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Macronutrients

How much protein do I need per day?

A common baseline is about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for healthy adults, with more for athletes, older adults, and people recovering from illness.

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The general adult guideline of roughly 0.8 g/kg/day covers basic needs for most sedentary people, which is around 56 g for a 70 kg adult. People who do regular resistance or endurance training, are trying to preserve muscle while losing weight, or are older often benefit from more, commonly in the range of about 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg/day.

Spreading protein across meals (rather than one large serving) supports muscle maintenance, and good sources include lean meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, tofu and nuts. Most people in higher-income countries already meet baseline needs without supplements; protein powders are a convenience, not a requirement.

Very high protein intake is usually safe for healthy kidneys, but people with chronic kidney disease may need to limit protein. If you have kidney problems, diabetes, or are pregnant, ask a doctor or dietitian to set a target suited to you.

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