While experts are still divided on how much protein is the optimal amount in a person’s diet, all agree that eating protein is an important part of staying healthy. But it could take years before the ill effects of inadequate protein show up, said UTMB’s Douglas Paddon-Jones. “You’ll be faced with an injury or illness, and you’ll find your immune system’s ability to respond to these crises will be compromised,” he told Time. This news also reported in Yahoo! Finance and Georgia World.