{"id":385490,"date":"2026-01-23T04:50:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T04:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/385490\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T04:50:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T04:50:19","slug":"protein-trend-is-it-healthy-experts-weigh-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/385490\/","title":{"rendered":"Protein trend: Is it healthy? Experts weigh in"},"content":{"rendered":"

From fast food chains to grocery stores, protein-packed items seem to be everywhere.<\/p>\n

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. \u2014 As the new year begins, grocery stores and restaurants across West Michigan are seeing a surge in demand for protein-packed foods, reflecting a nationwide trend toward higher-protein diets.<\/p>\n

Local grocery stores say shoppers are gravitating toward items with fewer ingredients and higher nutritional value.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur sales in the meat shop have been at an all-time high for us,\u201d Alan Hartline, owner of Kingma\u2019s Market<\/a>, said. \u201cQuite frankly, and even coming out of the new year, I think a lot of people are seeking out some of the healthier items we have.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

New products on Kingma\u2019s shelves include high-protein pita chips that contain six grams of protein per serving and jerky sticks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cJust recently, this January, we introduced a\u00a0turkey stick<\/a>,\u201d Hartline said. \u201cWe’ve got, like, honey barbecue and hot turkey sticks and all kinds of different flavors, up to 17 different varieties. So people love them for portable convenience on the go, but also for entertaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sticks have a seven-day shelf life, unlike traditional, highly processed jerky sticks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe grind fresh West Michigan beef,\u201d he said. \u201cPut it in our smoker and put it in our case fresh, so no preservatives or anything either.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, meat departments are reporting record sales.<\/p>\n

Hartline said customers are looking for convenient, high-quality protein options without preservatives \u2013 and that need is being noticed by fast food chains too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chipotle, Starbucks and Dunkin\u2019 have expanded protein-focused menu options, from bowls to beverages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shanthi Appel\u00f6<\/a>, a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, says protein\u2019s popularity started on social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cProtein is essential for muscle health, hormones and keeping us full longer,\u201d Appel\u00f6 said. \u201cBut protein doesn\u2019t automatically mean healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She notes that protein needs vary by age, activity level and overall health, but many adults can meet their needs by aiming for 25 to 35 grams of protein per meal. Appel\u00f6 encourages people to talk with their doctors for personalized recommendations.<\/p>\n

While high-protein products continue to flood the market, Appel\u00f6 warns against overconsumption.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cProtein still contains calories, and excess intake can contribute to weight gain,\u201d she said. \u201cAnother concern is that we sometimes crowd out fiber, which is incredibly important for heart health, digestion and overall well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultra-processed protein foods are another concern. Studies have linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to increased risks of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Appel\u00f6 says the shorter the ingredient list, the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She also encourages people to include plant-based protein sources such as beans and legumes, which provide fiber and have been associated with lower heart disease risk.<\/p>\n

When it comes to fast food, Appel\u00f6 recommends choosing whole-food options like grilled chicken and pairing protein with vegetables and fiber-rich sides. She cautions against relying solely on protein shakes or protein-enhanced coffee drinks as meal replacements.<\/p>\n

\u201cProtein alone isn\u2019t enough,\u201d she said. \u201cBalance is key. Protein, fiber, healthy fats and whole foods all work together.\u201d<\/p>\n

As protein continues to dominate menus and grocery shelves in 2026, experts say the focus should remain on moderation and avoiding highly-processed food items.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From fast food chains to grocery stores, protein-packed items seem to be everywhere. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. \u2014 As…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385491,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-385490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-nutrition","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}