How Much Protein Do I Need?

Question: How Much Protein Do I Need?

Answer: It depends on your age, body size, and gender. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests about 30 to 35 percent of your daily calorie intake should come from fat and about 15 to 20 percent from protein. For a 2,000 calorie per day diet, that equals 67 grams fat and 75 grams protein per day.

Another way to determine your protein need is to base it on your body weight. The recommended amount of protein for most adults is approximately 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day. One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds, so a person who weighs 165 pounds (75kg) would need about 60 grams of protein per day.

Protein Sources

Meats, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, legumes, roasted nuts and seeds, and dairy products are all good sources of protein. I've got some tips for cooking meat, poultry and fish, and the USDA offers these suggestions:

• Choose low-fat meats and poultry to avoid saturated fats (here's how to choose healthy proteins).
• Seafood is an excellent protein source because it's also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Omega eggs contain omega-3 fatty acids, plus the protein normally found in eggs.
• Avoid processed lunch meats, sausage and bacon because they're high in saturated fat and sodium.

One serving of protein is equal to one egg, three to five ounces of meat, poultry or fish, one and one-half ounces cheese or about twelve walnuts. You can also increase your protein intake with protein bars and protein powders.

_Sources:

_{McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Macronutrients: the Importance of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat." Accessed June 24, 2011. http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/Handouts/macronutrients.htm.}

_{United States Department of Agriculture. "Food Intake Patterns." Accessed June 24, 2011. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/downloads/MyPyramid_Food_Intake_Patterns.pdf.}

_{United States Department of Agriculture. "What Are Oils?" Accessed June 24, 2011. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/foodgroups/oils.html.}

_{United States Department of Agriculture. "What Foods Are in the Protein Foods Group?" Accessed June 24, 2011. .}