Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Protein is having a major moment, showing up in everything from snack foods to coffee drinks—but do we actually need more of it? In this episode of Science Quickly, Rachel Feltman speaks with science journalist Bethany Brookshire about what has happened with the rise of the protein craze, how much protein people really need and why most of us are already getting plenty. They explore where the trend came from, what the science says about daily intake and how there are potential downsides to focusing too heavily on protein at the expense of overall diet and sustainability.
0:00 Intro
0:22 The Protein Craze
1:16 RFK Jr. & Wellness Culture
4:33 How Much Protein Do We Actually Need?
7:36 Who Really Needs More Protein
9:14 Risks of Too Much Protein Focus
11:54 What Research Is Still Needed
14:09 Outro
Recommended Reading:
Protein is being added to everything from Starbucks’ cold foam to Pop-Tarts. Here’s how much you actually need
scientificamerican.com/article/protein-boosted-foods-are-everywhere-now-but-do-we-actually-need-more-protein
The Science That Could Change How You Think about Protein
scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-protein-do-you-need-experts-explain
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
Protein is having a major moment, showing up in everything from snack foods to coffee drinks—but do we actually need more of it? In this episode of Science Quickly, Rachel Feltman speaks with science journalist Bethany Brookshire about what has happened with the rise of the protein craze, how much protein people really need and why most of us are already getting plenty. They explore where the trend came from, what the science says about daily intake and how there are potential downsides to focusing too heavily on protein at the expense of overall diet and sustainability.
0:00 Intro
0:22 The Protein Craze
1:16 RFK Jr. & Wellness Culture
4:33 How Much Protein Do We Actually Need?
7:36 Who Really Needs More Protein
9:14 Risks of Too Much Protein Focus
11:54 What Research Is Still Needed
14:09 Outro
Recommended Reading:
Protein is being added to everything from Starbucks’ cold foam to Pop-Tarts. Here’s how much you actually need
scientificamerican.com/article/protein-boosted-foods-are-everywhere-now-but-do-we-actually-need-more-protein
The Science That Could Change How You Think about Protein
scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-protein-do-you-need-experts-explain
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
