bodybuilding protein controversy?

Question

What i have heard from many websites and "authorities" is that one must take 1gram per pound of desired weight to gain mass while weight training. I am about 200 pounds. according to bodybuilding websites i should take 200 grams of protein a day or 240 grams for increased results. Now I have also heard USDA set a standard for 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, which would seem to make more sense. I mean from the previous material some weightlifters would need to be taking 300-400 grams per day. In accordance with the limit of protein per meal and digestive time frame a heavy builder can digest 60 grams every 3-4 hours. Now, I guess for this i should be taking 230 grams per day, but i am no intense athlete so i can probably digest 30-40 grams every 3-4 hours. So here is my problem, how do i digest 230 grams of protein every day when it would take me about 18-20 hours to actually digest this amount without wasting it....??!?!? This smells something awful.

Answer 1

The general guidelines for the amount of protein needed is: your body weight x .6 = grams of protein per day. This is for a normal, somewhat active person like me. A serious body builder might need their body weight x .9
Someone like you probably needs .7 or .8 per pound of body weight, so around 140-160 grams a day. or about 50 grams per meal.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

technically one only needs enough protein to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. however with out using urine testing methods and others this value can not be obtained. so many give the general statement that 1 gram of protein per lb of bodyweight is given to insure that weight trainers have a sufficient protein intake. USDA guidelines are for the sedentary individual not for the athlete so in this aspect the information given is highly inaccurate for many.

first there is no limit to that amount of protein that can be digested. I'm not quite sure how that bogus info ever came about but it is completely false. the body will digest whatever amount of protein is in the gastrointestinal tract. now how much of that protein is actually "utilized" depends on many factors such as the amount of fat free mass that the individual has, the daily level of intense physical exercise, the goals of the individual and genetic factors. both science and common sense tells us that a 200 lb man with 10% body fat that weight trainers regularly needs and can utilize more protein than another man at 200 lbs and 20% body fat that is sedentary.

I am a firm believer in that the minimum protein intake should be based on the amount of fat free mass that a person has, after all fat doesn't need protein. so I go by using 1 gram of protein per lb of lean body mass (fat free mass). so a 200 lb man with 10% body fat has roughly 180 lbs of fat free mass so the minimum protein intake should be 180 grams. that number could certainly be increased depending on the total daily calories and short term goals of the individual. during a mass gaining phase when the carbs need to be increased that number may be decreased and when in a fat loss phase that number may be increased as carbs are decreased those cals need to made up by increasing proteins and fats.

so given the example from above based on 180 grams of protein that user would only need to intake 30 grams of protein per each of the six meals consumed. this is a much more sensible approach to determining the protein intake.

Answer 4

I'm going to have to go with Shanty on this one. Most of the protein drinks and megga vitamin supplements have WAY more stuff than a human body can absorb in a day. So why is that bad- your liver has to filter that stuff out for you. Every day. That is tough to do and can cause damage over time- especially if you drink alcohol too. Call your doc up and ask the pro on your body what to do. You got to play it safe you don't want to end up in the hospital and out of the gym. My opinnion (scientist) is that if you cannot get the protein and vitamins you need in your food- then something is wrong with that. You are only human, people do not need powdered food to get big. Eggs, tuna, chicken and Peanut butter are super foods for the bodybuilder. Ask your doc about the powdered stuff to make sure you do not drop dead like some athletes do after taking powders and pills. I'm not trying to be a jerk- I just want you to be safe.

Answer 5

it really depends what you are trying to do.. if you are going into body-building then you will need a lot of protein like what you said above.. if you are just on a good workout routine you only need about 40-60% of that (depending on what your goals are of course) and if you are just trying to stay healthy without a lot of excersize then you would want probably 40-50 grams per day

Answer 6

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Answer 7

he metabolic powers certain foods have to make your physique burn far more body fat.” It is a way of rating foods, primarily based on “how a lot of calories your physique is going to burn just breaking down the nutrients every time you consume a certain food.”
Therefore, you are not alone in this battle.

Answer 8

Haha...protein powder causing type II diabetes...hilarious!

Answer 9

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Answer 10

. before you take any kind of body building or weight supplement check with your doc. i did not not. now i have type 2 diabetes ...