You are bound to see the word “protein” littered across the shelves of any supermarket’s supplement aisle. This macronutrient has become a staple marketing buzzword for fitness-based consumables. Protein is so synonymous with muscle growth that many don’t bother questioning the realistic effects of high protein.
One new study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that high levels of protein did not impact muscle growth for middle-aged adults. While some protein is undoubtedly important to build muscle, extremely high-protein diets may simply be an unnecessary overkill.
Why Is Protein Intake Important for Muscle Growth
Before exploring whether high protein levels correlate with increased gym results, it is important to look at why protein intake is connected to muscle growth in the first place. Protein serves an important function in repairing and growing muscle. The body needs the optimal levels of building blocks, and protein is a large piece of that, especially building muscle quickly. The minimum amount of protein required depends upon a range of factors including weight, sex, and body makeup. In general, though, at least 0.35 grams of daily protein per pound of body weight should be consumed to stay healthy and increase muscle from exercise. However, the American diet is often heavy in carbohydrates, sugars, and fats without emphasizing healthy protein consumption. This results in many Americans being underfed on protein and requiring supplementation to reach optimal levels. The muscular benefits gained by adding protein to undernourished diets leads some fitness enthusiasts to expand this thought process into a “more is always better” mentality…
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Joint Chiropractic — https://www.thejoint.com/missouri/columbia/columbia-24010/323512-high-protein-does-not-mean-big-muscles-study-finds
C.B. James Writing 