Latest news with #NationalAcademiesofSciences
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
How Much Water Should You Consume Daily In Summers
As temperatures soar during Indian summers, staying hydrated becomes not just a wellness tip, but a necessity. Dehydration in hot weather can lead to fatigue, headaches, heat strokes, and serious electrolyte imbalances. While the general recommendation by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests around 3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres for women per day, these numbers can vary depending on age, activity level, and climate. In India's sweltering summer heat, water loss through sweating increases, and your hydration needs spike significantly. So how much is enough? Let's dive into smart hydration tips and how to tailor your intake. Children and seniors are more vulnerable to dehydration due to lower fluid reserves and reduced thirst sensitivity. Offer water-rich foods, encourage frequent sips, and watch for signs like dry mouth, low energy, or confusion. Always ensure they're well-hydrated before outdoor activities. Why hydration is crucial in summer Sweating is your body's natural way to cool down, but it also leads to substantial water and salt loss. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), even mild dehydration can impair mood, memory, and performance. In peak summer months, drinking more than the regular water quota becomes essential to prevent heat-related illnesses and keep your bodily functions operating efficiently. 1. Follow the '8x8' rule The classic rule of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses (roughly 2 litres) is a minimum baseline. In summer, add at least 1-1.5 litres more, especially if you are outdoors or physically active. 2. Watch your sweat rate and activity levels If you're working out, walking long distances, or spending time in the sun, you may lose up to 1-2 litres of water per hour. Adjust your intake accordingly, sipping water every 15-20 minutes. 3. Eat your water Foods like watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, muskmelon, oranges, and spinach have high water content. Adding them to your daily meals not only boosts hydration but also provides essential electrolytes. 4. Start your day with a glass of water You lose water while sleeping, even without realising it. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning can jumpstart your metabolism and compensate for overnight fluid loss. 5. Don't wait until you're thirsty Thirst is a late indicator of dehydration. Keep sipping water throughout the day, even when you're indoors. Carrying a reusable water bottle helps as a visual reminder. 6. Keep an eye on your urine colour A simple hydration check: if your urine is pale yellow, you're likely well-hydrated. Dark yellow or amber urine suggests dehydration. 7. Avoid diuretics and sugary beverages Tea, coffee, alcohol, and soda can dehydrate you further. If consumed, balance them with water. Opt for lemon water, coconut water, or diluted buttermilk instead. 8. Replenish with electrolytes Sweating not only depletes water but also sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Natural options like coconut water, lemon-salt water, or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) can help restore balance. Your daily water needs spike in the summer, especially in India's extreme heat. Listening to your body, staying consistent with fluid intake, and opting for natural hydrating foods can go a long way. Adequate hydration supports your heart, kidneys, brain, and skin. So keep that water bottle handy and sip smart, your body will thank you for it. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
After protein shake comes protein soda! What is it, and why are Americans obsessed with it
For Americans, it's just protein's world and they are living in it! From their protein intake via sources like eggs, chicken, bacon, well-seasoned salads, to gulping down smoothies packed with protein powder, it won't be an overstatement to say that America is pretty obsessed with protein! Many sources indicate that Americans have a high protein intake, especially in terms of supplements and protein-infused foods. This interest is reflected in the booming protein powder market and the increasing presence of protein in a wide variety of food products. Americans consume significantly more protein than the recommended amount. The National Academies of Sciences recommends 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight as the daily recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults. However, many Americans exceed this recommendation. In fact, as per a study , the protein supplement market in the US is a multi-billion ($367) dollar industry, and it continues to grow. This includes protein powders, bars, shakes, and other protein-rich products. What's more, food companies have responded to the demand for protein by adding it to a wide range of foods, including noodles, bagels, and even coffee. And that's not the end! Now, even ice-creams and soda are packed with protein! What is protein soda? Protein soda is a beverage trend where protein drinks or powders are mixed with soda, usually diet varieties, to add protein to the drink. This trend is often seen as a way to increase protein intake while enjoying a familiar soda