Analysis of CSIRO Healthy Diet Score survey of close to 200,000 adults shows that people with low quality diets obtained 8 times more of protein intake from junk protein than people with high quality diets, and were three times more likely to be obese.
Individual protein needs can differ, and not all foods that contain protein are actually good for you. Consuming 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight is suggested by the latest science for optimal weight loss. Higher healthy protein meals can help to control appetite and reduce the urge to indulge in unhealthy junk. Latest scientific evidence recommends on average 25 grams of healthy protein at each main meal to help to control hunger and enhance muscle metabolism.
Research shows that many people are not getting protein from healthy foods, many are consuming foods which they think are healthy such as processed meat pies and processed chicken nuggets. Processed meats were found to be the second highest contributor for protein intake for people with low diet scores. People consuming leaner diets tended to have higher quality diets with protein from healthier whole foods such as eggs, nuts, yogurt, fish, lean red meat, and chicken, with junk food protein accounting for only 3% of total protein intake.
