Protein is EVERYWHERE right now.

The updated Dietary Guidelines are encouraging more protein from whole, nutrient-dense foods - which is great!

Protein plays a critical role in muscle preservation, satiety, blood sugar stability and healthy aging. Most women I work with are not eating enough of it, especially if they’re trying to build muscle or support hormones.

But here’s the problem…

Food companies have seen the gold mine and are using “protein” as a marketing tool instead of improving overall food quality. We’re seeing Dunkin’ protein drinks and Starbucks protein cold foam (*face palm*).

We're also seeing protein cookies, protein cereal, protein candy bars... The front of the package says “high protein,” but when you flip it over, the ingredient list often still includes added sugars, refined starches, gums, seed oils, flavorings, and sweeteners.

PSA: Adding protein to a highly processed product doesn’t turn it into a health food.

Protein doesn’t cancel out ultra-refined ingredients. It doesn’t override poor blood sugar response. It doesn’t magically make something supportive for your gut, mitochondria, or hormones. It just creates a health halo.

This is something I see every week in practice. Clients grab “protein-packed” snacks thinking they’re making a better choice - but they’re still bloated, inflamed, tired, or stuck. Because the quality of what that protein is made with still matters!

Make sure focus on whole food first, then protein - not protein as a marketing label.

Processed “health foods” aren’t always better

There’s another layer to this that shows up even in the functional nutrition space. Sometimes we over-process traditionally nourishing foods and repackage them as “healthy”.

Powdered bone broth is one example. While convenient, it’s more processed than slow-simmered homemade broth and is often poorly tolerated in sensitive or histamine-reactive clients. It doesn’t always provide the same physiological benefit as real bones, connective tissue, minerals, and time.

The same pattern shows up again - we take something nourishing, process it, fortify it, market it - and assume it’s equivalent.

It’s not that every protein drink or powder is inherently “bad”. Is it better than a gross gas station treat in a pinch? Of course! I love packaged snacks on the go, especially when I’m traveling. But at home, I try to stick to as many whole foods as possible.

Instead of only looking at the grams of protein, I’d like you to think about this:

• What are the ingredients?
• How processed is this?
• How does my body actually respond?

More protein can absolutely be helpful (most people need more!). But the form it comes in is what determines whether it truly helps your metabolism, digestion, and long-term health.

In health,

-Daina

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​tabletocrave.com​

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