Are You Getting Enough Protein
So the current daily reference intake of protein is 50g, while the recommended dietary allowance suggests that you should eat a modest 0.8g of protein daily per kg of bodyweight. If you’re not already aware, let us be the first to tell you: that’s not enough to really pack on muscle.
Elite athletes eat around 2g per kg every day, says Dr Karen Reid, a sports science nutritionist who’s worked with the Wales rugby team, and the founder of Performance Food. She recommends getting near that level for the first 12 weeks of a new workout programme. Thats when youre sore when youre breaking down muscle fibres and creating new structures. And damage plus fuel equals growth. After 12 weeks, she recommends scaling back to between 1.2g and 1.6g per kilo.
Price Range / Value For Money
One serving of whey protein or vegan protein costs an average of $1.2 to $2 .
On the other hand, one serving of BCAA costs about $0.7-$1.6 . However, that doesn’t make it a winner in the Price range category, as you’re paying about $1 only for 3 amino acids, whereas protein powders typically contain all 9 essential amino acids.
What’s A Protein Lover To Do
If you want to maintain a high protein diet, the details matter:
- Find out from your doctor if you have any health conditions that might make such a diet risky
- Get your protein from healthy sources such as low-fat dairy products, fish, nuts and beans, lean chicken and turkey avoid proteins sources that contain highly process carbohydrates and saturated fat
- Spread your protein consumption across all of your meals throughout the day
- Choose a well-balanced diet that includes lots of vegetables, fruits, and fiber the Mediterranean diet or the DASH diet are good starting points.
Image: samael334/Getty Images
Recommended Reading: Protein Shakes For Gaining Muscle
How Much Protein Do I Need
To discuss how many grams of protein per day you need, its helpful to break it down into three categories or questions:
In general, if you just want to support overall health and longevity, consuming about 50 percent of your body weight in grams of protein per day is ideal. In this case, if you weigh 160 pounds, then getting about 80 grams daily from healthy protein sources is recommended.
Therefore, if youre eating three meals a day, you want to aim for about 25 grams from high-protein foods in each meal.
Second, lets say youre trying to really burn body fat fast and looking for the right fat-burning foods. This increases your protein requirements.
In fact, many people who hope to lose body fat actually have a protein deficiency, which is why its recommended to consume about 0.7 grams to 0.75 grams of protein per pound of body weight daily to burn fat and lose weight. Essentially, youre going to replace some of those extra carbohydrates in your diet with more sources of protein.
In this case, if you weigh 160 pounds, then multiply that figure by 0.75. At this weight, youll want to consume close to 100 to maybe 120 grams total daily. So if you eat four meals a day, aim to consume 25 to 30 grams worth of high-proteins foods.
Is 30% Protein Too Much For Senior Dog
Dont Restrict Protein Healthy seniors need more protein, not less, in order to fuel muscle. Loss of muscle mass is a major problem in older dogs. Some seniors lose so much muscle they can no longer walk unassisted. Older dogs need about 50 percent more protein to maintain muscle mass compared to younger ones.
Don’t Miss: Should I Drink Protein Shakes Everyday
Here’s Why Youre Probably Not Eating Enough Protein
The irony of the protein boom is that Americans arent actually ingesting any more of it today than they were 30 years ago.
That might be because proteins recommended daily allowance is a modest 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, a number formulated during World War II in order to safeguard public health during a possible shortage and ensure the nutritive value of military rations.
That RDA means roughly 8 to 10 percent of your daily intake should be protein, says Heather Leidy, Ph.D., a protein researcher and associate professor in Purdue Universitys Department of Nutrition Science.
But that 8 to 10 percent is only the minimum required to prevent a protein deficiency, not what you need for protein synthesis, muscle gain, satiety, weight management, and glycemic control.
While the diets of most Americans may contain between 10 and 15 percent protein, Leidy notes, research suggests that anywhere from 20 to 30 percent would be a better health goalwith at least 30 grams of protein being the minimum threshold at mealtime.
Another way to look at it: Thats between 1.2 and 1.6 grams of protein daily for every kilogram of your target body weight. So if youre a 185-pound guy who wants to weigh 165, you should eat between 90 and 120 grams of protein per day.
Actually, it’s pretty easy.
How Much Protein To Build Muscle Ask An Rd
The main building blocks of your body,protein is used to repair and maintain your body tissues including muscle.
If your goal is to build muscle, then its important that youre getting the right amount of protein, as well as the right amounts of the other macronutrients, carbohydrates and fats.
The general strategy for calculating the minimum amount of protein that you need is 0.36 grams of protein per pound that you weigh. In a 165-pound adult, thats about 60 grams of protein per day.
But thats just the minimum recommended daily allowance .
You might be wondering if the minimum amount of protein recommended is enough to actually build more muscle. Below, well explore just how much protein you should consume per day to build muscle .
