Why Aunty Ji Has Strong Opinions About Your Protein Shake
You know that line, “Jitne muh, utni baat”? I remember hearing it as a kid. Basically it means if you ask ten people, and you’ll get twelve different opinions. Somehow someone always manages to give two!
This becomes even more entertaining when it comes to food and nutrition. Everyone eats, so naturally everyone becomes a certified expert. It’s never just about nutrients or calories either. Food gets tangled up with everything : family traditions (“Hamare ghar mein sirf dal-chawal khate hain”), cultural beliefs, diet trends (hello, low carb warriors!), and even social status (“I only eat organic quinoa”).
No wonder every nutrition conversation turns into a mehfil where science meets personal identity, with a dash of neighborhood aunty wisdom thrown in.
Paul Graham nailed this in his article Keep your identity small:
I finally realized today why politics and religion yield such uniquely useless discussions.
As a rule, any mention of religion on an online forum degenerates into a religious argument. Why? Why does this happen with religion and not with Javascript or baking or other topics people talk about on forums?
What’s different about religion is that people don’t feel they need to have any particular expertise to have opinions about it. All they need is strongly held beliefs, and anyone can have those. No thread about Javascript will grow as fast as one about religion, because people feel they have to be over some threshold of expertise to post comments about that. But on religion everyone’s an expert.
Replace “religion” with “nutrition” and you’ve got the exact reason why your gym buddy, your maid, and your mother-in-law all have very strong opinions about whether you should drink that protein shake or not.
Protein: Simple Science, Not Confusion
Here’s the thing about nutrition : it can look messier than a Mumbai local train during rush hour. Studies sometimes contradict each other, and yesterday’s superfood becomes tomorrow’s villain. Remember when ghee was the bad guy for decades? Now it’s back as the golden child of healthy fats. Eggs went from being cholesterol bombs to being crowned as one of nature’s most perfect foods.
That’s the nature of science, it evolves. As better studies come out, advice changes. So don’t be surprised if recommendations shift again in the future. That’s not confusion, that’s progress.
The real problem? Most of us never learned proper nutrition in school. Even doctors get maybe a few hours of nutrition training in medical school, less time than they spend learning about rare diseases they’ll probably never see. This creates a knowledge vacuum that gets filled by WhatsApp forwards, that one friend who lost 10 kilos and now thinks they’re a nutritionist, and random YouTube videos with dramatic thumbnails.
But nutrition is a real science, and just like you’d see a doctor for medical advice, you owe it to yourself to either learn the basics or consult a qualified nutritionist with proper training and a degree. After all, it is your own body. When one is so mindful about finance, why not about body and what goes into it!!
Here’s your new mantra :
Nutrition is a science, not a WhatsApp thread.
When it comes to protein, though, the science is refreshingly clear. Unlike your relationship status, protein requirements don’t need to be “complicated.”
How Much Protein Do You Actually Need?
Think of protein requirements like mobile data plans, it depends on how you use your body:
| Lifestyle | Protein Needed (per kg body weight per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Couch Potato | 0.8 – 1.0 g/kg | Just enough to keep everything running |
| Active / Regular Exercise | 1.2 – 1.6 g/kg | You actually move your body regularly |
| Serious Athlete / Intense Training | 1.6 – 2.2 g/kg | You train like your life depends on it |
The Hall of Fame: Top 10 Protein Myths That Refuse to Die
Now, lets dig into what are the most common myths / argument against Protein, and what science actually says:
Myth 1: “Protein kidney kharab kar deta hai!”
Reality Check: This is the nutrition equivalent of “mobile phone se cancer hota hai.” In healthy people, there’s zero evidence that normal protein intake harms kidneys. This fear mainly applies to people who already have kidney disease.
Fun fact: Your kidneys process more waste from that extra cup of chai than from your protein shake.
Myth 2: “Ladkiyon ko protein se muscles aa jaenge!”
Reality Check: Ladies, you don’t have enough testosterone to accidentally become The Hulk. You’d need steroids, years of heavy lifting, and probably some genetic magic to get “bulky.” Protein will make you strong and lean, not looking like your gym trainer’s bigger brother.
Myth 3: “Dal-chawal mein sab protein mil jata hai!”
Reality Check: One cup of dal has about 7-9g protein. To get your daily requirement from dal alone, you’d need to eat so much that you’d look like you’re permanently pregnant. Most Indians are protein-deficient unless they consciously add eggs, paneer, chicken, fish, or other protein sources.
Think of dal as the supporting actor, not the hero of your protein story.
Myth 4: “Protein powder steroids hai!”
Reality Check: Calling protein powder “steroids” is like calling flour “drugs” because bread makes you feel good. It’s processed food, like milk powder, just with more protein. Not magic, definitely not steroids, just convenient nutrition.
Myth 5: “Protein se body mein garmi hoti hai!”
Reality Check: This is our desi version of “protein is heating.” Yes, protein digestion slightly raises body temperature (called thermic effect), but so does climbing stairs or arguing with the cable-wallah. It’s actually good. It means you’re burning more calories!
Myth 6: “Vegetarians ko protein nahi mil sakta!”
Reality Check: Harder? Yes. Impossible? No way. With paneer, dals, soy, Greek yogurt, Dahi, Tofu nuts, and millets, vegetarians can absolutely hit their targets. It just requires being deliberate about getting enough protein without consuming too many calories. A small education will go a long way.
Myth 7: “Ladkiyon ko itna protein ki zaroorat nahi!”
Reality Check: Protein isn’t just for muscles, friends. It’s needed for hormones, bones, energy, skin, hair, and basically everything that keeps you from falling apart like an old Alto. Women need protein as much as men, especially to prevent turning into a fragile aunty with age.
Myth 8: Protein is only for gym-goers.
Reality Check: That’s like saying water is only for marathon runners. Everyone needs protein, whether you exercise or spend your day perfecting the art of Netflix browsing. Your body is constantly rebuilding itself, and it needs protein for that 24/7 construction work.
Myth 9: Protein heavy lagta hai, digest nahi hota!”
Reality Check: Most people digest protein just fine. If you feel uncomfortable, it’s usually the extra fiber (from eating tons of dal), lactose (from that third glass of milk), or sulfur compounds in eggs that cause bloating—not the protein itself. Your digestive system isn’t as delicate as you think.
Myth 10: Soy nuggets or soy protein raise estrogen.
Reality Check: Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are about as similar to human estrogen as a bicycle is to a Ferrari : technically in the same category, but not even close in power. Normal soy consumption is perfectly safe and gives great protein, especially for vegetarians.
The Bottom Line: Keep It Simple, Keep It Real
Protein isn’t some fancy gym fad, it’s basic roti–kapda–makaan level stuff for your body. It keeps you strong, helps you recover, and protects you as you age.
So next time someone shares protein “gyan” in your family WhatsApp group, remember: your body doesn’t care about myths, cultural beliefs, or that one article your neighbor forwarded. It just wants the sahi cheez it needs to keep you healthy and strong.
Give your body what it deserves. Every. Single. Day.
P.S. - If you’re still confused, remember: when in doubt, ask a qualified nutritionist, not your building society group chat. Your body will thank you later!