Paying more for protein versions of food is probably just wasting money

Walk down the aisles of any supermarket and youll find protein-enriched porridge, pancakes, and dairy products.

As a high-protein diet becomes more fashionable, and people try to get the ripped abs of those they see on TV and Instagram, its only a natural progression.

Its a pretty good thing, since it helps repair everything from hair to muscles but, companies have cashed in on the hype in a big way, and not always honestly.

A new study has found that were paying up to triple the price for items marketed as protein enriched, even when the actual content is the same or similar to regular counterparts.

The Behind The Label study by Wren Kitchens looked at the protein content actually found in these carefully labelled products, and whether you could get more for less when it comes to the macronutrient.

Since 43% of Brits have admitted buying some form of protein marketed product in the past, heres what theyre actually getting for their money:

Given that the recommended amount of protein we need each day is 45g for women and 55g for a man, two cans of tuna should be more than enough.

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No other fancy products need to be purchased, but if you do choose to do that, check the label before you part with your cash.

However, the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey found that the average UK adult consumes up to 55% more protein than they actually need.

Here are some easy and cheap ways to get your intake:

Nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed says:Most of us get more than enough protein in our everyday diet, and so its not something that we need to think about supplementing too often. However, for some, such as athletes, those training intensely, or very active individuals they may have extra requirements for protein to support muscle growth and repair.

To put it simply, unless advised by a medical professional, you dont need to be eating protein specific products. If you find them to be a convenient way to top up your intake or to help you spread your protein intake across the day, there is no real problem with using them. However, its important to remember you can get all the protein you need from everyday foods.

Charlotte advises A single serving of protein is roughly the size of your palm. Most people should aim for two servings each day.

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