Read Also: Precision Plus Dual Color Protein Ladder
How Much Protein Do You Need Every Day
Protein is essential to good health. The very origin of the word from the Greek protos, meaning “first” reflects proteins top-shelf status in human nutrition. You need it to put meat on your bones and to make hair, blood, connective tissue, antibodies, enzymes, and more. Its common for athletes and bodybuilders to wolf down extra protein to bulk up. But the message the rest of us often get is that our daily protein intake is too high.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is a modest 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The RDA is the amount of a nutrient you need to meet your basic nutritional requirements. In a sense, its the minimum amount you need to keep from getting sick not the specific amount you are supposed to eat every day.
To determine your daily protein intake, you can multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36, or use this online protein calculator. For a 50-year-old woman who weighs 140 pounds woman and who is sedentary , that translates into 53 grams of protein a day.
When To Eat Protein
Timing your protein hits is vital to optimise your gains. Your body cant process more than 25 to 35g of protein per serving, so scoffing six steaks at dinner is a waste. Its not about having shedloads all at once, say Reid. And anyway, your most important protein hit is the one after your gym session.
You want that immediate stimulus, says Reid. Within the 30-minute window post-workout youre looking to optimise the repair and regeneration process. Thats when you want rapidly-absorbed whey protein, either by chugging a shake or a pint of milk. Reid also recommends a skinny latte for a pre-gym boost: Youve got the caffeine kick, the protein in the milk and if you try a banana with it, a bit of carbohydrate.Pairing your protein with carbs is good sense. After exercise your body produces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which break down proteins, fats and sugars. When theyre coursing through you, youre not building muscle. When you get some recovery nutrition in it counters those stress hormones, says Reid, switching your body back into repair mode and kickstarting growth.
You May Like: Muscle Milk Pro Series Protein Powder
Digestibility Of Various Plant And Animal Proteins
Reference: FAO. Protein Quality Evaluation in Human Nutrition. 2013
AMINO-ACID PROFILE
All proteins, including the protein you eat and the protein in your body, are made from some combination of 20 amino acids . Your body can produce 11 of these AAs, making them nonessential amino acids . Your body cannot produce the other 9, which are therefore essential amino acids you must get through food.
Building muscle requires that, cumulatively, muscle protein synthesis exceeds muscle protein breakdown , resulting in a net accumulation of muscle protein. All 20 AAs are required to build muscle tissue, but MPS is stimulated primarily by the EAAs in your food. Unfortunately, plant proteins are lower in EAAs than animal proteins.
Helps Squeeze In Extra Nutrients
Protein shakes can be a simple way to squeeze some extra vitamins and minerals into your daily diet.
Vegetables like spinach, kale, zucchini, and beets are all rich in nutrients and can be easily blended into a protein shake.
Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and kiwis are also high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and can help boost the flavor of your smoothie or shake.
Other nutritious ingredients that you can add to your protein shake include nuts, seeds, yogurt, milk, herbs, and spices.
summary
Protein shakes are a quick and convenient breakfast option that can help squeeze some extra nutrients into your diet and keep you feeling full.
Also Check: Are Beans High In Protein
Leucine Content Of Plant And Animal Proteins
Reference: van Vliet et al. J Nutr. 2015
Plant proteins being lower in leucine and other EAAs helps explain why several studies have reported lower MPS from soy protein powders and beverages than from whey protein, skim milk, whole milk with cheese, and lean beef.
The quality of a protein depends on its bioavailability and EAA content. Based on both criteria, the quality of plant proteins is lower than the quality of animal proteins.
How Much Protein Are *you* Supposed To Have A Day Lets Calculate It
If you arent pregnant, an avid weight lifter, or trying to lose weight , then your protein requirementsmay fit in with majority of adults at 0.8 g/kg per day .
To calculate your personal protein intake, take your weight and multiply it by either 0.8 if youre using kilograms or 0.36 if youre using pounds. This will provide you the minimum grams of protein you should be eating per day.
For example, if you weigh 175 lbs. this is what the calculation would look like: 175 x 0.36 = 63 g OR 79 x 0.8 = 63.2 g.
Now that you know how many grams of protein you should be eating each day, the next step is to eat!
The top sources of animal-based and plant-based protein include:
- Grains:8 g of protein for every 1 cup of quinoa
While its ideal to meet your protein requirements with whole foods, if you find yourself falling short, there are many protein powders on the market that can help get you where you need to be.
Don’t Miss: Isopure Zero Carb Protein Powder
Optimal Protein Intake Guide
Your optimal daily protein intake depends on your weight, goal, and level of physical activity: from 1.21.8 g/kg if youre sedentary all the way up to 3.3 g/kg if youre trying to minimize fat gain during a bulk. You can quickly and easily calculate your optimal daily intake with our protein intake calculator.
Optimal Protein Intake Guide
Average Content Of Protein/carbs/fats
As for protein powder, depending on the source , as well as the type of specific supplement , the amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates can vary significantly.
