Can you get too much protein? Good question. With M&F and your gym buddies preaching the minimum of 1 gram per pound of bodyweight and a lot of mainstream media talking about the dangers of that standard, things can get a bit confusing. This two-part series, presented in easy-to-follow Q&A format, should help assuage your fears.
For Part I of this Q&A, click here.Q: Why does M&F recommend such comparatively high amounts of protein?
A: We have a lot of reasons, but probably the most important one is this: It works to give you the physique you're looking for. "Muscle growth happens when protein synthesis exceeds protein breakdown," Elliott says. "The availability of protein plays an important role in that process, so it follows that increased amino acid availability—such as what is provided by the intake of dietary protein—will result in a greater anabolic response."
It has been proven that the more protein you eat, the more protein synthesis occurs in your muscles. In a study published in The Journal of Physiology in 2003, researchers found that subjects who had been given an infusion of amino acids experienced a boost in muscle protein synthesis. No surprise, right? The amazing thing was that the rate at which subjects built muscle protein increased as the amount of protein in their bloodstreams increased. Therefore, the more protein you eat, to a degree, the more muscle you'll build—all day long, with or without exercise.
We have other reasons for our recommendations, too. One of them is pretty basic: You're most likely taking supplements (branched-chain amino acids, beta-ecdysterone) that boost protein synthesis, but if you don't have a well of protein for your muscles to draw on, those supplements aren't going to do much. Another reason is because there's evidence that eating protein can keep you lean. For one thing, it's the hardest macronutrient for your body to digest, which means your body has to use more energy (calories) to break it down. Protein also increases the amount of a hunger-blunting peptide called PYY in your bloodstream, meaning you won't be hankering for munchies soon after eating a high-protein meal.
Yet another reason for our protein recommendations is more complicated, but no less rational. In fact, it's all about ratios. In addition to deciding the RDA for nutrients, the FNB recently established what it calls the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for protein, carbohydrates and fat to tell us what percentage of our calories should come from each. The AMDR for protein is between 10% and 35% of total calories. Now, to support the kind of body you're boasting (or looking to build), you have to put down a lot of calories.
