I am sure we have all been exposed to today’s protein craze. I, for one, am tired of seeing businesses trying to put protein in everything (since when did Doritos need to have protein in them?). This sudden dietary shift made me question why this trend began. Why is our society pushing for high protein when the average American has been consuming more than recommended protein amount for decades?[1] Why is fiber intake not emphasized as much when only 7% of Americans consume the recommended amount?[2] These questions, among many others, gave me a new perspective on widespread nutritional discussion, encouraging me to understand my body first before getting confused by mainstream advice.
My first concern: out of all food groups to encourage, why protein? The average American has been surpassing protein recommendations for decades, and protein deficiency is actually quite rare, only occurring when you are malnourished or starving. In fact, Americans are one of the highest per-capita meat consumers.[3] The answer I found- money. Six of the nine scientists on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, scientists that help shape the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, had financial connections to the meat, dairy, pork, or supplement industries.[4] Companies profit off of this change as well. Brands can increase their products price up to 12% when they are advertised to have extra protein,[5] clearly illustrating the corporate influence in this change.
While Americans have long been surpassing protein requirements, they have consistently fallen short on calcium, potassium, and, especially, fiber![6] Fiber is one of the most crucial parts of the diet that encourages good gut bacteria growth, improves digestive motility, and, therefore, enhances nutrient absorption. Although less than 10% of Americans are consuming enough fiber, the new Dietary Guidelines only mentioned the word “fiber” twice. Unfortunately, there is not as much profitability for companies in getting people healthier
After learning that even our dietary guidelines are susceptible to corporate influence, I was left questioning what other mainstream nutritional advice is affected and how to then determine what works for me. The best answer I can give to myself and others, who are left more confused than educated with today’s endless opinions surrounding nutrition, is to listen to your own body first. Yes, although a cliché answer, all of our bodies are different and will therefore react differently to various nutritional protocols. I remember trying to stuff myself with lentils and nuts trying to reach my “daily protein requirement” but feeling lethargic and then unsure as to what I was doing wrong. I learned I had to pretty much restart my diet from scratch, reintroducing foods in intervals and keeping or eliminating them based on how my body reacted. While this may sound like a tedious process, keep in mind that the long-term reward is physical and mental peace regarding your body’s health. If anything, I can say I am grateful to witness today’s protein craze, as it led me to question the information I was being fed. As my message is across my whole blog, I encourage you to do the same to work towards attaining autonomy and control over your health.
[1] National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. See Sources and Definitions, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and Health, United States, 2020–2021 Table McrNutr.
[2] ASN Staff, “Most Americans are not getting enough fiber in our diets”, American Society for Nutrition, June 9, 2021, https://nutrition.org/most-americans-are-not-getting-enough-fiber-in-our-diets/
[3] Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval, “Protein is everywhere right now. We asked experts: Do we really need more?”, Wisconsin Public Radio, March 10, 2026, https://www.wpr.org/news/protein-is-everywhere-right-now-we-asked-experts-do-we-really-need-more
[4] Alice Callahan and Maggie Astor, “Several of Kennedy’s Dietary Advisers Have Ties to Meat and Dairy Interests”, New York Times, January 9, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/well/dietary-guidelines-conflicts-of-interest.html
[5] Corey Geiger, Abbi Prins, and Billy Roberts, “Dairy poised to help meet consumers; growing demand for protein”, CoBank, January 23, 2026, https://www.cobank.com/web/cobank/knowledge-exchange/dairy/dairy-poised-to-help-meet-consumers-growing-demand-for-protein
[6] Diane Quagliani and Patricia Felt-Gunderson, “Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap: Communication Strategies From a Food and Fiber Summit”, Am J Lifestyle Med, (2016); 11(1):80-85. doi: 10.1177/1559827615588079.
