Health Explainer: Protein Needs CORP_26760254 Protein Amount 

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
How much protein we really need, and where to get it.

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[Text on screen: Eric Colombo, RDN, LD
Registered Dietitian
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center]

Eric Colombo, RDN, LD: As dieticians, we get asked about protein needs all the time. Protein's obviously very important for a number of things in the body such as muscle and tissue repair, bone health, hormones. I think that's just being driven by the general trend of overall health and wellness on social media. Everyone's tapped into social media, so I think just having that different influencers pop up into your feed has really driven this interest in increasing protein intake.

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Just like with anything else, it's possible to have too much of one thing. So for healthy individuals, overdoing it with protein can lead to excess calorie intake, which can lead to weight gain. With individuals who have preexisting kidney conditions, it can create extra strain on the kidneys. So working with a registered dietician to understand your specific needs for protein is very important.

Some individuals might need more, so anywhere from 0.8 all the way up to two grams of protein for every kilogram is a general range that most people fall into. Working with a registered dietician can help you to better understand your exact needs as far as protein intake. As dieticians, we recommend focusing on quality lean proteins to fill your diet. That would include lean meats like fish, skinless poultry like chicken or turkey, beans, lentils, edamame,

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tofu, eggs, egg whites, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese. Those are all good examples of quality proteins.

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
For more information, visit: health.osu.edu]

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