Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota
The idea of eating more protein continues to gain popularity. Some people may think the way to build body muscle is to eat high-protein diets and use protein powders, supplements, and shakes. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that most Americans need more protein. Most of us already get all we need. Some of us may even be eating much more than we need.
Proteins play a key role in our bodies. They make up about 15% of the average person’s body weight. You probably know proteins as the major component of muscle. Muscles flex arms and legs, contract our hearts, and create waves in the walls of our intestines to move food along. All this muscle activity accounts for most of the energy our bodies burn. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn and the more food you need to maintain your weight.
Proteins also perform crucial activities within all the cells of your body. They move molecules from one place to another, build structures, break down toxins and do countless other maintenance jobs. Proteins play an important structural role in cells as well, making up a sort of miniature skeleton.
Proteins are actually chains of small molecules called amino acids. Some of these chains are constantly being broken down, and new ones are strung together to take their place. Your body can make some of these amino acid building blocks, but not all of them. The ones you cannot make are called essential amino acids.
Meat in general is a good source of protein, with a full mixture of all the essential amino acids. However, it can be high in fat. Try to select lean cuts such as top round and sirloin. Poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes (dry beans or peas such as lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans) are also good sources of protein.
Most Americans already eat about 12-18% of their calories as protein. Most Americans do not need to worry about getting enough protein. Unless they have some other medical problem, most people are meeting or exceeding their protein requirements. Since protein is such a common component of most foods that you eat, if you are eating a relatively varied diet, you are getting enough protein.
Some people, such as vegetarians, do have to pay attention to the protein in their diets. While animal proteins have all the essential amino acids, plant-based proteins can have low amounts of some. That is why vegetarians have to eat protein from several different sources to get all the different amino acids they need. If you do not eat enough of certain amino acids, it does not matter if you have more of others.
Vegetarian food combinations that give you complete protein, for example, include rice and beans or peanut butter and bread. Eggs are also a good source of complete protein. People who do not eat eggs or dairy products need to be particularly careful to get all the essential amino acids they need.
Another group that may not get enough protein is older adults. A recent study of men and women in their 70’s found that those who ate the least protein lost significantly more muscle than those who ate the most protein. Maintaining muscle is particularly important as you age. Older adults who lose muscle in their legs and hips are more likely to fall and have injuries like broken hips. Those who do not maintain strong muscles as they age might also have trouble doing basic things like getting up from a chair, walking up stairs or taking a stroll through the park.
For most Americans, however, there’s little benefit to eating more protein than they already do. In long-term studies of high-protein diets, researchers have found that most differences in weight loss can be explained by the amount of calories people eat rather than their protein intake. High-protein diets may make some people feel fuller, but that effect has been hard for researchers to tease out, because many high-protein diets are also high in fat.
There are questions about the benefits of protein supplements as well. Advertisements for protein powders and shakes say their products have essential amino acids that the body cannot make. That is true but if you are eating a varied diet, particularly animal protein, there is skimpy, if any, data that it is better to eat protein in supplement form than in food.
In special cases, these products can prove useful. For elderly people who cannot eat enough protein or patients with diseases that leave them malnourished, a protein supplement can be one way to help get enough protein. But be sure to talk to a doctor or nutritionist before trying this.
Is it possible to eat too much protein? There is insufficient data to say that a person can eat too much protein. There is evidence to suggest that people with certain diseases and conditions should limit their intake. For people with kidney disease, for instance, a reduced-protein diet may help delay the progression towards kidney failure.
If you are like most Americans, though, you do not need to worry about eating enough protein. Recent weight loss, muscle fatigue or a drop in muscle strength may be signs you are not eating enough protein. But they may be signs of other problems as well. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to see your health care provider to pinpoint their cause.
If you would like more information on “Making and Maintaining Muscle – How Much Protein Do You Need?” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu. Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.