trust me, you're getting enough protein

people think they need way more protein than they do.

you need 7 grams for every 20 pounds of body weight. if you eat more than is recommended by that equation your body requires more calcium to neutralize the acids that are released in digestion... and guess where it gets it? your bones.

also, there are plenty of other sources for calcium then dairy.  why do people keep saying to eat more protein and consume more dairy when the vast majority of people in the usa have a huge excess of this in their diet is confusing me...

Finally - yesss!  Oh, the endless "But where do you get your protein?!".....

uh...from everything. Even lettuce has protein in it.  Okay, it's a miniscule amount, but seriously - most foods have SOME sort of protein.

Same way for calcium!!!

7 grams of protein per 20 pounds is the lowest equation of required protein I've heard of. I've heard more of the 'weight in kg x 0.8' equation, but whatever.

But it's nice to find people who agree. I've been flamed before for saying that people think they need much more protein than they actually do.

Just wondering, do you all believe and practice 'complete proteins' and 'protein combining'? I don't - I say everything has protein, and it all adds up in the end. As long as you get a couple good sources, the rest will add up.

I don't actively practice protein combining, however, I've noticed that most of the foods I love automatically combine themselves

Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich on whole wheat toast
Beans and  rice
Lentils and Pasta
Hummus and Pita Chips

I think they just kind of go together naturally without really trying.

As far as how much protein - I'm more worried about how much fiber I get and b12.  Fiber is a more pressing issue for almost everyone an B12 is harder to get - the closer to Vegan your diet is  - the lower your likely intake.   

7g of protein for every 20lbs of body weight? That's ridiculous. 

That would leave me with 56g of protein a day. I need double that.

 

I have to question where you got your numbers from, kindoflikesarah.

Can you back that up, please?

Assuming you're eating about 2,000 calories a day, you should be consuming about 100 - 125 grams of protein each day to give you the 20-25% of protein the FDA suggests (when breaking up carbs to protein to fat) you eat.

It seems like vegetarians are the only ones who believe in taking in taking in as little protein as humanly possible. I guess it's not a coincidence when the food they eat has almost no protein in it (other than soy).

This guy is a vegan and has the right idea with protein intake.

i got my info from the harvard school of medicine's website.

Link, please?

don't have time to look now, i have class in an hour and i'm still in pajamas. i'll find it when i get home.

The RDA for protein is .8g/kg.  20lbs = 9.09kg.  9.09 * .8g = 7.272g of protein for every 20 lbs.

RDA for protein can be found here:

http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/21/372/ 0.pdf

Note the bottom of page six.

From Harvard:  http://huhs.harvard.edu/ClinicalServices/Nutr itionKnowHow/Protein.htm
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/p rotein.html

More links, to beat the dead horse.  :)
http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/article s/nutrition/protein_2/
http://waltonfeed.com/omega/protein.html
http://www.time-to-run.com/nutrition/rda.htm

This is for the average adult.  Athletes may need more protein on a case by case basis.  But average people do not need to stuff themselves silly with protein.  And no, it's not just vegetarians that believe that.  :p

 

thank you pandajenn19!

for the record it was the harvard school of public health's website i got my info from sorry for saying it was the harvard school of medicine, here's the link

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/p rotein.html

and just curious, why are you coming into the vegetarian forum and replying to a thread? i posted this in the first place because there were a TON of protein related questions from new vegetarians and vegans that were worried about it...

dm84, have you heard of this new protein filled food called BEANS? they come in more than soy now... *rolls eyes* what about brown rice? whole wheat? these are all vegetarian/vegan sources of protein.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, kindoflikesarah. I see alot of misinformation on alot of different posts. I saw your post and it didn't sound right to me, so I asked where your information came from. :)

it's always good to know that your information comes from a reliable source since there's so much garbage out there. :)

well for the record i don't pull stuff out of my butt :)

I believe you. :)

I just know that the FDA recommends (so it's odd the RDA doesn't agree with it) 20-30% of your calories come from protein.

PJ answered the question. Just makes it seem odd. :)

Wasn't trying to be insulting, just wanted to make sure it was right. :)

According to that Harvard SPH web site, I am not eating enough protein.

Were I at a weight that gives me a healthy BMI, a 50 grams of protein/2000 calorie diet would give me too little protein and too many calories for my weight.

Interesting.

so okay, if i weigh 137, how many grams do i need?

silvraynebow, about 48.

to figure it out divide your weight by 20, multiply that number by 7.

very good points!  The protein question gets really annoying.

dm84, why do you think that you need double that?  Are you a professional bodybuilder?  yet another source, if you need convincing, is the FDA - http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/special/foodlabel/dvs .html (RDA is 50g for a 2,000 calorie diet).  I personally find the other sources more accurate, though.