Protein Junkies

It’s the macro of choice for women who want to slim fast and train hard. But is this protein habit really so healthy?

- Sarah Shephard

We’re easy to spot. We’re the ones with plastic beakers in our bags, empty save for a pile of powder at the bottom. Our freezers are jammed full of pre-portioned chicken breasts. And come mid-afternoon, we’re tucking in to our second hard-boiled egg of the day. It’s a diet once associated with bodybuilders and elite athletes. We’re neither. But we have earned ourselves a less comfortable moniker: “protorexics”.

The term refers to those who rely on lots of protein while avoiding carbs to control weight and fuel workouts. But, people are starting to ask, at what cost? We know where it started, of course. With a certain Dr Atkins, the original carb swerver, who spawned a global movement of halitosis-burdened devotees and then, in the decades that followed, a glut of low-carb variants. From the Zone to South Beach to Paleo. All are based on the fundamental weight loss properties of high-protein foods: their complex make-up means they require more of the body’s energy (read: kilojoules) to digest and metabolise. Moreover, they contain the amino acids necessary to create lean muscle, which ultimately boosts metabolism for more rapid fat burn. Fast-forward to today’s fitness landscape and protein has found its home on every fit-foodie’s Instagram feed. In the food aisles, it’s “enriching” traditionally carb-based products, such as pasta and bread. And any high-end gym worth its corporate membership comes complete with its own shake stand.