Nutrition basics-Protein

Protein,the holy grail of nutrition today.Foods which contain a lot of protein such as meat,eggs,the dairy products and the protein supplements have become very popular on the Internet,they have flooded the super market shelves and they have filled athlete's diet.Studies have proven that protein consumption helps on the creation of lean muscle mass and in some situations it assists fat burning.So it seems that all this protein worshiping trend seems justified.

A T bone steak.Lots of protein in it and it is delicious as well

Lets examine things a bit more.One gram of protein is equal to four calories.But protein also causes a thermic effect when digested.I wont go further explaining that because the title of the post has the word basics in it.For this reason there was a suggestion to lower the calorie estimation of protein because that effect is supposed to help with fat loss.Also it is true that protein consumption helps greatly in creating and maintaining lean muscle.Someone would say ok then lets eat only protein and become lean as hell.While there are diets that contain only protein(low calories as well most of the times) and lead to massive fat loss there is the problem that without the two other macronutrients you lose their benefits discussed here and here.

Furthermore protein in excess turns to body fat as well so it isnt wise to consume more than we need.There is an exaggeration to that need promoted by various sources.Supplement companies often suggest two or more grams of protein per kilo of body weight.This amount can be useful for people that exercise regularly and have increased needs for recovery and muscle creation.For a regular person that works out occasionally one or one and a half grams should be sufficient.To conclude there is no need to consume a lot of protein dense foods to get the amount needed for your body.