Is a high-protein diet always good for you? No, only if combined with exercise
The problem is not the amount of protein in the diet, but a sedentary lifestyle combined with excessive protein intake
Key points
Protein bars, meal replacements, yoghurt, drinks: for the past few years, absolutely everything has been labelled ‘high in protein’. And the message conveyed to consumers is simple and reassuring: the more protein you eat, the better you’ll feel. But now, a new, comprehensive review of the scientific literature, recently published in the journal Cell Press Blue, is turning the tables and suggesting that, for a great many people, the truth could be exactly the opposite. It suggests that, for many people, eating less protein could mean living longer.
High-protein diets, ranging from the very ‘extreme’ ones such as the ketogenic and Atkins diets (which drastically reduce carbohydrate intake), to the more ‘moderate’ ones such as the Zone Diet, have been the undisputed ‘fad’ of recent years in the field of weight loss. And various pieces of scientific evidence have supported this trend, particularly in the more ‘prudent’ versions.
The review published on Cell Press Blue
But this study, the result of a major review of over 350 studies on protein restriction and ageing, seriously calls into question the unshakeable faith in protein. The authors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by Dudley Lamming, have sifted through a vast amount of research, concluding that eating less protein – for those leading a sedentary lifestyle – could improve metabolism, reduce inflammation and cellular damage, and activate biological mechanisms associated with healthier ageing. And in some cases, it may even lead to a longer life.
But this does not mean that protein should be condemned outright. Lamming is categorical on this point: “Protein offers benefits for muscle mass growth and the response to exercise in active individuals. However, as most people are relatively sedentary, many are likely to be consuming more protein than is necessary, and this could have negative consequences for their health.”
You can never have too much protein if you lead a sedentary lifestyle
In short, the problem is not the amount of protein in the diet, but a sedentary lifestyle combined with excessive protein intake. This is a dangerous combination which, according to this review, affects a very large proportion of the population.