flavor. Here's a more detailed breakdown: Popularity: Protein soda gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with users sharing their creations and experiences. Method: The process typically involves pouring a serving of Diet Coke or another diet soda into a glass and then adding a scoop of protein powder or a ready-to-drink protein shake. Flavor variations: While vanilla is a common choice, other flavors like caramel can also be used. Purpose: The goal is to combine the taste of soda with the nutritional benefits of protein, providing a quick and easy way to increase protein intake. Is America obsessed with protein soda? There's a growing trend of Americans being "obsessed" with protein, including in the form of protein soda. This trend is fueled by various factors, including the perception that protein is beneficial for muscle building, weight loss, and overall health. The food industry has responded by developing a wide range of protein-infused products, including protein sodas. Reasons for the protein obsession: Weight management and muscle growth: Many Americans are seeking ways to manage their weight and increase muscle mass, and protein is often promoted as a key ingredient in these efforts. Marketing and social media: Protein has been marketed as a "super-food" by various sources, including social media, which has further fueled the demand for protein-rich products. Weight-loss medications: The popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has led to increased focus on protein intake, as users try to offset potential muscle loss. The impact on the food industry: As demand drives supply, the food industry in the US is responding by developing a wide array of protein-infused products, including protein sodas, protein candy, and even protein ice cream. A significant portion of Americans regularly consume protein drinks and shakes, indicating a substantial increase in protein consumption overall. Potential concerns: While protein is important in a healthy diet, experts have expressed concerns that the focus on protein may lead to a neglect of other important nutrients, like fiber. Protein sodas, or protein drinks combined with sugary sodas, can lead to several health problems, including digestive issues, weight gain, and potential kidney problems. The mix of carbonation and protein powder can lead to digestive discomfort, such as bloating, whereas excessive protein consumption can have negative health consequences, including kidney problems and an increased risk of heart disease. Protein sodas can also be high in calories and artificial sweeteners, further contributing to more complicated health concerns. Some of those side effects are: Digestive problems: Bloating, gas, and diarrhea can occur, especially in individuals with lactose intolerance or sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, as some protein powders contain lactose or use sugar substitutes. Weight gain: Protein sodas can be high in calories and added sugars, contributing to weight gain if consumed excessively or used to replace healthy meals. Kidney problems: Excessive protein intake, especially from protein powders or drinks, can strain the kidneys and potentially lead to kidney stones or damage. Nutrient imbalances: Relying heavily on protein shakes or drinks without a balanced diet can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients that are not provided by these supplements. Allergic reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to certain proteins or additives in protein drinks, leading to allergic reactions such as hives or swelling. Dehydration: Protein powders can increase the risk of dehydration due to their high sodium content and potential for water to be drawn out of the body, especially when used before or after exercise. Contamination: Some protein powders have been found to contain heavy metals, pesticides, or other contaminants, posing health risks. Increased blood sugar: Protein sodas, especially those containing added sugars, can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, potentially leading to type 2 diabetes or other health complications. Potential for increased risk of heart disease: High protein intake, especially from certain sources, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease in some studies. Protein tells developing cells to stick together
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brain Drain: Scientists Are Fleeing the U.S. as Trump Cuts Funding
America has stood as a world superpower for the past century or so, and much of that power has been derived from the country's scientific and technological prowess. From medicine to aerospace, some of the greatest thinkers in modern history have called the United States their home and pushed boundaries while residing within its borders. That tradition is under threat in ways it has never been before as Donald Trump's administration engages in the mass firing of scientists in the federal government, cuts funding to scientific research, and generally pushes an agenda that opposes scientific inquiry. The Trump administration has thrown out hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research projects, fired thousands of the agency's scientists, and looks intent on further dismantling the agency. Research funding for universities is also being stripped. So