A Healthy Diet Needs Healthy Proteins
With all of the things protein does to keep our bodies humming along, it makes sense to pack your diet with the best sources possible. But while the typical “American diet” is full of protein-rich foods, they aren’t necessarily good ones.
In fact, many of them are downright bad for you.
Fatty cuts of meat, fried or smothered in cheese; processed meats filled with cancer-causing nitrites; or rich dairy products loaded with added sugars can deliver protein, all right—but sometimes far too much, which can be hard on the kidneys.
These foods also tend to be high in things that place a toxic burden on the body and stoke inflammation, which contributes to heart disease and other chronic, progressive illnesses. Topping the list of villains are two ingredients often associated with protein-rich foods: sugar and fat. What’s more, conventionally produced meats also may contain antibiotic and steroid residues, growth hormones, and other kinds of medications that were given to an animal prior to slaughter.