The protein obsession has gone a little out of hand lately.

We all agree that protein is important. Anthropology even has something called the protein leverage hypothesis, which posits that all human endeavors at their base level are ultimately a search for protein. Protein is the only macronutrient that we have to get from the outside. We can make carbohydrates from amino acids and even fats. We can make fats from carbohydrates, and we can pull fat from our own bodies for energy. But protein has to come from the diet. If protein is coming from our organs or muscle tissue, we are in a very bad place.

And so human technology, whether from spears to atlatls to bows and arrows, ultimately was developed to better obtain protein in the environment. Even in the modern day, as technology increases productivity and wages, it’s ultimately a way to get more meat. You see this time and time again all over the developing world: once people start getting more money and buying power increases, the animal protein content of their diet shoots up.

So I get it, protein is incredibly important. It’s good for you. But people go a little crazy about it. They put protein into everything. They make protein cookies, protein coffee, protein sports drinks—any food that you can think of, they cram protein in. Now, I’m not totally opposed to this. I’d say it’s better than just eating pure junk food without any redeeming qualities at all. But I don’t want you to think that the protein products can replace real animal foods like meat, eggs, and dairy.

Protein in the real world comes with the nutrients that support its metabolism and assimilation. Meat comes with creatine, carnitine, fatty acids, and minerals like iron and zinc. Meat is a total package, and it has to form the basis of your protein intake.

This is also why I like whey. It’s the protein powder with the strongest body of evidence supporting it, and it’s fairly low-calorie, so you’re not eating a 500-calorie cookie that has 15g of protein in it just to get protein. Instead, you just take a couple scoops of whey and get 20g of protein with little else. So it’s a nice way to boost your protein intake without going nuts on all the other junk that’s in some of these protein foods.

Or just eat a steak.

What are your thoughts? Are you all in on high protein or taking a more moderate approach? Let me know on Instagram or Facebook.