is climate science. Science is under attack in the United States basically everywhere you look. Trump's attacks on science are making American scientists anxious, and many are considering leaving the country indefinitely. Nearly 2,000 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine signed a letter in March warning of the administration's threat to science. A poll from the international science journal Nature in late March found that 75 percent of American scientists are considering leaving the United States. European countries are planning on increasing their science funding, and countries like France, Belgium, and the Netherlands have launched programs to lure American scientists. Jan Danckaert, rector of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, says his university has launched its own program to attract American scientists. 'Our university is establishing a dedicated contact point for researchers who want to continue their work in Brussels,' Danckaert tells Rolling Stone. 'U.S. universities and their scholars are victims of political and ideological interference by the Trump administration. They are seeing millions of dollars in research funding being abruptly cut for ideological reasons.' In France, Aix-Marseille University has received nearly 300 applications from Americans for its 'Safe Place for Science' program. Europe saw many scientists flee for the U.S. during World War II, and it now appears that experts are starting to flow in the opposite direction. 'I never thought I would live in a country where I would see scientists basically seeking asylum,' says Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists. 'Some are seeking asylum because their work is no longer valued or funded. Some just don't see the future of their career here.' Jones says she's heard from scientists who are 'actively looking for positions overseas,' and that these scientists are often at the beginning or end of their career. Those who are just starting out can easily relocate, and some who are at the tail end of their career might want to finish it off somewhere else. Many scientists are also from outside of the U.S. and are considering returning home. 'If we lose elements of both generations, that's so hard. You're losing the most senior, deep level of expertise,' Jones says. 'They're also the ones who mentor and train the next generation. When you lose early career folks, you lose capacity that could take years or decades to regain.' Adam Siepel, a computational biologist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, says he's been seriously considering moving to Europe or Canada. He says the atmosphere in America is 'very spooky' right now and 'almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany or the Cultural Revolution in China.' He says a lot of scientists are worried about the future. 'You start to wonder if it's going to be possible to do science in this country, and if there is a major flow of scientists to other countries, where should we go?' Siepel says. 'I'm not ready to leave the United States yet, but I think we're all keeping our eyes open and looking for our options if things do turn out really badly.' Dr. Stephen Jones, a biochemist who now works at Vilnius University in Lithuania, started considering leaving the U.S. during the 2020 presidential election while he was finishing his postdoc at the University of Texas. He and his wife weren't sure how the election was going to turn out, but there was a lot of anti-science sentiment during the Covid-19 pandemic and Europe looked appealing. Even though Trump didn't win that election, they decided to leave. 'You know what I don't have to experience right now? I haven't had to kick any students or any researchers off my team. My funding is more secure than ever,' Jones says. 'I have a friend who had to start a GoFundMe to keep her laboratory going [in America]. I'm not thinking about those things.' Jones says he's advised other scientists on how to exit the U.S. for Europe. He says he was not having those meetings 'before January of this year.' He also just welcomed an American researcher to his team who recently completed his PhD. Some European scientists who were considering moving to the U.S. for work have told him they're no longer considering that option. 'It's going to become, and it's already becoming, a brain drain,' Jones says. 'It's the kind of thing you don't see immediately. This takes time to manifest itself — sometimes because it has to get bad enough for people to decide to finally go somewhere else.' America's brain drain hasn't just affected scientists. Jason Stanley, a former Yale philosophy professor, expert on authoritarianism and author of How Fascism Works, decided to take a job at the University of Toronto earlier this year. He said he feared the U.S. was at risk of becoming a 'fascist dictatorship' under Trump. (Surely there's no reason to worry about a fascism expert deciding to pack his bags and flee the country.) The Trump administration claims to want to reduce government spending, but if that's part of its rationalization for gutting the sciences, then it's not behaving logically. Investing in basic science often generates more money than it costs. 'Every dollar spent on NIH research results in about $2.50 worth of economic growth,' Siepel says. 