The Great Protein Myth: Do We Really Need So Much “Protein”?

🌿 A Fresh Perspective

No other animal on this planet studies textbooks or attends classes to learn what to eat. They simply eat what nature provides: directly, fresh, raw, and unprocessed. No lion worries about protein shakes. No monkey counts amino acids. No elephant needs a nutritionist to balance its meals.

Yet, in the human world, we have been trained through “education”, doctors, gyms, and relentless marketing to obsess over one nutrient: protein.

As beautifully highlighted in The Land of Ahimsa, Darshana Muzumdar emphasizes how all we are asked to focus on is:
“Protein, protein, protein, protein, protein, protein, protein, protein.”

But this obsession is not only unnecessary, it can be harmful. By focusing on isolated nutrients instead of the natural design of creation, we step away from health. What was intended for us: delicious sweet ripe fruit, tender leafy greens, hydrating vegetables, gets replaced with processed, cooked, and artificially enhanced foods.

When we focus only on protein, we neglect other essentials:

• Fiber (only found in plants!)
• Vitamins & minerals
• Carbohydrates (our body’s main fuel)
• Water

True balance comes from giving all of these their rightful place.

Why Do We Need “Protein”?

Protein is often called the “building block of life.” Our body uses it for:

• Growth and repair of tissues
• Making enzymes and hormones
• Supporting immune function

But here’s the key: our body doesn’t use “protein” as it is. It breaks down protein into amino acids, then rebuilds these amino acids into the unique proteins our body actually needs.

That means eating more protein than needed doesn’t build more muscle… it simply creates waste that the body must work hard to eliminate. Excess protein isn’t harmless. It can acidify the body, stress the kidneys, and contribute to chronic disease.

The Great Protein Myth (From TC Fry, on Natural Hygiene)

We have been sold a dangerous lie: that more protein means more strength, more health, more energy. In reality, excessive protein consumption has harmed millions.

🔹 Animal protein is an extra burden. The body must break it down into amino acids first, creating acidic waste. Cooking further damages amino acids, making digestion harder and increasing toxic load.

🔹 Proteins, whether from plant or animal sources, turn into acids. Acids burn and damage cells. Excess protein causes inflammation, fluid retention, tumors, and organ failure. Almost every chronic disease can be linked to protein overconsumption.

🔹 There’s no such thing as “protein deficiency.” The body needs amino acids, not animal proteins, and the body actually recycles up to two-thirds of its protein waste daily to meet its needs.

🔹 How much do we actually need?

• Human breast milk, which is the perfect food for rapid infant growth, contains only 1.1g protein per 100g.
• An infant doubling its weight in six months thrives on just 1–2% protein.
• Adults need even less, since they recycle most of their amino acids.

So why are adults told to eat 70–120g daily? Marketing, not science.

A Brief History of Protein Misinformation

• 19th Century: Baron von Liebig mistakenly concluded protein gives energy because muscles contain protein.
• Voit (1881): Studied dogs and recommended 100–125g protein daily for humans, ignoring the vast difference between species.
• Reality Check (1887): Studies showed only ~40g/day was enough for humans. But by then, the high-protein myth had taken root.
• Today: Thanks to the meat, dairy, and egg industries, recommendations remain inflated. The average American consumes 93g/day—the highest in the world.

Consequences of Excess Protein

• Gout & kidney stones (uric acid buildup)
• Edema (water retention)
• Chronic inflammation
• Tumors & organ damage
• Headaches, migraines, pain, fatigue

The Natural Solution 🌿

Step back into alignment with nature:

• Eat fruit as the major part of your daily diet. 🍎🍇🍌
• Fill the rest with raw vegetables, leafy greens, sprouts, and minimally cooked whole plant foods.
• Let go of isolated nutrient obsession. Instead, enjoy whole foods as nature intended: vibrant, delicious, and complete.

When you do, health flows effortlessly. Weight stabilizes. Energy soars. Inflammation subsides. And life feels lighter, brighter, more natural.