10 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Do we really need so much protein? Gym bros say yes, but don't let them scare you
There are a lot of health warnings telling us what we should cut back on, if not outright avoid.
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Fat is terrible for our heart and arteries. Salt will give us high blood pressure. Sugar is even worse, making us diabetic. And let's not forget about ultra-processed foods that are full of chemicals, preservatives and additives. They'll definitely give you cancer and kill you, they say.
Is there anything to enjoy guilt-free?
A lot of online health experts and diet gurus, as well as muscle-bound gym bros, insist that what we need is more protein. 'The more protein, the better,' they scream in social media videos.
Most of them are highly annoying. In their weights room with dumbbells in the background, in a shirt too small for their buff pectorals, they look directly at the camera as they try to scare us. 'If you're like most people, you're just not getting enough protein!' they warn urgently.
Proteins are essential for building and repairing muscles, as well as a host of other bodily functions. Photo: SCMP
It's the same alarmist tone as the callisthenics exercise advert that constantly invades my middle-aged social media feed. Preying on male vanity, they suggest if I cannot do 50 push-ups in a row, I need to seriously pay attention and sign up now for their easy daily routine to get back in shape.
