Confused about protein.

I know this is a sticky subject, with the all the different diet possibilites, but about how much protein is good for a healthy weight loss diet?
I'm not talking about a low carb diet. Just a regular healthy low fat/calorie diet. Since I've started logging my food intake, I've noticed somedays I have over 70 grams of protein. Where as, I read that a minimum of 45-50 grams is good for a female my size.
Any suggestions as to what a good amount would be? I know its subjective, but I'd appreciate a little clarification.

Thu. Mar 2, 12:07pm

i am not exactly sure how many grams of protien you should be getting a day, but i do know that protien is essential for building up muscle once it is torn (which is what happens when lifting weights) and once that muscle rebuilds you then will begin burning more calories. but.....you do not want to overload on protien because if you have too much protien and not enough carbs you can not burn as much fat while doing a cardio workout, and buring fat is good (no kidding). so if you read that about 50 grams of protien is good for your size, i would stick within that range for optimal weightloss and the fastest metabolism.

Thursday, March 2, 2006, 12:59 PM

A very complicated questions, it depends on who you ask.

If you let science dictate, generally, you should consume .5 grams for every pound you weigh if you are relatively active (exercise 3-5 times a week). IE: 140 lb = 70 grams or about 3 oz. of protein. A body builder or endurance athelete would consume more like .7 grams per pound. If you are in that range, you should be good.

Too little protein leads to muscle deterioration and slower metabolism as a result, too much protein and the extra gets stored as fat.

Thursday, March 2, 2006, 1:39 PM

ive also seen different formulas based on where i look them up...the usda says i need 53grams of protien and according to the bbc i need 40grams...go figure...its almost impossible to get too little protien if youre eating healthily... too much protien leasts too calcium loss, kidney stones and bowel issues... i say go by what the usda says and make that your high limit subtract 20 grams and make that your lower limit

Friday, March 3, 2006, 1:35 PM

OP here:

Then it would seem that 70 g or more is much too high. But, the problem is I'm eating a very sensible diet. Some oatmeal and yogurt for breakfast, tuna and crackers for lunch, lean cuisine skillet and chicken for supper, a slice of fat free cheese. That all adds up to over 70 grams! But, to me it sounds like a perfectly sensible diet (there were also some veggies and fruit in there, don't worry:) ). Do I have to cut back on fish, chicken and yougurt? Because that's the only way I would get my protein numbers down.
Being healthy is getting way more complicated than it ought to be :( Or maybe I'm just overthinking it a bit.

Friday, March 3, 2006, 2:57 PM

I don't know how it breaks down in grams, but I was doing 20 % protein, 30% fat, and 50% carbs. Our chiropractor, told me to up my proteint o 30%, and cut my carbs down to 40 % of my overall calories. I have yet to have a day that I have managed 30/30/40. But I keep trying.

Friday, March 3, 2006, 9:51 PM

71 grams of protein on a 1200 calorie diet is about 22% protein. So no - not too much.

1 gram of protein has 4 calories.....

If you are on a 1500 calorie diet and want to eat 30% protein multiply 1500 times .30 to find out how many calories worth of protein you should have. Then divide the calories of protein you need by 4 and that will tell you how many grams.

Example:
1500 * .30 = 450 calories worth of protein on 30% protein diet
450 / 4 = 113 grams of protein

Blozzom :-)

Saturday, March 4, 2006, 8:12 AM

I'm struggling with this as well. I am doing some serious weight training and have been advised to eat 0.8-1.0 grams of protein/pounds. At 150 lbs, it works out : 150x 1=150 gms of protein /day. I can't do it. I can barely get half of that. I haven't found a protein shake that doesn't tear my GI tract up. Any suggestions out there?

Monday, March 27, 2006, 8:49 AM

I personally do not stress about my protein - if I'm feeling out of sorts I have a protein shake. My meals are prepared for me (www.meals21.com) and have about 80 grams of proteing and then I add 22 to 44 grams of protein with the shakes.

Many people doing the Body For Life program are concerned about protein - with that program they suggest 40% carb, 40% protein and 20% fat..

To get that much protein they have 6 meals a day with one portion carb and one portion protein. There is a great book out there that many people swear by..

Called Eating For Life - it has high protein recipes and ideas for making meeting the goals of this plan.

I personally have not read this book yet because like I said - my meals are all cooked for me already but if this is something that you struggle with you may want to check it out.

Blozzom :-)

Monday, March 27, 2006, 9:24 AM

Just as every diet and recommendation is different, every person is different also. Each persons needs are going to be different. For example, hypoglycemic/low blood sugar patients should be getting more protein than others. It is always good to be aware of the recommended amounts, but in the long run you should listen to your doctor and your body for how much you should actually be getting.

Monday, March 27, 2006, 9:34 AM

Protien question

i am a sixth grader that is working on protiens in science. and one of my questions for my PBI is "What happens if you have too much protien in your diet?" and i was looking for the answer to this question.

Monday, December 17, 2007, 3:49 PM

Can't give you a scientific answer, Sixth-Grader, but as someone who has done Atkins (all protein and fat, virtually no carbs), I can tell you it gives you bad breath.

I also imagine that, as with too much fat or carbohydrates, the excess will promote weight gain.

Scientifically, you probably need to check out what organs are taxed the most by the processing of protein - I believe the liver is the main one, but I'm not sure. So one path you would follow in your research is to find out what happens when the liver (and other protein-processing organs) is pushed beyond capacity.

Monday, December 17, 2007, 6:28 PM

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