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We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

bbc.com

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Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#2
How is the title accurate, when in the middle of the article there's this:

"Most experts agree with Tipton that protein is best consumed in food instead of supplements. But there are some exceptions, such as athletes who find it difficult to hit their daily protein targets, points out Graeme Close, professor of human physiology at Liverpool John Moores University. “I believe most need more than the recommended daily allowance, and there’s good evidence to support this,” he says. In this case, he says, a shake can be useful.

Another demographic who can benefit from extra protein? The elderly. That’s because as we age, we need more protein to retain muscle mass. But we also tend to eat less protein as we get older because our taste-buds begin to prefer sweet over savoury."

In my opinion there is no such thing as too much protein. You should have an estimate of how much calories you burn each day and eat accordingly. Supplements, like shakes, are just easier to consume since they're liquids, and some people have low appetite.

Most people should eat more protein and vegetables, but ditch any refined sugars, oils, processed food, and cook their meals instead of eating garbage snacks.

Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#4
So I thought carbs were bad? Oh no, it was fat right? Or sugar, or meat, or...

This article is a convoluted joke, just like the rest of the nutritional science field. In few other fields can you find so many contradictory theories. Mainly due to the poor research methodologies.

Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#5
Required Protein intake depends on many other factors. Carbs are protein preserving. If someone does a lot of weight lifting and or really hard cardio and is on a low carb diet, they will have an elevated protein requirement, else the body will simply consume its own proteins, aka muscle and tendon tissue, you don't want that. For the average Joe with a sitting job and zero sports activity and a regular no care diet, yeah, they don't need 2lbs of red meat every other day.

But protein is the macro nutritient which is least likely to get you fat, too much fat, you will gain fat if you don't work out and are in a calorie surplus, same for carbs. Too much protein is hard to achieve consistently and will give you flatulence, but not much else.

Too many scenarios and factors to sum up all in a one size fits all statement.

If someone is trying to lose weight, protein intake should be bit higher, to preserve the muscle tissue.

Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#6
Maybe not to lose weight, but as far as I know the primary goal of most people who take protein supplements is to gain muscle. From my understanding this is literally impossible if you don't consume enough protein. So the question of how much should you be consuming based really depends on your training level, goals, diet, etc.

> A 2014 analysis of 36 papers found that protein supplements have no impact on lean mass and muscle strength during the first few weeks of resistance training in untrained individuals.

Seems like any difference you would see with a couple few weeks of training would be a rounding error? In my experience, any noticeable differences in muscle mass require months of training.

Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#7
post #4

So I thought carbs were bad? Oh no, it was fat right? Or sugar, or meat, or... This article is a convoluted joke, just like the rest of the nutritional science field. In few other fields can you find so many contradictory theories. Mainly due to the poor research methodologies.

It doesn't have to do with poor research methodologies specifically in the field of nutritional science, since they do not differ from other fields. It's just that people are easily exploited by the industry because they believe there is a cheat code in dealing with obesity and other food related diseases

Re: We don’t need nearly as much protein as we consume

#8
post #3

This isn't really about protein, just how ultra-processed, high-carb candy bars are masquerading as protein. Good quality protein is necessary and healthy, and as we age we actually need more of it, not less.

Not doubting, just curious: do you have a source (on the "need more protein as we age" claim)?

EDIT: Nevermind, found some:

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/5/295 [from 2016]

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/35/1/6/469334... [from 1982]

One that says it doesn't differ: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/88/5/1322/4648885 [from 2008]

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