Protein is a hot topic for people sticking to a training or diet plan. But how much and what kind of protein is a healthy balance to an active lifestyle? Active.com author, Nancy Clark wrote an article that she suggests might solve some mysteries about protein.

What kind of protein? You don’t necessarily need to wolf down that rib-eye to get your daily protein fix.  Meat isn’t the only option to get the right amount of protein. It is easy to get your daily allotment through almonds, walnuts and carb-rich health-protective oatmeal, milk, eggs, hummus and beans.

Next, is “how much protein do I need?” According to Clark, “To start, you need to determine how much protein your body needs and then assess how much protein you eat via your standard diet. Most athletes eat more than enough protein without supplements! To estimate your daily needs, multiply your weight by 0.5-0.75 g protein/pound (1.0-1.5 g/kg). If you are restricting calories or are a novice exerciser who is building new muscles, your protein needs are a little higher, but 1 gram of protein/lb (2 g/kg) is more than enough!” For more information to find out how much protein you need, analyzed food labels check out these websites:www.fitday.com or www.sparkpeople.com.

Finally, “when do I need to eat protein?” “Endurance is largely affected by how many calories you consume while you exercise. Studies that look at protein+carbs during endurance exercise indicate when the total calorie intake is similar, the proposed endurance benefits are not there. A good tactic is to eat a tried-and-true, well tolerated carb-protein snack or light meal within the hour or two before you embark on a long run or other form of endurance exercise.”–Nancy Clark

As the KT Tape team continues to personally meet thousands of athletes and learn their different stories, training habits and recovery plans, we realize the benefits of taking a serious look at your diet to prevent injury and sustain you through whatever training schedule you have planned.

Filed under: Uncategorized | February 24, 2010
Tags :Active.com , KT Tape , Nancy Clark , protein