Americans Can’t Stop Eating This Trendy Snack Food, But Experts Are Warning About Its Terrifying Side Effects

Did you eat enough protein today?

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The craze has spawned a slew of new protein-rich products—from protein bars and powders to popcorn and pancake mixes—and has many of us scrambling to buy our solutions in the meat department of the grocery store.

In fact, a recent study found that “per capita meat consumption in the United States increased from 109 kilograms to 117 kilograms between 2018 and 2023, and is expected to increase to 122 kilograms per capita in 2027.”

But should we think twice about where our protein comes from, and what dangers might be lurking if we just eat meat?

This Is Us — Huffington Post hosts Raj Punjabi-Johnson and Noah Michelson Did I do something wrong? Podcast – asked food journalist Elizabeth Dunn, who writes extensively about nutrition, during a recent visit to our studio.

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“There’s definitely a perception online that if you want to live a high-protein life, you need to eat a lot of meat,” Dunn told us. “What you rarely hear talked about in these contexts is the downsides of eating a lot of meat. The data are very, very clear — I mean, like decades of large-scale, reputable studies showing that the higher the meat content in your diet, the higher your chance of cancer, diabetes, all-cause mortality — which means basically dying younger. So, eating a diet that’s high in meat, especially a lot of red meat or processed foods, does have a pretty big impact on health. A diet that’s heavy on meat.”

Dunn focuses on one popular protein snack in particular.

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“One of the fastest-growing snack categories right now is meat sticks,” she said. “Clearly the protein trend is driving this, [and though] They’re also incredibly delicious, and it’s really surprising to me, especially because we’re in this very healthy, nutritious, conscious moment right now, that people don’t realize that processed meats are a Class 1 carcinogen — a Group 1 carcinogen. This is a World Health Organization classification, which means we know they cause cancer in humans. So I think this is really something that more people should think about. “

Dunn noted that the average American doesn’t need to add additional protein to their diet because they likely already get the recommended daily amount in their meals. However, if we are looking for more protein, she urges us to get it from whole foods rather than processed foods.

She adds that most foods contain protein, which means even people who don’t eat meat don’t have to work too hard to meet daily needs.

“As a vegetarian, as long as you make a concerted effort to eat lots of different plants, you can get the protein you need,” she says.

Michelson noted that “a cup of [cooked] Spinach…contains five grams of protein, a cup of raw peas contains eight grams of protein…a cup of wild rice contains six grams of protein. “

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Whole grains are also “a huge source of protein,” Dunn said.

“I’m not just talking about quinoa – oats have a lot of protein, seeds like hemp seeds and chia seeds also have a lot of protein…it adds up a lot faster than you think.”

So if you’ve been worried about not getting enough protein, don’t worry! You may be, but if you want an extra boost, eat whole foods—and maybe skip processed meats as a regular part of your diet.

We also talked with Dunn about why we’re wasting time and money if we eat too much protein, which nutrients we should probably be focusing on instead of protein, and more.

For more information about Elizabeth Dunn, visit her website and Subscribe to her substack.

This article was originally published on Huffington Post.

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