The Great Protein Fiasco
The field of nutrition got human protein requirements spectacularly wrong, leading to a massive recalculation. Subscribe to Dr. Greger’s free nutrition newsletter at www.nutritionfacts.org/subscribe and get a free recipe from his new HOW NOT TO DIE COOKBOOK. (All proceeds Dr. Greger receives from the sales of his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements go to support the 501c3 nonprofit that runs NutritionFacts.org.) The “low” protein level in human breast milk (about 6% of calories) doesn’t mean adults only need that much because babies are such voracious suckers. A 15 pound infant can suck 500 calories a day. An adult, ten times heavier—150 pounds, say—doesn’t typically consume ten times more food (5,000 calories). So since we weigh ten times more, but may only eat four or five times more, our food needs to be more concentrated in protein, but still people tend to get way more than we need. See my video Do Vegetarians Get Enough Protein? (nutritionfacts.org/video/do-vegetarians-get-enough-protein/). Plant protein sources are preferable (nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-protein-preferable/). See, for example: • Caloric Restriction vs. Animal Protein Restriction (nutritionfacts.org/video/caloric-restriction-vs-animal-protein-restriction/) • Bowel Wars: Hydrogen Sulfide vs. Butyrate (nutritionfacts.org/video/Bowel-Wars-Hydrogen-Sulfide-vs-Butyrate) • Protein Source: An Acid Test for Kidney Function (nutritionfacts.org/video/protein-source-an-acid-test-for-kidney-function) What about protein quality, though? Should we try to mix certain foods together at meals? See The Protein Combining Myth (nutritionfacts.org/video/the-protein-combining-myth). Have a question for Dr. Greger about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.org/video/the-great-protein-fiasco and he'll try to answer it! www.NutritionFacts.org • Facebook: www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org • Twitter: www.twitter.com/nutrition_facts • Podcast: nutritionfacts.org/audio/ • Subscribe: http://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/ • Donate: www.NutritionFacts.org/donate
