Protein-Maxxing: Is It Actually Bad For Us?

Protein is everywhere — tons of us are trying to cram more of it into our diets, and it's showing up in our lattes, our snack bars, even our popcorn. But just as we’re getting on board with protein-maxxing, a bunch of headlines have started saying the opposite: that eating LESS protein could actually help you live longer. So what's going on here?? Should we be piling on the protein — or pulling back? And could going too low actually be dangerous? We talk to biologist Prof. Dudley Lamming and exercise physiologist Prof. Stuart Phillips to find out. Note: This episode mentions calorie restriction. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) helpline: 1(888)-375-7767 Crisis support: United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text “HOME” to 741741 Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available) Canada: Call or text 988 United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI) Full list of international hotlines here  Other help available: spotify.com/resources Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsProteinMaxxing In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Protein-Maxxing or Protein-Minning? (02:15) Restricting Protein Makes You Live Longer??!? (09:20) A Tale of Brown Fat and mTOR (13:45) What Could Go Wrong? (21:20) So What the Hell Should We Be Eating? This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Prof. Edward Giovannucci, Prof. Holly Brown-Borg, Prof. John Speakman, Dr. Mingyang Song, and Dr. Jessica Biesiekierski. And thanks as well to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.  Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices