Story perspectives

Experts Warn: High-Protein Diets Overshadow Carbohydrate Benefits

3/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

The popularity of GLP-1 medications that suppress appetite has shifted dietary trends toward high-protein foods.
Nutrition experts caution that focusing on protein may oversimplify the role of carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Lee Cotton, a registered dietitian, emphasizes that carbohydrates are not inherently bad and should be balanced with protein.
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans advocate fiber-rich whole grains and reduced refined carbohydrates.

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Story summary

The popularity of GLP-1 medications that suppress appetite has shifted dietary trends toward high-protein foods.
Nutrition experts caution that focusing on protein may oversimplify the role of carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Lee Cotton, a registered dietitian, emphasizes that carbohydrates are not inherently bad and should be balanced with protein.
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans advocate fiber-rich whole grains and reduced refined carbohydrates.