A group of Masters students from the University of Sheffield have set up stalls in the Student Union, holding an outreach event for their Human Nutrition course.
The stall focuses specifically on protein, helping communicate to the public a better understanding of protein nutrition, and “demystifying” beliefs around protein and processed protein – like how much people need in a regular diet.
The representatives advocate for a protein-rich diet – referring to protein as the “building block” that fixes wear and tear after physical activity. They praised it for its ability to support the immune system, and its role in the body as a “biological messenger”, that is used to fight off germs and illness. However, they also understand the risks that come with blind protein consumption.
“People will often substitute natural protein with protein powders and protein bars,” said representative Lily Birn, 23. “It’s about making sure people are aware that those foods can often be ultra-processed, and might not have as much protein as you might think.
“A lot of this marketing from big supermarkets actually might be detrimental to your health – by providing you with more sugar, more salt, preservatives and hyper-processed ingredients.
“So we’re making sure that people are aware of both animal and plant-based protein alternatives that are either whole foods, or minimally processed, that are healthier for their diets.”
Processed protein can be part of your diet, according to the representatives, however it is worth knowing why it is highly suggested that your intake of such is limited – processed proteins can: be high in salt, increasing blood pressure; contain hidden fats, that can affect heart health; and are also linked to an increased risk of cancer.
They recommend some simple and easy diet swaps in order to combat this. For example, swapping battered or breaded fish fingers with white fish, such as cod, hake or haddock; or swapping deli ham or bacon for roasted chicken breast. They say that just one of these kinds of swaps per week can make a big difference in your overall health.
The stall also included information such as recipes, including a chickpea curry with rice, and an egg and bean protein wrap.