You may think that every diet is meant to help your body – but every person is different. That’s exactly why should always think twice before starting any diet just because it worked for a friend or family member. For example, protein is very good for anyone, but what happens if you get too much?
Well, the first thing you should know is that you can get protein from meat, fruits and vegetables as well. From spinach or nuts to chicken or hot dogs, most of the foods we eat on a daily basis contain this magic ingredient that makes us function properly.
However, that doesn’t mean that the more protein you get, the better. Of course, if your doctor or nutritionist recommends it, you should increase your protein amount. But…
Adults who ate high amounts of meat and dairy were more likely to develop chronic diseases like cancer and die sooner. This could indicate that it’s just as important to eat a variety of protein sources, like both plants and animals, to reap the many benefits of a protein rich diet.
Also, some of the foods most often recommended for weight gain also happen to include large amounts of protein. This might be OK if you’re trying to gain weight on purpose, but even though it can help curb your appetite, too many calories from protein can lead to unwanted weight gain. Also, if you’re trying to lose weight and simply feel like you can’t, it’s probably because you’re getting too much protein, even though you don’t eat that much overall.
If you weigh 160 pounds, for example, you should try to eat about 58 grams per day. However, you should always spread your intake throughout all your meals and snacks, instead of eating an entire plate of grilled chicken for dinner to meet your quota for the day.
