How much protein should I be eating a day?

michelletyler38

45 grams is how much MFP recommends but I don't think that's enough! An Herbalife distributor told me I should be getting like 120! I weigh 185 lbs. Anyone know a good amount to try & get??

McKayMachina

Yep! Sounds like you ought to be eating much more.

My protein is set to 120 per the P90X nutrition guide. However, Mayo Clinic sets me at around 100.

EDIT: Here...this might help:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/NU00200

fitterpam

This is one of those controversial topics, because I don't think there is a "right" answer, just what you choose to do. Below is some information from the Institute of Medicine from 2002

Protein Recommendations for Men
19-30 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)
31-50 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)
51-70 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 56 grams per day)

Protein Recommendations for Women
19-30 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
31-50 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
51-70 years old 0.8 gram per kg per day (about 46 grams per day)
SOURCE: the Dietary Reference Intakes report by the Institute of Medicine, 2002

When your body breaks down the protein you eat, several types of acids are triggered. Your body neutralizes these acids with citrate and carbonate from the bone. Simply put, this means calcium loss increases as protein consumption increases. The Institute of Medicine's Dietary Reference Intakes suggests, although it is still considered to be controversial, that as you double the amount of protein in your diet, the amount of calcium lost through your urine increases by 50%. This not only increases the loss of bone calcium but also increases the risk of kidney stones by as much as 250%.

BeGreat25

I was just doing research myself. Though I do not have an answer for you I'd like to say your results are awesome! Keep up the awesome work.

zacherybinx

Depends what you're trying to get out of it really. If you want to put on muscle then you should be eating like 6 well protein rich meals spread out throughout the day and close to that 120 would be right for you then.