Finding accurate, reliable information regarding proper diet and nutrition is no easy feat. It seems as if every time we finally learn the “good foods”, the rules change on us. (you wann’a get clear on this before jumping onto stuff like hypergain )
Broken down into the core elements, you realize good nutrition isn’t rocket science: eat a variety of whole, non-processed foods in moderate amounts and you will be healthy.
Seems simple enough doesn’t it? But what about protein?
We hear so much about the importance of protein.
Should we be concerned with how much protein we consume?
Is there a specific amount of protein we need to ingest to be healthy?
Here’s what you need to know…
As long as you are eating a variety of foods that are found in nature (not processed food-like products) your body will be getting all the nutrients it needs to be healthy.
Wait, here’s the in-depth answer…
Proper nutrient consumption is a relative term, especially when it comes to protein.
The amount of protein the body needs to keep itself running smoothly is not the same across the board. For example, if you are a sedentary, obese older woman, you will need to consume a lot less protein than if you were a long distance runner on the track team.
But these are extremes and in general, you can calculate your protein needs by taking your body weight and multiplying it (in pounds) by .37.
This number is the number of grams of protein that should be your daily minimum. Because our bodies can’t store protein, if you’re not getting your daily protein minimum, your body will break down muscle tissue to get the protein it needs.
But what about too much protein?
Fortunately there is little known danger from ingesting too much protein.
While high protein diets can be harmful for those with kidney disease (because of the way the body breaks down protein), for the general public, excess protein is not such a bad thing. And there is some research to prove that extra protein can actually be beneficial in fighting obesity and in preventing osteoporosis. (And once those basics are covered, you may add some shortcut factors like hypergain )
So don’t worry so much about that extra piece of cheese as far as protein goes. Although, you may have to be concerned about fat, but that’s another article.
