Protein Is Having a Moment. Beef Has the Science.

As protein takes center stage in nutrition, Checkoff-funded science is helping define beef's role in health.

Protein is everywhere. It is showing up in snacks and drinks on grocery shelves, in fitness conversations, in weight-management trends and in discussions about healthy aging, strength and everyday nutrition. For five straight years, protein has been the nutrient Americans most often say they are trying to consume¹. That trend appears to have led Americans to eat more meat thanks to its excellent source of high-quality protein. In fact, more than 85 percent of Americans currently identify as meat consumers, and their willingness to pay for beef at retail has increased faster than inflation since 2020².

But as protein-rich diets have become more mainstream, the science has evolved beyond a simple "eat more protein" message. Researchers are asking more specific questions: How much protein best supports health? Does protein quality matter? How do needs change with age, activity level or weight loss/maintenance? And what role should whole, nutrient-dense foods play?

Those questions place beef in an even better position as it competes with other foods. Beef provides complete, high-quality protein along with 9 other essential nutrients including iron, zinc and vitamin B12. That gives beef a broader nutrition story than grams of protein alone.

Before Protein Became a Trend

Decades before consumers began hyper-focusing on protein, Checkoff-funded efforts were a driving force behind understanding protein, specifically beef's protein, as a main building block for human health.

The Checkoff has helped convene leading protein researchers through three Protein Summits in 2007, 2013 and 2026, advancing discussion around protein's role in health and future research needs. The nutrition research team at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Checkoff, has helped create opportunities for scientists to independently review evidence, challenge thinking and identify research gaps that can inform how protein-rich foods like beef are viewed in nutrition guidance and by health professionals.

Three Summits: How the Questions Evolved

2007
Is the minimum protein recommendation enough?

2013
What else does protein do and how is protein quality important?

2026
What ranges of higher protein intakes support good health across life stages and health conditions?

Peer-reviewed papers published following the first two summits have since been cited more than 2,800 times in scientific literature³.

When the Beef Checkoff invests in research or scientific affairs activities, participating scientists independently determine the research questions, methods and conclusions; supporting organizations like NCBA do not direct or approve the scientific outcomes. That independence matters because it keeps the science in the hands of researchers, helping build trust and ensure integrity and credibility in the results.

For beef producers, the value of being part of that broader scientific conversation is clear: protein recommendations and research influence how foods like beef are viewed by researchers, dietitians, physicians and, ultimately, consumers.

A Major Milestone for Beef

Earlier this year, the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, brought encouraging news for beef producers by elevating protein as a key nutrient to emphasize in healthy diets and highlighting the importance of nutrient-dense, whole foods, like beef. Those recommendations align closely with what decades of beef nutrition research has shown about beef's role in healthy eating patterns.

More than 20 Beef Checkoff-supported studies were included in the science used to inform the updated Guidelines.

That is a clear example of how producer-funded research can contribute to national nutrition guidance that helps shape the National School Lunch Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Military Food Service, health professionals and more, impacting millions of meals per year.

What the Science Looks Like in Real Life

Beef Checkoff-funded nutrition research spans every stage of life - from infancy and childhood through adulthood and healthy aging. Two emerging areas show how Beef Checkoff-supported work is helping explore where beef's nutrition may matter most.

Adolescence: Building better guidance

Adolescence brings rapid growth, changing nutrient needs and, often, poor diet quality. In 2024, the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and NCBA, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, convened about 50 experts in adolescent health, nutrition and behavior for Nourish Now: A Science Dialogue on Improving Adolescent Health through Nutrition.

The goal: Identify research gaps and build momentum for more evidence-based nutrition guidance tailored specifically to adolescents.

Why beef fits: Beef provides high-quality protein, iron and zinc - nutrients that are especially relevant during this life stage of rapid growth and development.

GLP-1s: When eating less makes every bite matter more

GLP-1 medications can reduce appetite, which may leave fewer opportunities to get enough protein and essential nutrients during an individual's weight loss journey, while also striving to maintain lean muscle mass.

The goal: Better understand protein intake and lifestyle behaviors among people using GLP-1 medications, including how nutrient-dense foods may support changing nutrition needs.

Why beef fits: Beef delivers high-quality protein along with 9 other essential nutrients in a relatively small serving, making it relevant when people are trying to get more nutrition from less food.

By the Numbers

A 2025 Meat Demand Monitor study found that consumers taking GLP-1 medications reported eating beef nearly once per day, compared with about two-thirds of a meal per day among non-users⁴.

From Research Paper to Patient Conversation

Publishing research is only one step. The next is getting credible science into the hands of experts who influence food choices.

This year, through a combined effort between national and state beef council programming, Checkoff-funded health professional toolkits covering topics such as protein, heart health and teen nutrition, reaching 7,966 healthcare professionals and an estimated 778,670 consumers. In follow-up surveys, 88 percent of respondents said the toolkit improved their ability to translate protein science into practical patient guidance, while 81 percent said they felt more knowledgeable about beef as a high-quality, nutrient-dense protein source.

Protein may be having its moment, but beef's place in the conversation has been built over time. Continued producer investment in credible nutrition science helps ensure beef is ready for the questions, recommendations and opportunities that come next.