protein... too much?

Here is the information I have on proteins.

Well to make the story short I have found some very good information I thought I would share.

According to this book, you should have a minimum of .3 grams of protein per pound of body weight. For optimal amounts you should have .7 grams per pound of body weight.

Make sure you are drinking your water.

Here are some other things that relate to proteins. Some of you may already know but I thought it was interesting information.

Less than 200mg of cholesterol per day.
Less than 7% of your diet should come from saturated fats. So on a 1500 calorie diet that would mean 12 grams, on a 1200 calorie diet it would mean 10 grams of saturated fats.

Hope this sheds some new light on the protein questions.

Most Americans eat more protein than they really need. The recommendations of the World Health Organization are lower than those of the US RDA. There are a million different formulas out there for how much you really need versus how much you should have, etc. The recommendations on this site are pretty good, in my opinion, but it doesn't sound like you are going so far over to worry about it. There are studies linking high consumption of animal protein to higher rates of osteoporosis, and people on extreme high-protein/low-carb diets can develop kidney problems.

Just make sure that you are getting a good mix of carbs, fat and protein. It doesn't matter if you hit the numbers exactly every day - they are just a guideline. And, to some extent, go by what your body tells you. If you crave protein, your body might need it. Otherwise, just try to get a wide variety of foods in your diet. If you eat protein because it helps you feel full, you can try adding other filling foods that are higher in fiber or good fats and a little lower in protein - like beans, legumes, nuts, and nut butters. And don't skimp on the veggies! :laugh: