Hold the Cottage Cheese.
Pro rugby player Ilona Maher — who helped her team win bronze at the Paris Olympics — spends countless hours training to dominate on the pitch.
But when it comes to fitness-focused diet trends, she thinks one in particular is overhyped — and she uses herself as proof that it’s not essential.
A former athlete herself, Kylie Kelce vented on a June episode of her podcast Not Gonna Lie about how “everything is trying to be high protein,” arguing that not every meal needs added protein powder.
Maher agreed — and she’s not a fan of low-carb lifestyles either.
“I have a high-protein diet, but I also probably have the highest-carb diet ever,” said the 29-year-old Bristol Bears player. “I was raised on very high-carb diets. And carbs are really the energy you need — that’s science, truly.”
That isn’t to say she skips protein entirely.
“I get protein in at most meals, but I’m not as committed to it as I probably could be. I think I could be leaner if I really focused on protein. But honestly, I think I’m fine,” she said.
Both women take issue with the trend of replacing “real” food with protein-heavy substitutes. In recent years, for example, cottage cheese recipes have exploded on social media, used in place of cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and even mayo or butter.
Cottage cheese is low in fat and high in protein — a combination that can help you feel full, boost metabolism, and preserve muscle mass. Plus, the curdling process creates gut-friendly bacteria.
But Kelce’s concern lies with people blending cottage cheese and pretending it tastes like ice cream.
“Don’t lie to yourself,” Maher agreed. “I saw a recent one — it was like protein tiramisu. She dips a rice cake in espresso and then tops it with Greek yogurt. I was like, that’s not even close!”
“I think we really lost the plot on that,” she added.
While Maher is working on incorporating more protein at the urging of her dietitian, for her it still means prioritizing “real food.”
“So after training, I’ll have a quick protein shake — easy and convenient. But if I can, I’m going for eggs. I love beef jerky, too,” she said.
“I just think — maybe I’m wrong about the science — but I don’t know if we need that much. I’m doing fine, and I just had a bagel this morning,” she said.
She’s not the first celebrity to push back against the high-protein craze. This month, Bethenny Frankel also criticized the trend.
“The obsession with protein is an out-of-control fad that everyday people treat as if they’re training for the Olympics,” she told The Post.
“They can also be calorie-dense. It’s just another marketing gimmick, like keto, carnivore, low-carb, or all the other fads I’ve seen over the years. Balance is key,” she said.
In fact, research shows that it’s possible to eat too much protein — which can lead to weight gain and clogged arteries.
“Consuming excessive protein, particularly from animal sources, raises insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels,” Dr. Joseph Antoun, CEO of the longevity company L-Nutra, previously told The Post.
Primarily produced in the liver, IGF-1 is a hormone that plays a key role in promoting growth and regulating metabolism.
“While it’s essential during childhood and for muscle repair,” Antoun said, “chronically elevated IGF-1 in adults has been linked to accelerated biological aging and a higher risk of age-related conditions, notably cancer.”
