Grocery shelves are now crowded with protein-fortified everything, from cereal to Pop-Tarts, as food companies chase consumer enthusiasm for the macronutrient.
A biologist explains that protein is essential for muscle, nerves, immune function and more, but that most healthy adults already get enough of it without supplements.
In January 2026 the U.S. government nearly doubled its recommended dietary allowance for protein, a change some experts call more about optimizing health than preventing deficiency, and one that remains contested among nutrition specialists.
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