How Much Protein Do You Really Need?

Protein is an essential macronutrient that plays many important roles in the body. Athletes and bodybuilders have especially high protein needs, but how much is really necessary? This article provides protein recommendations for different goals and activity levels.

Protein Basics

Protein is composed of chains of amino acids. The unique sequence and structure of the amino acids determines the protein’s function. There are 20 amino acids that the body uses to build its thousands of proteins.

While proteins have diverse jobs, some of the main categories include:

• Enzymes – Catalyze chemical reactions
• Hormones – Coordinate bodily functions
• Transport proteins – Carry substances in the blood
• Immune proteins – Protect against illness
• Structural proteins – Provide structure to cells and tissues

Skeletal muscle is made up largely of structural proteins like actin and myosin. When discussing protein needs for muscle growth and maintenance, these muscle proteins are the focus.

Protein Turnover and Nitrogen Balance

Protein is constantly being broken down and rebuilt in the body through protein turnover. During exercise, more protein breakdown occurs. At rest and during feeding, protein synthesis ramps up.

To determine protein needs, researchers analyze nitrogen balance. Nitrogen comes from the amino acids that make up proteins. When protein is broken down, nitrogen is lost as waste products like urea in urine.

• If nitrogen intake equals nitrogen loss, the body is in nitrogen balance.
• If nitrogen intake exceeds loss, there is a positive nitrogen balance. This supports building muscle mass.
• If nitrogen loss exceeds intake, a negative nitrogen balance occurs which can lead to muscle loss.

By finding nitrogen balance, optimal protein intakes for different goals can be estimated.

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is set at 0.8 g/kg body weight/day. This equals about 0.36 g/lb body weight/day.

The RDA meets basic nutritional needs for the general population. However, more protein is recommended for exercisers and athletes.

Protein Needs for Athletes and Exercisers

Higher protein intakes ranging from 1.2-2.0 g/kg body weight/day are suggested for active individuals and athletes. Several factors influence ideal protein intake including:

Activity Level – Sedentary people need less than very active people.

Exercise Duration – Longer duration endurance exercise causes more protein breakdown.

Exercise Intensity – High intensity strength training requires more protein.

Training Volume – During high mileage periods, more dietary protein supports recovery.

Goals – Aiming to gain muscle mass requires more protein than maintaining mass.

Here are general protein recommendations based on activity level and goals:

Recreational Exercisers

Moderate exercisers who workout 1-3 days per week have slightly higher protein needs than sedentary folks.

Recommendation: 1.0-1.4 g/kg or 0.45-0.64 g/lb

Examples: Occasional joggers, recreational team sport athletes

Moderate Endurance Athletes

Athletes training 4-5 days per week need protein to optimize performance and recovery.

Recommendation: 1.4-1.7 g/kg or 0.64-0.77 g/lb

Examples: Runners, cyclists, swimmers

Strength Athletes

Lifters training primarily for strength, power, and muscle growth need ample protein.

Recommendation: 1.7-2.0 g/kg or 0.77-0.91 g/lb

Examples: Bodybuilders, powerlifters

Ultra-Endurance Athletes

Athletes doing many hours of exercise per week like marathoners may need more or less protein depending on training phase.

Recommendation: 1.2-2.0 g/kg or 0.55-0.91 g/lb

Higher protein supports recovery during high mileage periods. Lower protein intakes maintain mass during lighter training.

Adjusting Protein Needs

Several factors can alter an individual’s optimal protein requirements including:

• Caloric intake – Consuming fewer calories than needed forces more protein to be used for energy instead of muscle protein synthesis. Protein intake should increase when cutting calories.
• Carbohydrate intake – Consuming adequate carbs spares protein from being utilized for energy.
• Genetics & Physiology – Some people build muscle more or less efficiently. Protein needs vary.
• Timing – Spreading protein over meals and snacks optimizes muscle protein synthesis compared to just one large dose.
• Protein Quality – Complete, high quality animal proteins provide all essential amino acids for optimal muscle building.

Due to individual variability, some experimentation is required to find one’s ideal protein sweet spot for their goals. Start with the recommendations above and adjust intake based on progress and needs.

Is More Protein Better for Muscle Growth?

Some bodybuilders and athletes strive for very high protein intakes upwards of 2.5-3 g/kg (1.1-1.4 g/lb). Is more protein always better for muscle growth though?

Potential downsides of excessive protein include:

• Safety issues – The body has a limit for processing protein byproducts like ammonia into urea that can be safely excreted. Excess protein taxes this system.
• Unnecessary cost – Protein foods can be expensive. Excessive intakes provide no benefit but cost more.
• Appetite reduction – High protein meals are very satiating. This can make it hard to get adequate calories and carbs.
• Lack of evidence – Studies show muscle protein synthesis plateaus around 1.6-2.2 g/kg/day in trained lifters. More protein provides no further benefit.

Aim for the top end of the general recommendations for your activity level and goals. More protein beyond those amounts provides no advantage and poses some potential risks.

Takeaway on Protein Needs

Protein is vital for building and maintaining muscle mass. Strength athletes and bodybuilders require higher intakes approaching 2 g/kg (0.9 g/lb). Endurance athletes also need ample protein during intense training periods.

Use the general recommendations in this article as a starting point. Adjust up or down based on individual response and diet goals. Consuming adequate high quality protein optimally supports muscle growth and recovery without any risks.

Supporting Muscle Building and Performance

This covers the basics of determining protein needs for different athletes and exercisers. Adequate protein intake combined with proper training is key for supporting muscle building and performance goals. Adjust intake based on your activity levels, diet, and progress.