Why Protein Isn’t the Problem — It’s the Foundation
- Dan Beck
- Oct 21
- 3 min read
The media may be questioning protein, but science still supports it — and your body still runs on it. Here’s what the research (and real-world results) actually say.

Every few years, nutrition headlines find a new villain. This year, it’s protein’s turn again.
If you’ve seen the stories — “Is Too Much Protein Dangerous?” or “High-Protein Diets May Be Overrated” — you’re not alone.
It’s confusing. Especially when you’re trying to eat well, train hard, and make progress you can actually see.
At Simple Plan, we’ve built an entire brand around real food and real results — so let’s clear the air. Protein isn’t the problem. It’s the foundation of a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
📉 Why the Media Suddenly “Hates” Protein
Protein has gone mainstream — it’s in snacks, cereals, bars, even bottled waters.
That popularity makes it a target. When a topic becomes everywhere, it becomes clickable.
And to be fair, not all protein products are created equal.
Some shakes are loaded with sugar. Some powders use low-grade ingredients. Others are marketed like magic potions.
But none of that changes a simple truth: protein itself isn’t the issue — misunderstanding it is.
The nutrient hasn’t changed. The narrative has.
🧬 What the Science Actually Says
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is about 0.36 g per pound of body weight.
But here’s the catch — that number was designed decades ago to prevent deficiency, not to optimize health, strength, or recovery.
Modern research — including work by experts like Dr. Layne Norton and Alan Aragon — shows that most active adults perform, recover, and maintain lean muscle better when they eat closer to 0.8–1 g of protein per pound of body weight.
That’s not extreme; that’s efficient.
Higher-Protein Diets Support:
🔹 Muscle Maintenance — preserving lean mass during fat loss
🔹 Metabolic Health — increasing thermic effect of food (your body literally burns more calories digesting protein)
🔹 Satiety & Craving Control — helping you stay full, balanced, and less snack-driven
🔹 Healthy Aging — offsetting the natural muscle decline that begins in our 30s
The takeaway?
You can’t “overdose” on protein from real food.
You can, however, under-eat it and wonder why your energy, recovery, and progress stall.
⚖️ The Real Problem Isn’t Protein — It’s Confusion
People don’t struggle because protein is dangerous; they struggle because nutrition is complicated and inconsistent.
One day it’s carbs, the next day it’s fats, now it’s protein.
And somewhere between the clickbait and the TikTok advice, we forget the fundamentals:
Your body needs protein for nearly every cell, enzyme, and function.
More active lifestyles require more of it.
Balance — not extremes — is what matters most.
You don’t need a supplement shelf or 200 grams a day from shakes.
You just need real meals built around real protein — consistently.
🥗 How to Hit Your Goal (Without Losing Your Mind)
At Simple Plan, we make that consistency easy:
30 g+ of complete protein in every meal
Balanced carbs and healthy fats for sustained energy
Always fresh
Available weekly for pickup, delivery, or Grab-N-Go
Our goal isn’t to chase trends; it’s to guide you toward balance that actually fits your life.
Whether you’re tracking macros or just trying to stay on top of your nutrition, we’re here to make it simple — no math, no myths, no stress.
💬 The Bottom Line
Protein isn’t something to fear — it’s something to understand. The media may paint it as a fad, but your body tells a different story:
You feel better when you eat enough.
You recover faster.
You stay fuller, longer.
So don’t let the noise confuse you.
Stick to the basics, fuel your goals, and remember: when nutrition feels complicated, the simplest plan usually wins.
✅ Ready to Simplify It?
Skip the guesswork.
Shop online for meals that make high-protein living effortless.
Life’s complicated. Your health shouldn’t be. ®

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