Protein is an essential building block of a healthy body. With all the fad diets that teach us about carbohydrates and fat -- many of us don't know much protein we need for a healthy diet.
Too little protein can cause weakness, muscle loss, and fatigue. The lack of protein slows down your metabolism and puts you at risk of gaining weight.
One of the reasons why protein requirements may be complicated is because the amount we need changes with our age, gender, and level of activity.
The US Department of Agriculture's guidelines appear to be more for the average person; they recommend that all men and women over the age of 19 should consume 0.37 grams of protein per pound of body weight (Note: your protein requirements increase with physical activities).
If you are more active than the average person or want a precise protein intake calculation, the University of Maryland's Medical System provides a free online Protein Calculator:
http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/protein.asp
Success Starts Here. ~ DMS11
