Khaberni - When it comes to eating healthily, everyone focuses on protein as the main component for building muscle and repairing cells, but over-focusing on protein can be very harmful to the body, according to lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho.
In a post on Instagram, Luke warned that excessive attention to protein can lead to inflammation, poor gut health, and increased blood sugar levels, and what is consumed with the intention to build muscle may instead turn into fat accumulation in the body.
Hidden Ingredients
Luke points to three common ingredients in protein-rich snacks that can negatively impact the body:
Palm Oil
Used to give a creamy texture and long shelf life to bars and snacks, palm oil is rich in saturated fats that raise harmful cholesterol levels (LDL) and increase the risk of heart disease.
Luke added that processed versions of palm oil might contain contaminants associated with organ toxicity and increased cancer risk, suggesting a replacement with whole foods like yogurt, paneer, beans, lentils, eggs, and chicken liver.
Refined Flour and Processed Carbohydrates
Many protein bars contain refined flour as fillers, which lack fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
This type of carbohydrate rapidly raises blood sugar levels, promotes fat storage, and leads to minor inflammation.
Luke described these bars as resembling "a gourmet candy bar" that harms gut health and directly impacts insulin levels.
Artificial Sweeteners
Sweeteners such as sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium are marketed as calorie-free, but they are linked to disruptions of the gut microbiome, metabolic changes, increased appetite, higher risk of inflammation, and metabolic syndrome.
Luke advised against focusing solely on "protein" labels and instead focusing on reading the ingredient list. He explained that it is always best to choose clean, minimally processed sources, such as grass-fed meats, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes, grains, and dairy products.
