Hello Hazel, how do I know if I need more protein in my diet?

Thank you very much.

Okay, so how do I know if I need more protein in my diet?

So true protein deficiency is not very common, especially in developed countries and in

the Western world.

So assuming you have enough calories in your diet, your diet is relatively balanced, it's

likely that you're getting sufficient protein to avoid deficiency at least.

That said, where we can, we obviously want to optimize health and not just meet our basic

needs.

So, what do we need protein?

Protein is not just for bodybuilders or people in the gym.

Yes, it does help build and repair muscles, but it's also needed to support healthy cartilage,

ligaments, skin, hair, nails, and lots of other tissues as well as making important

enzymes, hormones, and antibodies or our defense cells for the immune system.

So protein deficiency can affect almost all aspects of body function and as a result

it's associated with many symptoms.

So I'm assuming that you're not deficient, but how much do you actually need?

Well, the recommended amount for general population is 0.75 grams of protein per kilogram of body

weight.

Because you exercise regularly or advise to consume a little more, so that's between roughly

1.4 to 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day and that should be consumed

as 20 to 40 grams every three to four hours across the day.

...