'I think around 90 percent of FDA-approved new drugs started out with NIH support.' All of the scientists aren't going to leave at once, and so far it's only a trickle exiting the U.S., but it's clear that the future of science is in question in America. If things continue on the path they're on, more and more scientists will decide to work elsewhere. This will make the U.S. less competitive and deprive it of important innovations. 'It's a lot easier to break things than to build them. Unfortunately, we're in the breaking phase right now,' Dr. Jones says. 'The building materials are being used elsewhere in the world now.' More from Rolling Stone Trump-Appointed Judge Orders Return of Another Wrongfully Deported Man Harvard's President 'Will Not Compromise' in Fight Against Trump Trump Rewards Top Meme Coin Investors With Access at Private Dinner Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
RFK's claims about people with autism offer a sinister insight into how Trumpism sees us all
In the recent past, Robert F Kennedy Jr has said that Donald Trump is 'a terrible human being' and 'probably a sociopath'. But in the US's new age of irrationalism and chaos, these two men are now of one voice, pursuing a strand of Trumpist politics that sometimes feels strangely overlooked. With Trump once again in the White House and Kennedy ensconced as his health and human services secretary, what they are jointly leading is becoming clearer by the day: a war on science and knowledge that aims to replace them with the modern superstitions of conspiracy theory. Nearly 2,000 members of the US's National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have warned of 'slashing funding for scientific agencies, terminating grants to scientists, defunding their laboratories, and hampering international scientific collaboration'. Even work on cancer is now under threat. But if you want to really understand the Trump regime's monstrousness, consider where Kennedy and a gang of acolytes are heading on an issue that goes to the heart of millions of lives: autism. Last Wednesday, Kennedy spoke at a press conference staged in response to a report about apparently rising rates of autism published by the US's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And out it all came: an insistence that autism is an 'epidemic' and a 'preventable disease', and – in complete defiance of the science – that the root cause lies with 'environmental toxins'. A range of new studies, he said, will begin reporting back in September: with the same banality that defines his boss's promises on international conflict and global economics, he told his audience that answers would be presented to the public 'very, very quickly'. Most of the people present would have been aware of Kennedy's past support for the thoroughly discredited idea that autism is somehow linked to the use of vaccines. As he spoke, they were presumably reminded of the occasions when he has talked about autistic people with a mixture of disgust and complete ignorance. Autism, he said, 'destroys' families; today's autistic children 'will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.' Those comments have rightly triggered a huge backlash. But what has been rather lacking is a broader critique of Kennedy's ideas, and how they go deep into aspects of the US's culture and politics. As I explain in the book I have just written about my autistic son, James, I began my immersion in autism and the arguments that swirl around it 15 years ago, when he received his diagnosis from the NHS. That came amid visits from speech therapists and educational psychologists, and increasingly futile appointments with a paediatrician, who in effect told us to go away and manage as best we could. But straight away, I was also aware of a much more exotic subculture rooted in the US, based around the idea that autism could somehow be cured, and an array of regimens and pseudo-treatments. The anxieties surrounding Andrew Wakefield's disgraced work on a link between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab were still easy to pick up. I read about 'chelation': injecting chemicals into the bloodstream, supposedly to remove the toxic preservatives used in vaccines from the body and send autism on its way. It was easy to find stuff about impossibly restrictive diets, and the terrifying notion of forcing people to drink diluted bleach. These ideas, moreover, came with claims of endless government cover-ups: proto-Maga stuff, which had long been snowballing online. That said, the underlying logic of all this quackery was encouraged by much more mainstream voices. By and large, British campaigning and research tends to focus on what autism actually is, and how to make autistic lives better – whereas in the US, very powerful forces have seen autism as a disease. In 2006, President George W Bush signed a legislative package tellingly called the Combating Autism Act, hailed by one of its supporters as 'a federal declaration of war on the epidemic of autism'. At that point, there were initiatives and organisations with names such as Cure Autism Now and Defeat Autism Now! All this had already spawned the autistic self-advocacy movement that continues to loudly contest such ideas, but its appeal obviously still lingers. If I were in the US, I would now have two big worries. As well as constant