How much protein do you need?
There has been much interest in protein since the revelation that it helped build muscle. Protein has become a staple in the diet and supplements of weight lifters and body builders. In fact, enough interest has been aroused to cause open debate over the amount of protein your body needs and if additional quantities of protein are even synthesized. The debate wavers back and forth with one side claiming that surplus amounts of protein in the body may cause damage to the body.
How much protein does your body need? The standard response to this inquiry seems to indicate that 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight is optimum. Women should be limited to .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Too much protein may place strain on and ultimately damage the kidneys. This is based on the premise that the body can only synthesize so much protein. Additional quantities of protein do not translate into added muscle. Present research seems to support this theory that you should limit your protein intake.