How much protein...?
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zestyzesty
Posts: 57 Member
Okay, so I have read that the reference intake for an adult woman for protein is 46-50g, but I've also read that you need 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight. I am currently way overweight, so MFP has given me a really high protein target, which I often struggle to meet? Do you think it's okay so long as I get above about 50g protein a day or will my body suffer?
ANY ADVICE MUCH APPRECIATED. Thanks![:) :)](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/smile.png)
FYI, I am a vegan but I do my best to eat healthy proteins like beans, nuts, seeds and soy mik and yoghurts.
ANY ADVICE MUCH APPRECIATED. Thanks
![:) :)](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/smile.png)
FYI, I am a vegan but I do my best to eat healthy proteins like beans, nuts, seeds and soy mik and yoghurts.
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Replies
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Fermented soy (or most things fermented) is very good for you. Unfermented soy is very bad for you. All to do with gut and hormone balance which are extremely important. Plus most soy is genetically modified. Beans, nuts and seeds are very heavy in lectins (bad in excess). I respect your aversion to animal products but please, for the sake of your health, switch to a vegetarian diet.
Your protein requirement is linked to your lean weight, not your current weight. Opinions vary, but personally I go by 1 gram per kilo of healthy weight for an averagely active person. Women naturally carry more fat than men. So for now I would look up your weight in kilos at a BMI of 25 and use that as your grams of protein target. Any less and your muscle strength will suffer. Your most important muscle is your heart. Too much protein (say +20%) may drive cancer in susceptible people.
MFP only does calculations as a percentage of total calorie requirement (and the heavier you are, the more calories you require to move around). I do look at the total, but completely ignore the percentages. I set my loss aim at 1 lb per week but in 4 weeks I have lost 8 lbs, even though I slightly exceed their target calories. I eat significantly less carbs and slightly less protein than MFP says. Healthy fats are coconut oil, avocado oil, virgin olive oil (unheated) and butter and cheese (esp goat) and anything else that is low in unsaturated fats. For non vegetarians you can add beef and lamb fat from animals that have only ever been fed on grass and of course wild fish. Vegans and vegetarians typically have diseases linked to inflammation, such as arthritis, diabetes and alzheimers, due to too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3. Vegetarian sources of Omega 3 are in the form of ALA which is very poorly processed by the body.0 -
this is a good link.
http://authoritynutrition.com/how-much-protein-per-day/
Out of curiosity, why are you vegan? If it's just for health reasons, you might consider including diary and eggs into your diet since they're better sources of protein then most vegan foods.0 -
MFP defaults to 15% of your daily intake being from protein. The .8 grams per pound of lean body mass (not total body weight) is a better goal, IMHO. However, as long as you stay above the 15% goal you shouldn't have a problem. Just expect to lose lean muscle mass as you lose weight eating so little protein. That will effectively lower your metabolism over time.0
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Thats odd. MFP defaults to 20% of my daily goal. Protein is 4 calories per gram.0
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Mine is defaulted to 30% ?? 112 g
Anyway I've heard 1 g per lb of lean body mass. But if you are not doing strength training I don't see why you would need that much. Some other people may know better than me.0 -
I have mine set to 1g/pound of my goal weight (120 pounds). I am lucky if I can get 90g with all the eggs, dairy, and meat that I consume. Like many on here I respect your lifestyle choice, but I couldn't do it.0
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Belated thanks for all the replies, very helpful- appreciated. My default protein on MFP was 20%, same as yours Viva55- thanks for the info, I will look into Omega 3. Ahamm002, as for being vegan, it is partly for health as I don't feel so good when eating dairy and there is family history of heart problems. As for exercise, I am not currently doing strength training, just walking and swimming.
Once again, thanks for the replies
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