We’ve Got a Protein Problem

Experts can’t agree on whether we need more or less of it. Here’s why.

Protein is popular — to put it lightly. It’s also one of the most debated topics in nutrition and longevity.

Ask one expert and you’ll hear that most of us are eating too little, setting ourselves up for muscle loss, frailty, and declining health as we age.

Ask another (or read most of the recent headlines from mainstream news articles) and you’ll hear warnings that our obsession with protein — especially from animal sources — could fuel inflammation and accelerate aging and chronic disease. These people tend to claim that advice to “eat more protein” rests on shaky scientific ground.

Simply put, the current “experts” in aging and longevity can’t agree on whether people need to be eating as much protein as possible or restricting it. However, it’s not because we lack sufficient science or evidence to inform our recommendations. Rather, it’s that the experts are looking at the problem from two different angles concerning aging:

1. Optimization of healthspan and performance for the sake of longevity. We want to be as strong and fit as possible for as long as possible.
2. Optimization of lifespan and cellular mechanisms of aging. We want to counteract the…