Is the Protein Boom Overselling What You Actually Need? A…

Is the Protein Boom Overselling What You Actually Need? A Major Review Says Maybe Protein enriched products have taken over grocery store shelves, appearing in everything from cereal to coffee to water. A sweeping new review of more than 350 studies, published in Cell Press Blue, suggests that for many people, less protein, not more, may actually support healthier aging. The review's authors don't dispute that protein matters for active individuals. What they question is whether the current cultural push toward high protein intake actually benefits the average, relatively sedentary adult. Their concern, many people may now be consuming considerably more protein than they actually need, and this excess may carry genuine metabolic costs. Scientists have long known that reducing overall calorie intake can extend lifespan and lower age related disease risk in many organisms, but sustaining a calorie restricted diet long term is notoriously difficult for most people. Protein restriction may offer a more practical alternative. Earlier studies in flies and rodents found that reducing protein intake specifically, even without reducing overall calories, extended lifespan. Recent human clinical trials found that people who lowered their protein intake lost weight and body fat and showed improved fasting blood sugar, notably, even wh