The U.S. government has released new dietary guidelines that strongly encourage Americans to eat more protein at every meal.
In fact, the new recommendations suggest people should eat up to twice as much protein as previously advised. For many, that means eating at least 100 grams of protein per day, with most of it coming from animal sources like red meat and whole milk.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement on social media, saying, “We are ending the war on protein.” A new food pyramid also highlights animal proteins more prominently, while plant-based sources have been given less emphasis.
But some top nutrition scientists are raising concerns. They say most Americans already eat more than enough protein, and the push to add even more could backfire—especially for people who are not doing strength training or trying to build muscle.
Protein is a vital nutrient. It’s found in every cell of the body and is needed to build and repair tissues like muscles, skin, and bones. It also helps make enzymes and hormones. Protein is made of amino acids, including some the body can’t produce on its own. That’s why we must get them from food.
For decades, the recommended daily intake of protein was 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. That’s about 54 grams a day for someone who weighs 150 pounds. The new guidelines suggest increasing that amount to between 1.2 and 1.6 grams per kilogram—nearly double the old amount.
But many experts say there’s little evidence to support this change. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University says unless someone is doing serious weight training, they likely don’t need the extra protein.
In fact, eating too much protein—especially from animal sources—can cause the body to store it as fat. This could lead to weight gain and a higher risk of diabetes.
The new guidelines are based on 30 studies that examined how high-protein diets affect body weight and nutrition levels. While the studies showed these diets are safe, many researchers say they don’t show clear benefits for most people.
Dr. Christopher Gardner at Stanford University warns that the new guidelines could confuse people.
He fears food companies will rush to sell more processed products—like protein bars, shakes, and snacks—claiming they are healthy because they contain more protein. This could distract from the more important message of eating whole, natural foods.
Dr. David Ludwig, an endocrinologist from Boston Children’s Hospital, agrees. He says processed carbs and sugary snacks are a much bigger problem than low protein intake. He hopes the new guidelines don’t cause people to replace one unhealthy habit with another.
Study Review and Analysis: The new protein guidelines are meant to help Americans stay healthier, but there are real concerns. While protein is essential, many people already get enough without trying. Eating too much protein—especially in processed foods—could make health problems worse, not better.
These changes also seem to focus more on meat and dairy, which raises questions about balance and long-term impact. Nutrition is complex, and one-size-fits-all advice can sometimes do more harm than good. Experts suggest focusing on whole foods, regular exercise, and talking to your doctor before making big changes.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about plant nutrient that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
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