The general population needs far less protein than is often made out by influencers. Don’t miss out on other important aspects of your diet
This is a myth, says Bethan Crouse, a performance nutritionist from Loughborough University. She says that while the protein macromolecules – which are most abundant in meat, dairy and some legumes – are an important nutrient for repairing and maintaining muscle, the general population needs far less than is often made out by fitness influencers pushing high-protein recipes.
For the average person, the recommended daily allowance is 0.75g of protein for every kg of body weight. For a 65kg (143lb) person that might mean eating a chicken breast, 200g (7oz) of Greek yoghurt and an egg (57g of protein). That figure rises slightly if you work out. “The average couch-to-5K runner might need 1.2g per kg,” she says. If you are trying to build muscle then that could rise to 1.8-2.0g per kg.
