Protein Power

Further to my previous blog post, I thought it only fair to talk about protein next. One of the interesting trends that I think also was a result of the no-carb diet fad, was the spotlight that was shone on protein. Protein is a really critical nutrient, but odds are you are likely eating enough to meet your needs.

Protein Facts – Did you know:

1. High protein intakes have been reported in ancient Olympians, where the thought was that more meat meant more muscle – not much has changed.
2. Protein is broken down into amino acids which are involved in building new muscle as well as recovery of muscle post workout.
3. Amino acids are also the building blocks of key hormones and enzymes that are used for a variety of functions including your immune system.
4. The recommended protein intake for a sedentary individual is 0.8g/kg/body weight per day, where are needs for athletes range from 1.2-1.6g/kg/day.
5. Science shows that excessive intake of protein beyond your needs does not enhance muscle growth or strength.

Protein is not only found in meat and fish products, protein is also found in milk products, beans, eggs and cereals and breads.  Odds are, you are getting enough. Try calculating your own protein needs and using the table below to estimate your intake. You can also use the Eatracker tool to do this.

Ex. My protein needs if I weight 50kg will be (x 1.2 g/day) = 60g of protein per day.

Protein Content of Common Foods