Dr Oz: How Much Protein Should I Eat? Personal Protein Number

Dr Oz: How Much Protein Do You Need?

Protein seems to be just about everywhere and lately it’s been added to everything from snacks and bread to water. But how much protein do you really need? Dr Oz found a way to reveal your personal protein number, as well as what types of protein you should be eating for weight loss.

First, he spoke to members of the audience to find how what they thought a daily dose of protein looked like. One woman admitted she thought a plate full of various protein-rich foods seemed accurate, while the woman next to her thought a small bowl of yogurt, one hard-boiled egg, and some nuts were enough. It turns out they’re both the right amount because the plate full of protein is perfect for a 300 pound body builder. On the other hand, the smaller portion was perfect for a 25-pound baby.

Dr Oz: Are You Eating Too Much Protein?

The amount of protein you need depends on your size. That’s exactly why Dr Oz brought in nutritionist Maya Feller to explain things more thoroughly. As Maya stated, protein is an essential nutrient our body needs to build and maintain muscle and tissue. But people have gone overboard and more isn’t necessarily better. But manufacturers have now created all sorts of protein-packed foods, which is why it’s no surprise that Americans are actually eating, on average, two times more protein than they actually need on a daily basis.

Anything you don’t use in that moment, anything your body doesn’t metabolize, has the potential to be stored as fat. Maya claimed that she’s had patients come into her office who have gone so overboard on protein that it’s “taxed their kidneys.”

If you’re eating a variety of protein-fortified foods in addition to a high-protein diet, you could easily be consuming too much protein. It’s also a known fact that Americans get the majority of their protein from animal sources and animal sources tend to be high in saturated fat and also increase instances of diet-related chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even stroke.

That’s exactly why it’s important to understand how much protein your body needs. To find your personal protein number, continue to the next page…

Dr Oz: What’s Your Personal Protein Number?

To find out how much protein your body needs, take your weight and divide it by three. The number you get is how many grams of protein you should be eating each day.

Additionally, you want to make sure you spread your protein out through the day. Americans tend to load up on protein at dinner, when you actually want to break it up between meals. So divide your protein number by three to determine how many grams of protein you should be consuming at each meal. Some great meal options include Greek yogurt for breakfast, salmon on a bed of spinach for lunch, and for dinner, 1/2 cup of lentil salad and 1/2 cup of hummus.