A few months ago, an epidemiological study correlating protein intake and cancer
rates, had gained some popularity. Almost immediately after the study was
published, I wrote a blog to clear the air. You can find it here. But regardless of how
poor the study it comes from is, or how misrepresented this study has been in the
media,
rates, had gained some popularity. Almost immediately after the study was
published, I wrote a blog to clear the air. You can find it here. But regardless of how
poor the study it comes from is, or how misrepresented this study has been in the
media,
sometimes a notion like “Protein gives you cancer” just sticks with people.
Now we have a whole culture of people who believe protein gives you cancer.
Let me illustrate how silly this is. The other day my girlfriend just finished up at the
gym, and was in the middle of having a protein-shake. Pretty standard post-gym
routine; her muscles needed some nutrients. A man came up to her and asked her
what was in the bottle. She explained it was a protein-shake (iMadgen Nutrition
whey protein to be specific). He then responded with “I used to eat protein, but then
I did some research and found out protein gives you cancer”.
What?
I don’t know what he considers research, but he didn’t do a very good job! And I
hope he doesn’t stick to his new diet for too long! But the reality is, there are lots of
people who now think protein gives you cancer. Protein is an essential nutrient.
Not only does it not give you cancer, we will die without it.
To further illustrate the silliness of it all, lets think about some other common
nutritional ideas you have probably heard before.
“Fat is bad for you” or “Fat makes you fat” are common ones that have been around
forever.
Carbohydrates have been accused of causing all kinds of health problems lately.
“Carbs make you bloated”
“Carbs give you inflammation”
“Carbs give you cancer”
“Carbs give you grain brain”
“Carbs give you insert noun”
So what’s left? Well, since there are 4 macronutrients, and carbs, protein, and fat are
apparently terrible for us, this leaves only one option. Alcohol…Apparently we
should all be living off of alcohol.
Do you see the silliness now?
The reality is, you can probably find one study that thinks it has found a link
between just about everything.
Fat and dementia
Carbs and ADHD
Protein and cancer
Calcium and aggression
Cheese and eye colour
Following one of these studies, you will no doubt be able to find a string of
blogs/articles/videos jumping on the bandwagon far too early. And inevitably, a
few years later the research gets to where it needs to be and concludes that
whatever extreme claim was made just isn’t true.
So be critical of what you read, be skeptical of anything extreme, and NO, do not try
and live off of alcohol because you heard carbs, protein, and fat are all bad for you.
Now we have a whole culture of people who believe protein gives you cancer.
Let me illustrate how silly this is. The other day my girlfriend just finished up at the
gym, and was in the middle of having a protein-shake. Pretty standard post-gym
routine; her muscles needed some nutrients. A man came up to her and asked her
what was in the bottle. She explained it was a protein-shake (iMadgen Nutrition
whey protein to be specific). He then responded with “I used to eat protein, but then
I did some research and found out protein gives you cancer”.
What?
I don’t know what he considers research, but he didn’t do a very good job! And I
hope he doesn’t stick to his new diet for too long! But the reality is, there are lots of
people who now think protein gives you cancer. Protein is an essential nutrient.
Not only does it not give you cancer, we will die without it.
To further illustrate the silliness of it all, lets think about some other common
nutritional ideas you have probably heard before.
“Fat is bad for you” or “Fat makes you fat” are common ones that have been around
forever.
Carbohydrates have been accused of causing all kinds of health problems lately.
“Carbs make you bloated”
“Carbs give you inflammation”
“Carbs give you cancer”
“Carbs give you grain brain”
“Carbs give you insert noun”
So what’s left? Well, since there are 4 macronutrients, and carbs, protein, and fat are
apparently terrible for us, this leaves only one option. Alcohol…Apparently we
should all be living off of alcohol.
Do you see the silliness now?
The reality is, you can probably find one study that thinks it has found a link
between just about everything.
Fat and dementia
Carbs and ADHD
Protein and cancer
Calcium and aggression
Cheese and eye colour
Following one of these studies, you will no doubt be able to find a string of
blogs/articles/videos jumping on the bandwagon far too early. And inevitably, a
few years later the research gets to where it needs to be and concludes that
whatever extreme claim was made just isn’t true.
So be critical of what you read, be skeptical of anything extreme, and NO, do not try
and live off of alcohol because you heard carbs, protein, and fat are all bad for you.