Facts About Protein

Facts about Protein

Everyone knows or has heard that it is important to take in a lot of protein after working out. A few questions that may arise are:

• How much protein is needed after a weight lifting workout?
• How many grams of protein can your body actually consume and use?
• What else does protein do for the body?

The information below will help answer these questions and go into a little more depth of understanding just what protein is all about.

Protein is a complex chemical structure of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. Not only does protein help rebuild torn muscle tissue, but it also helps repair red blood cells, improves hair and fingernail growth, protects against diseases, and helps transport nutrients to and from cells2. Protein does a lot more than what most individuals think it does. It is said that the human body can only use and digest 25-30 grams of protein per sitting or per meal based on the RDA recommendations, however this is still up for debate. A person who does not exercise on a daily basis should be taking in 0.8 grams per kilogram of bodyweight. A person who does workout on a daily basis should be taking in 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight 1.

So when wondering how much protein is recommended on a daily basis one should take into consideration of how much do they weigh in kilograms and if they workout regularly. Protein is a valuable nutrient that everyone needs in their daily diet. It is not just for the bodybuilders or athletes. An individual doesn't have to consume an astonishingly amount of protein, but the matter of the fact is that taking more than the RDA recomends  when exercising is not only safe, but beneficial.

References

1. Guyton M.D., Arthur C. Human Physiology and Mechanisms of Disease; 1992.

2.  Recommended Dietary Allowances, 10th Edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1989.