RFK Jr. says: Americans need more protein. His Grok-powered food website disagrees

30 seconds Super Bowl An ad featuring boxing legend Mike Tyson and paid for by the non-profit MAHA, encourages viewers to avoid processed foods and visit the website Realfood.gov. The government website of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr Promotionprovides resources about the new administration Dietary guidelineswhich was released in January, encourages people to use Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok to get real answers about real food.

I decided to see how your puppy’s advice stacked up with management recommendations, especially regarding protein intake. The new guidelines call for 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day – more than was previously recommended – while the new inverted food pyramid prominently features steak and other animal products.

“We are ending the war on protein,” says Realfood.gov, echoing similar statements made by Kennedy.

Most Americans are Already eat enough protein– And your puppy agrees. In fact, so is the administration itself.Scientific Foundation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans“, which is linked to Realfood.gov. He says that US adults consume on average about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, or approximately 15% of total energy — the midpoint of the acceptable macronutrient distribution range, or ADMR — “suggesting that this deficiency is rare.”

After being encouraged by the site to ask the AI ​​for advice, I first asked Grok how much protein I should eat based on my age, height, and weight. (It’s worth noting that Grok doesn’t often respond to claims, instead citing high demand and encouraging users to sign up for an account.) She recommended 0.8 grams per kilogram per day, the long-standing recommended daily allowance, or RDA, developed by the National Institute of Medicine. When I refined my question and said I do 30 minutes of strength training four days a week, your puppy’s response was more in line with the new management guidelines.

The recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram per day is the minimum required to prevent protein deficiency in a sedentary lifestyle, which describes a large portion of the American population. Nutritionists I spoke with agree that the new recommendations are more suitable for people who exercise regularly.

“I think what the administration is trying to do is target people who are metabolically unhealthy and may need more protein to feel full and satisfied to build some muscle,” says Lindsay Malone, a clinical nutritionist at Case Western Reserve University. “But that nuance gets lost with their only message.” “Then you go to this AI tool, and it contains too much information for the average person.”

While eating more protein can make you feel full so you avoid snacking, eating more protein by itself does not build muscle, which is primarily built through resistance or strength training.

Eating too much of any macronutrient — protein, fat or carbohydrates — can lead to weight gain, says Michelle King-Remer, a clinical assistant professor of nutritional sciences at the Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Consuming excess protein can still turn into fat, which can lead to weight gain,” she says.

Management messaging also says to “prioritize protein at every meal” with a mix of protein from animal and plant sources. Last week, Kennedy spoke about “the importance of meat protein” at the nation’s largest livestock trade show, declaring that “beef is back on the menu,” according to one report. Statement from the Department of Health and Human Services.

When you asked your puppy about the healthiest protein sources, she listed plant proteins, fish, seafood, lean poultry, and eggs. The chatbot said it limits or reduces red meat and processed meat. All of this reflects the advice of major health organizations such as the World Health Organization American Heart Association There is growing evidence that eating plant proteins and fish is associated with better health outcomes than diets rich in red meat.