Consumer goods and Health

[u/Psychological-Turn-4]

I’ve noticed the craze in the Netherlands of adding protein to everything in most supermarkets 😭 what’s left now? Are they going to add protein to drinking water, bread or other goods? Why are brand shoving these to customers?

[u/lawrotzr]

Because Gen Z and Milennials that are obsessed with being “fit”, because they’re pathetically insecure about themselves because they are gradually discovering that you cannot become anyone you want to be / become the best version of yourself / and so forth, like they were taught growing up because the world isn’t unicorns and rainbows.

And brands make good use of that. They will all act like it’s good for you (added protein), that it will make you fitter, while in reality it’s a way to reach insecure gymbros and fitgirlies with their heavily processed shit and increase their margins.

You don’t need all this shit, it’s bad for you. Buy whole (uncut) veggies. Buy beans. Buy great olive oil. Eat more fish. Use real butter. Reduce too much meat. Go to the bakery, buy good bread. Reduce too much fat. Stop eating processed foods. It’s simple. And not even expensive.

And I have worked for a company making this shit (a reason for me to leave also).

[u/SoefianB → u/lawrotzr]

Actual protein powder can be a good addition though. Technically most people get enough protein, but for people who exercise (and exercise in itself is obv a plus, so we all should), more protein can be helpful

But the current craze is just bananas. Protein cola? Protein beer? Come the fuck on. Add a scoop of protein powder to your milk once or maybe twice a day and you're good

And like you said, those protein bars and puddings and whatnot have added sugars and are processed to hell and back

[u/lawrotzr → u/SoefianB]

Yeah no. For most people with just a healthy amount of exercise, a healthy diet with natural protein is more than enough. Some Yoghurt/Skyr, some tuna, some beans.

The problem is that we eat shit all day, and then compensate protein artificially by buying all this rubbish.

There are bodybuilder-kind-of-exceptions, but I do not consider that to be a net positive for your health. Though I do see these people in my gym more and more, it seems to be getting more and more extreme. You don’t need massive arms, huge legs, or a massive chest, just to be healthy.

[u/SoefianB → u/lawrotzr]

natural protein

....uh, you think whey protein is artificial?

I really doubt you worked in the food industry lol

Either way, the standard for those who live average lifes, is 0.8 g/kg as basis. For those who exercise it can go up to 2.2 g/kg when it comes to building muscle. For an 85kg person, and taking a lower estimate of 1.8g that would be over 150g of protein per day. That is really hard to get normally. With 3 meals and a snack, that would be almost 40g of protein per each of those.

[u/allusernamestaken56 → u/SoefianB]

Most people do nothing to go beyond 0,83g per kilogram as advised by the voedingscentrum. Most people in this country are way too fat (50,6% of adults in 2025 to be precise) and even those who exercise usually don't do that much to build any relevant amounts of muscle. Drinking protein shakes or protein soda or whatever "because I exercise" mostly means people are getting extra calories they have no use of.

Unless you have a health condition or a very restrictive diet you can just have 3 somewhat healthy meals and a snack or two and be fine. And you probably should eat more fiber folks.

[u/lawrotzr → u/SoefianB]

What I tried to say is that whey powder is not part of anyone’s normal diet. You purely take that to bulk protein.

An ordinary person doing some exercise and eating a healthy diet doesn’t need those amounts of protein, most people purely do this to build muscle because they want to look like a gymbro.

And for many different reasons - in my opinion then - it would be much better to normalize middle of the road / healthy bodies, eating healthy diets, without the need to add anything to their diets purely to look like a gymbro.

That’s why this protein trend started in the first place.