attacks on the public sector that have already hacked back help for autistic people, there is a huge question about what Kennedy's nonsense might mean for other areas of federal government policy, and the kind of MMR-style panics his 'answers' on toxins might trigger. But some of those concerns also apply to the UK, thanks to the ease with which ideas travel, and how Trump and his allies influence politics across the world. Kennedy's pronouncements are not only about what causes autism; they also reflect an age-old perception of autism as an aberration, and many autistic people as 'ineducable' and beyond help. This surely blurs into populists' loathing of modern ideas about human difference: once you have declared war on diversity, an attack on the idea of neurodiversity will not be far away. It also chimes with one of the new right's most pernicious elements: its constant insistence that everything is actually much simpler than it looks. Which brings me to something it feels painful to have to write. Autism denotes a fantastically complicated set of human traits and qualities, but that does not make them any less real. It presents with and without learning disabilities, and can be synonymous with skills and talents. Its causes (if that is even the right word) are largely genetic, although careful research is focused on how those heritable aspects might sometimes – sometimes– intersect with factors during pregnancy, and with parental age. And obviously, those characterisations barely scratch the surface, which is some indication of the absurdity of Kennedy's position, and how dangerous it is. On this side of the Atlantic, there are very good reasons why many of us who have families with autistic members feel deep anxiety about the constant shunting of politics to the right. The care, education and official understanding of the people we love and sometimes look after is fragile enough already: what would happen if their fate was in the hands of the Trumpist know-nothings of Reform UK, or Alternative für Deutschland? The American tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes shows the future we now have to avoid, and the kind of people we may have to fight, who will not just be arrogant and inhumane, but set on taking us back to a failed past: terrible human beings, you might call them. John Harris is a Guardian columnist. His book Maybe I'm Amazed: A Story Of Love and Connection in 10 Songs is available now
CNN
15-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
How to boost protein in your diet, without losing other nutrients. 5 tips from an expert
Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. Americans are in the middle of a love-affair with protein. A stroll through almost any major supermarket — where food labels tout grams of protein — bears witness to the trend. And why shouldn't we be? Along with carbohydrates and fat, protein is one of the three main macronutrients that make up our diet. Furthermore, it is the only macronutrient that supplies us with amino acids, making it essential for survival. Amino acids have a hand in many bodily processes, such as building and preserving muscle, making hormones and neurotransmitters, boosting the immune system, even maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails. And while our bodies can make some of the needed amino acids, it can't make them all. Enter dietary protein. What is the optimal amount you should be getting? The answer is that it's complicated. The US recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein for adults 18 and older is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight (or 0.36 grams per pound) per day, which translates to about 54 grams of protein for a 150-pound person, or 72 grams for someone weighing 200 pounds. Established jointly by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services, the RDA represents the minimum amount of protein that must be eaten by a relatively sedentary person to meet the basic needs of their body. There's also something called the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR), which was developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish ranges for carbohydrates, fat and protein that are associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. Those guidelines, which put intake within the context of an entire diet, recommend protein make up between 10% and 35% of the calories in an adult's diet. (The number of calories per day an adult should be getting depends on characteristics such as age, sex, weight and activity level.) All that is to say, there is no exact number for the amount of protein that you should be getting. If you look at the statistics, most people in the United States are getting more than enough; if you listen to some influencers, you are not getting enough. 'I was in L.A., and I did some interviews there, and nine out of 10 people I asked, 'What did you have for breakfast?' — it was raw eggs or protein bars or protein smoothies. It was amazing,' Dr. Tim Spector told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently, on his podcast Chasing Life. Spector is a genetic epidemiologist and researcher at King's College London and founder of one of the world's largest twins registries, TWINS UK. 