"},"modified":"2025-06-03T15:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:43:09","slug":"protein-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cred.ai\/news\/2025\/05\/30\/protein-myths-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"Protein Myths, Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your social media feeds are full of fitness influencers chugging protein shakes and insisting you need<\/i> a gram of protein per pound of body weight to build muscle\u2014take a breath. Leading health experts say much of this advice ranges from exaggerated to flat-out misleading.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s baloney,\u201d said Stuart Phillips<\/a>, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University and one of the world\u2019s top researchers on protein and muscle. \u201cThere\u2019s a generation, particularly young men, and now an increasing number of young women, who are absolutely brainwashed by what they hear online.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As Vox<\/span><\/a> reports, the obsession with heavy weightlifting paired with extreme protein intake is being fueled by a flood of TikToks, Reels, and YouTube videos promoting a one-size-fits-all approach. But real science tells a different story.<\/p>\n

For starters, you don\u2019t need to scarf down steak and chug whey protein shakes to see muscle growth. \u201cEverything we have done where we\u2019ve compared plant to animal [protein], we find that the difference falls within the margin of error,\u201d Phillips explained. Plant-based protein sources like tofu, lentils, beans, and quinoa can be just as effective when consumed as part of a balanced diet.<\/p>\n

More importantly, many people are misled into thinking that the more protein, the better. But research suggests that even competitive athletes don\u2019t need as much as the internet claims. Phillips recommends<\/a> between 0.54 and 0.73 grams of protein per pound of body weight, which is significantly lower than the common social media \u201crule\u201d of one gram per pound.<\/p>\n

Older adults are often encouraged to increase protein to fight sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass. But experts say it\u2019s not just about what\u2019s on the plate\u2014it\u2019s also about lifestyle.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTo say you could take this depressed, lonely person with lousy teeth and give them a protein powder, that sarcopenia would go away is ridiculous,\u201d Stanford nutrition professor Christopher Gardner told The New York Times<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Gardner also pointed out that older adults often face other issues, such as reduced appetite and social isolation, which make it harder to get enough nutrients overall\u2014not just protein. The solution is holistic support, not just supplements.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to eat like a bodybuilder to be strong. Focus on staying active, eating a balanced diet, and ignoring the hype.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If your social media feeds are full of fitness influencers chugging protein shakes and insisting you need a gram of protein per pound of body weight to build muscle\u2014take a breath. Leading health experts say much of this advice ranges from exaggerated to flat-out misleading. \u201cIt\u2019s baloney,\u201d said Stuart Phillips, a professor of kinesiology at …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":83203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[204],"tags":[161,1319,1320,1321,1322,1323,1324,1325],"class_list":["post-83202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-health","tag-protein","tag-diet","tag-nutrition","tag-weight","tag-muscle","tag-gym","tag-exercise"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nProtein Myths, Debunked - crednews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cred.ai\/news\/2025\/05\/30\/protein-myths-debunked\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protein Myths, Debunked\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If your social media feeds are full of fitness influencers chugging protein shakes and insisting you need a gram of protein per pound of body weight to build muscle\u2014take a breath. 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