How much protein do you really need? There are various protein intake recommendations from various sources we trust. But sometime we get confused since their claims not always the same, for instance;
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) claims we need only 5% of our daily calories to come from protein to be healthy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims we need 6.5%.
Centers for Disease Control recommend that 10–35% of our daily calories should come from protein.
How Do We Figure Out the Amount Protein We Need?
The answer is simple if we already know the right amount of another two groups of foods we consume that is carbohydrates and fat, then it’s easy to figure out the remaining parts that is protein.
For instance, if 40% is carbohydrates, 30% fat then the remaining group of protein will be 30%.
Source of protein.
Meat is a good source of protein, but there are so many foods out there which are green and contain promising amounts of protein. Table below shows those foods and their protein percentages.
Apart from those protein sources mentioned above.
Other sources of protein include beef which has 25%, pork which contains 27%, chicken which contains 23%, tomatoes which have 18% and eggs which have only 12% of protein.
Who Needs Protein Mostly?
- Those who perform a lot of physical activities need a large amount of protein. Also Those who have a large body also require some protein to consume daily.
Why Protein?
- Protein is important for keeping neurotransmitters, this is the chemical messenger used by the brain.
- Protein is very important for the health of the nervous system and gut of communication.
- Protein plays a great role in the formation of new cells, which is very essential for the muscles, bones, organs and glands in all human life.
- Protein provides power for enzymes important for maintaining fat, digestion and hundreds of other necessaries for better health.
- Protein is very important for those who want to gain weight and build muscles.
- Protein facilitates the production of glucagon which is very helpful in balancing insulin and blood sugar.
- Raw foods protein (easy to be digestible) is very helpful in removing waste products from our body. Hence makes our body to perform at its highest level.
- Protein helps in the transportation of substances in our blood.
- Protein helps to protect us from foreign entities.
- Amino acids are very helpful in the formation of certain hormones and neurotransmitters and hormones such as epinephrine, serotonin, norepinephrine and thyroid hormones.