Is a Low-Carb, High-Protein Diet the Best Option for Me?

What you should know about the increasingly well-liked high-protein diets.

How Much Protein Should I Eat?

Though it’s possible that it won’t be necessary. “The amount needed is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation,” says Candace Pumper, a staff nutritionist with Columbus’s Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, who adds that getting enough protein is crucial for good health.

When considering your unique requirements, keep in mind:

Body weight and proportion of lean body mass. A high-protein weight reduction diet could be an excellent option if you want to reduce your body fat percentage or enhance your proportion of lean body mass.

Years lived. As people get older, their muscular mass naturally decreases, a condition known as sarcopenia. One way to combat this is to maintain a sufficient protein intake.
Health background. Those who are already sick shouldn’t start eating a lot of protein. People whose renal function is impaired may not be able to handle the increased volume of protein, therefore it’s best for them to avoid a high-protein diet. The kidneys are essential for protein metabolism.

A High-Protein Diet: What Is It?

According to Feit, a high-protein diet is defined as one in which the daily protein intake is more than 1 gram per kilogram of body weight.

According to Ariadna Mendez, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with CalOptima, a county-organized health system in Orange County, California, “A high-protein diet” is defined as one in which protein accounts for 20% or more of the total calories. On a high-protein diet, one would consume around 100 grams of protein per day for every 2000 calories consumed. Up to half of the calories in certain high-protein diet plans may come from protein.

Breakfast could consist of broiled salmon, lunch could include six shrimp, a snack could be almonds and a pig chop (yes, a snack!), dinner would include two additional pork chops, and dessert would involve even more almonds, according to a paleo diet plan. When all together, that’s about 200 grams of protein per day. Although that could work for certain individuals, it’s excessive for the majority.