02/25/2026
At 47 years, here are 7 proteins I don’t touch if I want to build muscle and keep my gut healthy:
1. Processed meats – cold cuts with 20+ sketchy ingredients? Hard pass. If I can’t pronounce it, I don’t eat it.
2. Fake plant-based meats – ultra-processed junk. I’ll take grass-fed beef over lab-grown burgers any day.
3. Farm-raised fish – loaded with dyes and antibiotics. Wild-caught only.
4. No pasteurized stuff for me.
5. Fried proteins, I air fry, bake, sauté, or grill instead.
6. Most beef jerky, way too much sugar and garbage.
7. Protein bars, most are candy bars in disguise.
Here’s what I do eat instead:
• Whole eggs + egg whites → My go-to breakfast: 2 whole eggs + 10 whites. Protein locked in first thing.
• 99% lean ground turkey → Easy to season and keep lean.
• Whey isolate protein → Clean and quick.
• Bone broth → Loaded with benefits (I use Kettle & Fire).
• Chicken, seafood, shellfish → Simple staples.
• Greek yogurt → Packed with protein
Here’s the hack:
Take the protein grams per serving and add a zero.
If that number is higher than the calories, it’s a great protein source.
Example: 20g protein → 200. If the calories are 150 or less, it’s gold. If it’s 250+, it’s loaded with sugar and fat.
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