Starting to question the high protein hype

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I, too think the high protein hype is a fad that will pass. Getting more than 80 grams of protein a day consistenly is not realistic.

What? You don’t ever have to try that hard to hit 80grams.

Breakfast:
2 eggs - 14g
Slice of toast - 5g

Lunch:
4oz chicken - 35g
Green veggies - 2g

Snack:
Greek yogurt - 12g

Dinner:
3oz meat or tofu - 15+g
Veggies - 2g

Total: 85+ grams

[Anonymous]

Ok I'll jump into this convo with my anecdotal experience. I'm 44 and starting to feel the various symptoms of perimenopause. I follow several health and fitness experts, including Dr. Mary Claire Haver who is a menopause health expert making waves in the medical community right now. Almost all of these experts recommend around .7-1g of protein per POUND of your ideal bodyweight. I realized for many years I was eating severely below that amount, instead avoiding animal protein and focusing on dark leafy greens and veggies. I started adding at least 30 grams of LEAN protein to almost every meal now for the 8 mos. to a year or so and I can tell you almost ALL my perimenopausal symptoms have significantly decreased, particularly the mood, fatigue and brain fog issues that were starting to affect my work and family life. I am very active and focus on strength training, I think you have to dial in the exercise half of the equation for this type of diet to be truly effective. I think the high protein "fad" actually has some legs to it, if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok I'll jump into this convo with my anecdotal experience. I'm 44 and starting to feel the various symptoms of perimenopause. I follow several health and fitness experts, including Dr. Mary Claire Haver who is a menopause health expert making waves in the medical community right now. Almost all of these experts recommend around .7-1g of protein per POUND of your ideal bodyweight. I realized for many years I was eating severely below that amount, instead avoiding animal protein and focusing on dark leafy greens and veggies. I started adding at least 30 grams of LEAN protein to almost every meal now for the 8 mos. to a year or so and I can tell you almost ALL my perimenopausal symptoms have significantly decreased, particularly the mood, fatigue and brain fog issues that were starting to affect my work and family life. I am very active and focus on strength training, I think you have to dial in the exercise half of the equation for this type of diet to be truly effective. I think the high protein "fad" actually has some legs to it, if you ask me.

If you were avoiding animal protein, you also could have had a B12 deficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, too think the high protein hype is a fad that will pass. Getting more than 80 grams of protein a day consistenly is not realistic.

What? You don’t ever have to try that hard to hit 80grams.

Breakfast:
2 eggs - 14g
Slice of toast - 5g

Lunch:
4oz chicken - 35g
Green veggies - 2g

Snack:
Greek yogurt - 12g

Dinner:
3oz meat or tofu - 15+g
Veggies - 2g

Total: 85+ grams

ummm I would be stuffed and grossed out by that much protein. I wouldn’t have the appetite to have greek yogurt after having 2 eggs and 4 oz of chicken in a day. if I ate all you are listing it would mean I ate less fruit, grains and veggies, and I just don’t see the evidence for pushing that much protein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, too think the high protein hype is a fad that will pass. Getting more than 80 grams of protein a day consistenly is not realistic.

What? You don’t ever have to try that hard to hit 80grams.

Breakfast:
2 eggs - 14g
Slice of toast - 5g

Lunch:
4oz chicken - 35g
Green veggies - 2g

Snack:
Greek yogurt - 12g

Dinner:
3oz meat or tofu - 15+g
Veggies - 2g

Total: 85+ grams

ummm I would be stuffed and grossed out by that much protein. I wouldn’t have the appetite to have greek yogurt after having 2 eggs and 4 oz of chicken in a day. if I ate all you are listing it would mean I ate less fruit, grains and veggies, and I just don’t see the evidence for pushing that much protein.

NP

You’re seriously daunted by eating 2 eggs and 4oz of chicken in the same day? That sounds silly. And you should be eating more of those animal products than grains and a lot of fruits anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, too think the high protein hype is a fad that will pass. Getting more than 80 grams of protein a day consistenly is not realistic.

What? You don’t ever have to try that hard to hit 80grams.

Breakfast:
2 eggs - 14g
Slice of toast - 5g

Lunch:
4oz chicken - 35g
Green veggies - 2g

Snack:
Greek yogurt - 12g

Dinner:
3oz meat or tofu - 15+g
Veggies - 2g

Total: 85+ grams

ummm I would be stuffed and grossed out by that much protein. I wouldn’t have the appetite to have greek yogurt after having 2 eggs and 4 oz of chicken in a day. if I ate all you are listing it would mean I ate less fruit, grains and veggies, and I just don’t see the evidence for pushing that much protein.

For many that is actually very little food. I would eat like that if I wanted to cut a lot of weight quickly. I probably eat close to double that in a day and I am definitely not stuffed. It is just what I need to maintain my weight.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure high protein is necessary for most people.

If you are trying to build muscle absolutely. But then you should be adding quite a few other things to your diet too (vitamin d, creatine, etc).

But just normal diet calories are all that really matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure high protein is necessary for most people.

If you are trying to build muscle absolutely. But then you should be adding quite a few other things to your diet too (vitamin d, creatine, etc).

But just normal diet calories are all that really matters.

Eat a low protein diet with plenty of calories and see what happens to you in a year or two of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure high protein is necessary for most people.

If you are trying to build muscle absolutely. But then you should be adding quite a few other things to your diet too (vitamin d, creatine, etc).

But just normal diet calories are all that really matters.

Eat a low protein diet with plenty of calories and see what happens to you in a year or two of that.

The choices aren’t high protein or low protein. There is a such a thing as adequate protein. And the average American who does not restrict any particular food groups easily gets adequate protein through the consumption of adequate calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure high protein is necessary for most people.

If you are trying to build muscle absolutely. But then you should be adding quite a few other things to your diet too (vitamin d, creatine, etc).

But just normal diet calories are all that really matters.

Eat a low protein diet with plenty of calories and see what happens to you in a year or two of that.

The choices aren’t high protein or low protein. There is a such a thing as adequate protein. And the average American who does not restrict any particular food groups easily gets adequate protein through the consumption of adequate calories.

how vague and droll. "adequate" varies from person to person. so do words like "high" or "not enough".