#008: Don't Fall For The 2026 Protein Trap

In this episode of The Synergistic Edge, performance coach Alvey Thompson Jr. breaks down why the biggest nutrition trap right now isn’t carbs, fat, or calories — it’s falling for marketing.

Fast food chains and processed food companies are jumping on the “high protein” wave, and it’s convincing people they’re making healthy choices… while still eating food that quietly drives inflammation, low energy, weight gain, and chronic disease over time.

This episode is a straight-up mindset reset and a practical guide to help you focus on principles over trends, so you can eat in a way that actually supports your performance, physique, and long-term health.

• Why 2026’s biggest nutrition trend is the “high protein” marketing wave

• How fast food and packaged foods create problems even when they “fit your macros”

• Why calories still matter at the foundation, even though nutrition has nuance

• The difference between getting “high protein” and getting high-quality protein

• The simplest principle for better nutrition: eat real food and single-ingredient foods

• Why food impacts your energy, inflammation, pain, body composition, and long-term outcomes

• How cleaning up your nutrition often leads to fast results like dropping 5–10 pounds early on (from reduced inflammation and better balance)

• Why “normal” has become common, but common isn’t healthy

• High performers who want more energy and better body composition

• Executives, lawyers, and entrepreneurs who eat on the go

• Parents who want to feed their family better without confusion

• Former athletes who want to feel strong, lean, and confident again

• Anyone tired of getting played by food marketing

You don’t control everything in life, but you do control what you put in your mouth. And you control what you put in your kids’ mouths. If you want to win everywhere, your food choices have to support your biology, not sabotage it.

• Stop getting tricked by “high protein” trends

• Simplify nutrition without sacrificing results

• Build energy, reduce inflammation, and feel better in your body

• Make sustainable food choices that actually compound over time

• Eat like a high performer who wants to win everywhere

Eat real food. Focus on principles. And build your foundation intentionally.