A new survey shows more Americans are making protein a bigger part of their diets than in years past.
Our body can use protein as an energy source, but it prefers to use protein as a building block, Dr. Matthew Hitchcock says.
Seventy-one percent of Americans say they are trying to consume more protein, up from 59 percent in 20-22 and 67 percent in 20-23, according to a survey from the 2025 International Food Information Council.
Dr. Matthew Hitchcock says this trend stems from social media and fitness influencers.
You are definitely seeing more influencers in social media out there, kind of talking about adequate protein intake, Hitchcock tells us.
Hitchcock adds its not just about how much protein you consume, but what type of protein you take in.
The protein that you’re getting from like a fast food processed chicken nugget is very different from the protein you’re getting from a lean chicken breast or a lean steak. It’s very different protein sources, Hitchcock says.
Christian Nguyen says he’s been an active gym-goer for nearly four years and has made protein a key part of his diet to help build muscle and improve his overall body composition.
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I like to have a main core protein, whether it be chicken or beef are usually my main two that I go for, Nguyen says.