Are You Getting Enough Protein?

 A question I get asked a lot is “How much protein do I need”? It’s a subject often debated in the nutrition world. Here’s my two cents… Getting enough dietary protein is extremely important when it comes to your health as well as improving your physique. So, what is protein exactly? Proteins are organic molecules made up of amino acids which are the building blocks of life. These amino acids are joined together by chemical bonds and then folded in different ways to create three-dimensional structures that are important to our body’s functioning. Make no mistake about it – you need protein and lots of it. After many years of research and experience I have come to the conclusion that although each individual’s needs may vary typically we need about one gram per pound of body weight. So, if you weigh 200 pounds then you need about 200 grams of protein a day. The RDA recommends that 10 to 35 percent of your diet should include protein. The basic recommendation for protein intake is about 0.36 g per pound of body mass to prevent protein deficiency for relatively inactive, healthy adults. However, this amount is not necessarily optimal for active and athletic people. For people doing high intensity training, protein needs might go up to about 0.64 to 0.9 g per pound of body mass. Rounding up to one gram of protein per pound of body mass will keep calculations easy and it will provide sufficient amounts of protein. You can include a higher percentage of protein if you prefer but not more than 1.4 g per pound of body mass. We need a small amount of protein to survive, but we need a lot more to actually thrive and be healthy. You can get enough protein from animal sources and or plant sources so where you choose to get your protein from is a matter of personal choice. Keep in mind that we can only store so much protein at once so be sure to consume moderate amounts of protein throughout the day. These ranges and recommendations are suggestions based on current research. At the end of the day it’s your right and responsibility to listen to what your body is telling you. If you feel like you need more or less of any nutrient than by all means do it!
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If you are interested in more information please visit sofhealthandwellness.com or you can reach me directly at 661-713-7576 or James@sofhealthandwellness.com