How Much Protein Do You Really Need?

This is hardly a secret to bodybuilding fanatics. While most of what you eat is generally from sources of carbohydrates, approximately one-fourth of the calories in your daily intake should consist of protein. Otherwise, your workout hour will consist of anything but power.

Too often, dieters indulge in low-fat diets that deprive their bodies of much-needed protein. Thus, the body begins to devour its muscle tissue like a hungry vulture.

In order to nourish your body with the proper amount of protein, it is first necessary to determine what your body fat percentage is and then weigh your lean body mass up against your level of physical activity. For example, if you are somebody who exercises on the average of an hour per week, then you’ll need to nourish your system with .7 grams of protein for every pound of lean body mass. So, if you have 140 pounds of lean body mass, you’ll need to take in 98 grams of protein per day.

If you are a more hard-core trainer who works out on the average of five hours per week, you’ll need to upgrade your protein intake to .9 grams per pound of lean body mass, which for the same person, would equate to 126 grams of protein per day.

Even couch potatoes need their protein, at least .6 grams for every pound of lean mass. Otherwise, serious health problems could result.

To engineer you protein diet, here are a few sources to guide you.

CHICKEN BREAST: This doesn’t necessarily come before the egg, but chicken breasts are among the most common of protein sources. Low in fat, remember to tear the skin off first while avoiding any fattening seasonings. Honey mustard is usually a great way to add some taste. The average chicken breast consists of 35 grams of protein.

EGGS: For a hard-boiled body, egg whites are tremendous in delivering the proteins that you need. Be sure to remove the yoke first (it’s loaded with cholesterol) before letting ‘em down the hatch. There are approximately 4 grams of protein in each egg white so you can load up on them throughout the day. Also, egg whites are fat free!

TUNA: Sparkle up your protein diet with Sparky himself. As long as you’re not mixing it with that fattening mayonnaise, tuna is an excellent dietary food that will provide you with the protein you need. There’s approximately 25 grams of protein in a can of low-fat tuna.

Importance Of High Protein And Low Fat Diet

For most high protein diets means low carbohydrates. Even body builders are not advised to go on a low carbohydrate diet as they have high protein requirements. Protein are the main source of muscle building, cell replenish and maintaining a good level of blood. In other words, proteins are the main building block of a body. And those who are interested in high protein diet need to do it carefully to avoid loss of carbs.

The main advantage of a high protein diet is that it triggers weight loss. Proteins have amino acids in them which are the main reason of good health. If your body is deficient in amino acid then you are bound to have health issues. If your diet revolves around good intake of protein instead of refined foods with high carbohydrate concentration then the body will turn into a state of ketosis. In this state the body will turn towards burning fats as energy source when it will not find fuel in the form of carbohydrates. Thus lesser carbohydrates mean more burning of fats.

Researchers have shown that not all intakes of protein are helpful. Let's say that you are taking a vegetable that are rich with high proteins but they are fried and dripping in oil then they more harmful to your health then being of any health to your body.

Another very good source of proteins is meat. Meat like pork and beef are rich with proteins and other nutrients. Or if you are a lover of oily and fried foods then you can opt to eat fish and other seafood. The reason behind this is that these are not only rich with proteins but also have fatty acid in them that help you in maintaining a good blood cholesterol level as well as prevent such conditions as stroke or coronary artery diseases.

However, some experts claim that too much protein results in reduction of calcium supply in body and cause diseases like osteoporosis. Moreover, the efficiency of kidneys is reduced. A high consumption of proteins can cause kidney stones, by increasing uric acid levels in the body.