Is Protein King?

By Dr. TroPublished February 1, 2019Medically reviewed by Dr. Laura Buchanan, MDReviewed July 6, 2026

One of the problems is that protein can be engineered to be hyperpalatable. Think of how good protein bars, protein shakes, protein cookies & protein chips taste… And now think about how widely available they are…

While there may be some unique hormonal signals w/high protein intake that may induce satiety, the flavor
& palatability of these products can induce hyperphagia

I often ask my patient how much plain/grilled shrimp they can eat. I then ask them to imagine (or even try) adding salty butter sauce or marinara sauce to that shrimp, and I will ask them if they could eat more or less? They tell me they could eat MUCH more… some have actually tried, as I have, and report back to me that, in fact, they can eat much more. In this example, protein can be OVEREATEN, just like any other macronutrient, with a little flavor, or a little sugar, or a little fat, or salt.

Bottom line: Palatability can override proteins efficacy to some extent.

Is Protein King? Yes, but the queen is palatability/hyperphagia.

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Dr. Tro

I am a board-certified physician, I lost 150lbs to reclaim my health for myself and my family. I did it by ignoring much of the conventional medical advice that we have been told. My life's goal is to get you healthy and prevent disease. I want to get you OFF of your medications.