How Much Protein in a Healthy Diet?

There are a lot of protein supplements out there—some promise to help with weight loss, while others promise to help build more lean muscle. Sometimes, we forget exactly how much protein our bodies really need because the message seems to be that we need more and more all of the time.

The truth is, the body's need for protein depends on factors such as age and physical activity levels. Most Americans actually get enough protein in their diet, but it is important that it be obtained from healthy sources.

Lean poultry, fish and nuts are usually good choices when it comes to obtaining the recommended daily allowance of protein. Eating a cheeseburger is not the best way to get protein because of the high content of saturated fat that goes with it.

Believe it or not, your body can only use so much protein at one time, so leading up on excessive amounts of protein will not really help you in the long run; the unused proteins will be treated as waste and removed by the body, so it is best to consume it in moderation in accordance with your physical activity levels.

Remember, you need variety in your diet for optimal health, so cutting out an entire food group in favor of another one is not usually a good idea. Diets that promote the elimination of all carbohydrates for protein may have some short term effects on weight loss, but are considered to be quite unhealthy in the long run and may have several unwanted side effects.

The USDA has provided various tables and guidelines to help take the guesswork out of planning your meals for you and you family. Check out www.choosemyplate.gov to see exactly how much protein you need according to your age group and physical activity levels. Plus, get information and tips about nutrition and meal preparation.