This Is Exactly How Much Protein You Should Be Eating Daily (2024)

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This Is Exactly How Much Protein You Should Be Eating Daily? ›

The National Academy of Medicine recommends that adults get about 0.8 grams of protein a day for every kilogram they weigh. That's about 7 grams for every 20 pounds. It suggests babies and children get a bit more, ranging from 1.2 grams per kilogram for infants to 0.85 grams per kilogram for teens.

The National Academy of Medicine recommends that adults get about 0.8 grams of protein a day for every kilogram they weigh. That's about 7 grams for every 20 pounds. It suggests babies and children get a bit more, ranging from 1.2 grams per kilogram for infants to 0.85 grams per kilogram for teens.

How much protein do I need a day? The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is a modest 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. The RDA is the amount of a nutrient you need to meet your basic nutritional requirements.

If you want to lose weight, aim for a daily protein intake between 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (. 73 and 1 grams per pound). Athletes and heavy exercisers should consume 2.2-3.4 grams of protein per kilogram (1-1.5 grams per pound) if aiming for weight loss.

Consuming more protein than the body needs can cause symptoms such as intestinal discomfort, dehydration, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and more. Chronic protein overconsumption can also increase the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, blood vessel disorders, liver and kidney issues, and seizures.

And over time, a lack of protein can make you lose muscle mass, which in turn cuts your strength, makes it harder to keep your balance, and slows your metabolism. It can also lead to anemia, when your cells don't get enough oxygen, which makes you tired.

The current recommended dietary allowance for women older than 70 years is 0.36 grams for each pound of body weight or 46 grams of protein for a 130-pound woman.

How much protein do I need? Most adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight per day (for the average woman, this is 45g, or 55g for men). That's about two portions of meat, fish, nuts or tofu per day.

In general, 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish; 1/4 cup cooked beans, peas or lentils; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon of peanut butter; or 1/2 ounce of nuts or seeds can be considered as 1 ounce-equivalent from the Protein Foods Group.

For the average American man, weighing just under 200 pounds, that's 72 grams. For the average woman, weighing just under 171 pounds, that's 61.5 grams. American men exceed that recommendation by 31 percent, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey data; women exceed it by about 12 percent.

What happens when you start eating more protein? ›

Protein makes you burn more calories (increases 'calories out') Due to the high thermic effect and a positive effect on resting energy expenditure and maintaining lean muscle, a high protein intake tends to boost metabolism. It makes you burn more calories around the clock, including during sleep.

This is what 100 grams of protein looks like for omnivores

Two eggs (12 grams) Snack cheese (5 grams) Greek yogurt (15 grams) Beef sausage (14 grams)

A high-protein diet may worsen how well a kidney works in people with kidney disease. This can happen because the body may not be able to get rid of all the waste products of protein that's broken down.

People who regularly eat protein at breakfast have better blood sugar control and improved heart health. Aim for a balanced meal that includes protein, fat, carbs and fiber, and consider including foods like eggs, salmon, ground turkey and tofu in your morning meal.

On the other hand, if you're excluding carbs entirely, the long-term impact isn't as clear. Research suggests that eating only animal proteins, for example, causes few negative side effects, though some people did develop higher Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol levels.

200 grams of protein is a lot, even if you split it up over breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you find that eating so much chicken, fish or tofu at once is too much for your stomach, try eating five smaller meals instead. Certain foods are more gentle on your digestion than others.

Some high-protein diets limit carbs so much that you might not get enough nutrients or fiber. This can cause problems such as bad breath, headache and constipation.

To increase muscle mass in combination with physical activity, it is recommended that a person that lifts weights regularly or is training for a running or cycling event eat a range of 1.2-1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, or 0.5 to 0.8 grams per pound of body weight.

The Institute of Medicine has set the range of recommended protein intake at 10 to 35% of total calories for adults, or 50 to 175 grams of protein per day for a 2,000-calorie diet.