For example, a standard serving of whey protein contains 0 to 4 grams of carbohydrates, 0 to 2 grams of fat, and 20 to 30 grams of protein. Whereas a serving of vegan protein contains about 20-22 grams of protein, 2-4 grams of fat and 2-8 grams carbs per serving.
The calorie content of one serving of a whey protein powder can be from 90 to 130 kcal or slightly more , while the calorie content of a standard serving of vegan protein is from 120 to 160 kcal.
On the other hand, usually manufacturers either do not indicate the calorie content in the Supplement Facts of BCAA, or display zero calories, although isolated amino acids also have calories. BCAA supplements usually contain leucine, isoleucine and valine in a 2:1:1 ratio.
For example, you can find a supplement that contains 4 grams BCAAs, of which leucine will be 2 grams per serving, and isoleucine and leucine – 1 gram each. Therefore, if the product contains 4 grams of amino acids , we can roughly equate them to 4 grams of protein . With this amount of amino acids per serving, its calorie content will be approximately 16 kcal.
Recommended Reading: High Fat Low Protein Foods Keto
Is 100 Grams Of Protein Enough To Build Muscle
As stated above, people in general areadvised to consume a minimum of 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight or 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, but people who prioritize building muscle should aim for more than that minimum. Although theres not one magic number and recommendations vary by person, theAmerican College of Sports Medicine recommends 1.2 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for athletes. Following that general guideline, consuming closer to 1.6 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight may be beneficial for bodybuilders and those looking to build muscle or maintain lean body mass. In the average 150-pound adult whos actively strength training or resistance training, that might look like 75-120 grams of protein daily 100 grams being most peoples sweet spot. It has been proposed that muscle protein synthesis is maximized in young adults at a dose of around 2025 grams of a high-quality protein.
You may have concerns that eating too much protein is bad for the kidneys, but 100 grams of protein per day is generally safe for healthy adults. High amounts of protein can be harmful to the kidneys if a person already has kidney issues however, for healthy individuals, consuming around 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram is fine, as noted in a 2010 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Speed Of Digestion/absorption On Muscle Anabolism
In a study often cited as support for the hypothesis that MPS is maximized at a protein dose of ~2025 g, Areta et al. provided differing amounts of protein to resistance-trained subjects over a 12-h recovery period following performance of a multi-set, moderate repetition leg-extension exercise protocol. A total of 80 g of whey protein was ingested in one of the following three conditions: 8 servings of 10 g every 1.5 h 4 servings of 20 g every 3 h or 2 servings of 40 g every 6 h. Results showed that MPS was greatest in those who consumed 4 servings of 20 g of protein, suggesting no additional benefit, and actually a lower rise in MPS when consuming the higher dosage under the conditions imposed in the study. These results extended similar findings by Moore et al. on whole-body nitrogen turnover.
Also Check: 1500 Calorie Meal Plan High Protein
Grams Of Protein: What Your Daily Servings Should Look Like On Your Plate
Use this visual guide to make sure you’re getting enough protein, regardless of your preferred diet.
Protein does so much for your body, and not just for your muscles. Inside the body, proteins act as enzymes for chemical reactions, repair and build muscle tissue, transport molecules, regulate hormones and more.
Clearly, dietary protein is super important. But it can be challenging to eat enough protein every day, especially if you have dietary restrictions or tend to rely on grab-and-go food.
Eating an adequate amount of protein is also tricky if you don’t know what “an adequate amount” looks like. Everyone has different protein requirements, but for most people, 100 grams per day is a good goal. Active people may need more, while less active people can do with less.
This visual guide to 100 grams of protein shows you what that looks like for people who are vegan or vegetarian, as well as for people who eat anything.
I came to the gram amounts by checking the nutrition facts label on packaged items and weighing them when necessary — for example, I weighed the mixed nuts to find 1 ounce. The gram amounts listed in this guide are specific to the products I used, so you might have different numbers for, say, a different brand of rye bread or cheese.
That said, this visual guide to protein is a good start for understanding what 100 grams of protein actually means.
How Much Protein Do I Need For Weight Loss
If youre looking to build muscle while also losing weight, youll want to keep your protein intake high but lower your carbohydrate intake slightly. The goal is to get plenty of protein while controlling overall calorie intake. People looking to only build muscle should increase the amount of calories they consume for ultimate muscle growth, but if weight loss is part of the end-goal, then youll want to be mindful of total calories.
Your protein needs for weight loss will depend on what your activity level is roughly anywhere between 1.2-1.8 grams per kilogram, with 1.6 being the sweet spot for maintaining and building muscle while losing weight. Youll need to eat enough to ensure your body has the fuel it needs for necessary processes, but achieving weight loss might require a reduction or adjustment in your daily calorie intake.
Also Check: Levels Of Structure In Proteins