How much protein do you actually need?
The official target prevents deficiency. It is not a prescription for muscle, aging, or weight. Here is how to read the numbers, and when more is not better.
11 min read
TopicsProtein
Topic desk
Protein
Protein is one of the few nutrition topics where a number can be useful, if you know whether that number is a deficiency floor, an athletic target, or a marketing slogan. We cover requirements by age and activity, food quality, and the limits of high-protein diets.
Guides in this topic