Issue #446: Too Much Protein?
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 15th.
In today’s email:
Learn: Life’s Building Blocks
Try: The Protein Protocol
Watch & Laugh: The Savannah Bananas
In the News: Get a Deeper Understanding
Stat of the Day
The number of amino acids in a single muscle fiber for recovery from a strenuous workout. (The Search for the Perfect Protein)
Learn
Life’s Building Blocks
Why are people talking about the importance of protein?
They are quite literally the building blocks of life.
We have at least 80K different proteins in our body.
Every day we’re putting our body through massive stress - even working out creates trauma to our cells and muscles.
Even if it’s true that this stress makes you stronger - that’s because we’re able to rebuild these proteins.
Without enough protein - especially essential amino acids (the ones we can ONLY get through our diet) - our body literally can’t make these fixes.
That’s why there’s been so much attention to the concept of “protein deficiency.”
Without enough protein - our bodies don’t function the right way. It affects everything from:
Brain fog (eventual brain disease)
Autoimmune disease
To be clear - protein isn’t the cure-all to prevent these diseases. We still need all other vitamins, nutrients, and overall metabolic health.
But it’s an essential component - without it we’re at a much higher risk for chronic disease and bad health.
How Do Proteins Help Us?
In an ideal world (in our body) - we eat protein that gets broken down into amino acids.
This starts when we chew our food.
Newsflash: We don’t chew enough.
It’s key to remember that digestion begins in our mouth. When we don’t chew our food we can’t break it down - which we’ll see in a minute is a big problem. Plus, not chewing is what leads to a smaller jawline - leaving us without room for all our teeth and small nasal cavities causing sleep apnea.
The food then gets broken down in our stomach - the hydrochloric acid in our stomach unwraps the protein and an enzyme called pepsin breaks it apart into amino acids.
The small intestine finishes the digestion and then the amino acids can go back into our body to start the recovery process - protein synthesis.
This is happening all over the body.
But if any amino acids are missing the whole process stops (the puzzle needs to all fit together).
Amino acids could be missing for 2 reasons:
We aren’t eating enough of the essential amino acids (can only get from food)
We aren’t absorbing the amino acid because our gut is messed up
Your gut not working properly can show up as gas, acid reflux, bad breath, fatigue, anemia, and even depression.
Hint: Get fiber to help protect your gut (see Issue #445) and avoid toxins your body doesn’t want - like pesticides and for some people, histamines like lectins or gluten.
Risk of Too Much Protein?
Now proteins either build up our cells - protein synthesis - or they break down into carbohydrates and nitrogen if our cells don’t need them. You can’t store proteins.
So if you’re eating a lot of protein - following the 1g per pound of bodyweight recommendation - but NOT working out or staying active, then your cells won’t need all this protein.
That’s why that steak or protein shake can get converted into glucose and you’ll see an increase in triglycerides, fasting insulin, and more belly fat.
Bottom Line - protein is an absolutely essential macronutrient. But make sure you get clean sources and take care of your gut so that you can absorb the protein and get all the benefits of the building blocks of life.
Try
The Protein Protocol
Eat clean sources of protein - avoid animal protein that isn’t organic, open range and not fed a diet of junk, mixed with hormones and antibiotics. Same with plant-based sources - go organic. Trust me - it’s worth the added investment.
Chew your food - start the digestion in your mouth and know that you can’t use protein that doesn’t get fully broken down into amino acids. Help your stomach out!
Eat fiber and avoid toxins to protect your gut. If you have gas, acid reflux, bad breath, or chronic fatigue - get checked for leaky gut.
Work Out - tons of protein without movement leads to fat and metabolic problems.
Bonus: Best source of protein = organic, pasture-raised eggs. **Not egg whites - the whole egg! 🍳
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Max and I are hooked on Caraway cookware - it’s a game-changer. After trying everything from stainless steel to non-stick, we finally found a brand that lives up to its promise.
Why Caraway?
Non-Toxic Cooking: Caraway’s kitchenware is free of harmful chemicals, so you can cook with confidence.
Sleek Design: Thoughtful, beautiful design that fits any kitchen.
Cleaner, Healthier Cooking: Caraway ensures your food stays as pure as possible.
We can’t imagine cooking without it - get your set now and experience the difference.
By purchasing Caraway’s products, you’re not only enhancing your cooking experience - you’re also supporting Thrive25 in our mission to make health and longevity approachable.
Watch & Laugh
The Savannah Bananas
Max and I grew up on baseball, but let’s be honest - it’s pretty much impossible to watch a full game.
Enter the Savannah Bananas. Part baseball, part circus, and pure entertainment. They’ve reimagined the game with music, dancing, and wild rules that put fun first - and fans love it.
Catch them on tour at an MLB or NFL stadium near you, or make the trip to Savannah for the full experience. It’s baseball like you’ve never seen it.
H&L in the News
Relief, Roars, and Rory: Rory McIlroy finally conquered Augusta, ending an 11-year major drought with a dramatic playoff win at the 2025 Masters to complete the career Grand Slam - and silence the doubts in everyone, including himself. (NYTimes)
The Cavalanche is Coming for the Crown: More sports for you. Learn why the Cavs are a breath of fresh air for the NBA. Can Mitchell and company storm past the hype machines and claim Cleveland’s next title? Sorry - as Cleveland Sports Fans we’re obligated to mention this. (Jason Gay, WSJ)
Think Slower, Understand Deeper: True understanding takes courage, curiosity, and the will to think. Learn how great minds go beyond quick answers to develop lasting insight - and how you can, too. (Big Think)
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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To health!
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.