Protein requirements

[ellenalesa]

I'm sorry to ask this because I KNOW that it's a question everyone dreads...but, what ARE the protein requirements for an adult? I went onto fitwatch.com and used their free recipe analyzer....I have been eating a lot of salads and watermelon soup, I've made some date nut torte, etc. and it looks like there's not a lot of protein in these recipes.

My typical day is a fruit smoothie w/ a banana, some mango if I have it, or some peaches or papaya, and about 2 cups of baby spinach.

For lunch I usually have a good sized salad w/tomatoes, cukes, carrots, sometimes some red pepper and cauliflower, some lettuce and an olive oil and lemon juice dressing. I throw in some sunflower seeds and raisins.

I eat fruit, like bananas or peaches, in between.

I have watermelon soup a few times a week. Once every other week or so I'll make the raisin date nut torte. If I'm hungry I'll have a handful or 2 of nuts.

In the past I have made roasted vegetables for dinner, but now that I have a dehydrator, I can use that instead of the oven. Or I'll have another salad. Sometimes I'll take cauliflower, red pepper and carrots and throw them in the food processor. I'll wrap this in a lettuce leaf w/Alissa's guacamole.

What can I eat to increase my protein intake? Is th ere a raw protein powder I can use?

Thanks....

[Sharon in Colorado]

It sounds like you are getting a plenty of quality protein.

May I ask for what reason you think you need to purposely consume more protein than you already are?

[ellenalesa]

Hi Sharon,

When I looked at the recipes online, they showed a very small amount of protein. 7 grams here, 8 grams there. How much protein does an adult woman need? I read somewhere that we vastly overestimate the amount of protein that we need, and i am trying to find out how much I really DO need.

Ellen

[Sharon in Colorado]

When you look at charts and studies, they are going to vary greatly as they are based on an animal based, cooked diet.

By the way, have you seen a photo of Alissa? She is very muscular on this diet and from what she says, she does not supplement with additional protein - she gets her protein through the plant food she regularly eats.

I did find this site, where it bases your protein requirements on your gender and height, but I wouldn't rely on it because it is a sport type of site: http://www.indoorclimbing.com/Protein_Requirement.html

I also have to say that this site tells me my ideal weight for my height of 6'0 should be 160 lbs. Based on the small frame of my body I can tell you right now that it is grossly exaggerated. I feel overweight and uncomfortable when the scaled gets over 145.

Also please check out the FAQs section on this forum about protein.

[Lay-Lay]

I read something recently that said when you eat cooked meat you are actually getting half the protein that it claims (I don't know if that is true). Eating veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and beans you are sure you are getting the full nutrition. Raw is awesome that way. Enjoy!

[Sharon in Colorado]

This is in the "need to know more about raw foods" section:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3708

[ellenalesa]

Thanks, I feel better. I just want to make sure that I am getting everything I need. I guess old habits die hard.

Ellen

[Spectatrix]

I did find this site, where it bases your protein requirements on your gender and height, but I wouldn't rely on it because it is a sport type of site: http://www.indoorclimbing.com/Protein_Requirement.html

I also have to say that this site tells me my ideal weight for my height of 6'0 should be 160 lbs. Based on the small frame of my body I can tell you right now that it is grossly exaggerated. I feel overweight and uncomfortable when the scaled gets over 145.

Wow, thanks for the link! The nutritionist I met with after my initial nephrologist appointment (I have kidney problems) recommended that I consume no more than 50-55 grams of protein. This site recommends 27.6-49.1. It's also accurate in terms of its weight recommendation for me, 135 pounds. I'm 145 right now, but would be very happy at 135 with a bit more muscle than I have now.