Protein Powders: Hype and Science

Fork U with Dr. Terry Simpson · Aug 21, 2025 · 9m

Protein Powders: What’s Real, What’s Hype, and Why It Matters

Protein powders are everywhere. Walk into a gym, scroll through social media, or visit a health food store, and you’ll see tubs of whey, egg, pea, and soy protein. Add buzzwords like “isolate,” “hydrolysate,” and “grass-fed,” and suddenly these powders sound like liquid gold. But how much of this is science—and how much is hype?

From Surgeons to Shakers

Surgeons were among the first to use modular proteins. In the ICU, when patients couldn’t eat, we relied on early protein formulas. These weren’t the big plastic tubs you see at…