'They've been sort of brainwashed into thinking that they have to move on to protein because they're somehow deficient and they're not going to be lean and have a six-pack and be running marathons (if they don't),' he said. Spector is also author of several best-selling books including 'Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well.' (He's also a co-founder of ZOE, a personalized nutrition app). You can listen to the full episode here. Spector has nothing at all against protein per se. 'In general, protein is pretty good, particularly if it's plant protein — but, nothing wrong with meat protein in moderation. But it's what it replaces,' he said. 'We need to start thinking much more holistically.' 'Studies have shown that Americans have more than enough protein,' he added. 'There might be a few exceptions out there, but most people are already on twice the amount, and yet 90% of Americans are deficient in fiber.' Spector said certain groups may require a bit more protein: older adults, people going through menopause or recovering from serious illness, those with restrictive diets and people who are 'training incredibly hard.' But the rest of us — in the United States, at least — do just fine. (Many people in developing countries do not get adequate protein.) If you find that you need it, how can you get some additional high-quality protein into your diet — while benefiting from other important nutrients and without relying on highly processed sweetened powders and snack bars? Here are Spector's top five tips. 'They come in many forms — black, pinto, broad, kidney, and more — but they never get the attention they deserve,' said Spector via email. 'They're all good sources of healthy plant protein,' he noted. Beans are also loaded with other good-for-you nutrients. 'Importantly, they also contain fiber (a nutrient that most people really are deficient in), and other healthy plant compounds, like polyphenols,' he said. Load up on the three-bean salad or bean burrito. Those bean are inexpensive, come in a wide variety and, if you buy them dried, are extremely shelf-stable. Hearty and versatile, whole grains — such as barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rye and whole wheat — contain the entire grain kernel, including the bran, germ and endosperm. 'Whole grains are good for a wide range of reasons,' said Spector via email. 'They are a great source of fiber and include a wide range of micronutrients. They're also much higher in protein than people expect. For instance, oats have 11g of protein per 100g compared with 13g per 100g for eggs.' 'Regularly consuming whole grains is associated with a reduced risk of many health conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes,' he noted. An easy way to get more in your diet? 'Swap products that contain highly refined grains — like white rice, pasta, and bread — for whole grain versions, such as brown rice, wholewheat pasta, and wholewheat bread,' he said. Many of us love a good burger or steak, but eating too much of a good thing is not so good for you. 'It's true that meat is a great source of protein,' Spector said. 'However, for your health and the health of the planet, it's best to reduce your meat intake, particularly red and processed meat.' 'Some people worry that most plants are not complete proteins, so they might be missing out on specific amino acids,' he noted. 'But each plant source of protein has a unique amino acid profile. By consuming a wide variety of plants, you will naturally take in all the amino acids you need.' And don't panic. Nobody is saying you have to cut out meat entirely. 'Consider replacing half of the meat in your stews, chilis, or soups with mixed lentils and beans, tofu, or tempeh, or have one or two vegetarian or pescetarian days each week,' he said. When you do eat meat, Spector added, 'try to choose good quality products and opt for leaner cuts.' 'Many people avoid nuts and seeds because they're relatively high in fat,' Spector said. 'Although this is true, they contain healthy unsaturated fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which support good health.' It may come as no surprise to find 'they're also a good source of healthy plant protein and a wide range of vitamins and minerals,' he said. If you are not a fan of munching on straight-up nuts or seeds, Spector said you can sprinkle them on most dishes 'savory or sweet — to provide extra texture and flavor.' Consider adding them to your yogurt parfait, salad or stew. Peanut butter is also a good choice, he said, 'but find a product with as few ingredients as possible, and no added sugar or salt.' 'Soy is one of the few complete proteins in the plant world,' Spector said. 'It's also incredibly versatile and can easily be incorporated into meals. Consider adding tofu, tempeh or edamame to the dishes you already love.' As an added bonus, he said, 'soy products contain fiber and are rich in vitamins and minerals.' When it comes to protein, Spector said most people should seek out quality over quantity. 'Focus on plants, and ignore products that claim to be high in protein, because they're probably also high in salt, sugar, and other additives your body doesn't need,' he said. We hope these five tips help you add healthy protein to your diet. Listen to the full episode here. And join us next week for a new episode of the Chasing Life podcast. CNN Audio's Grace Walker contributed to this report.
