I'm a Nutritionist and Here Are 19 Protein Truths You Need to Hear

Are you struggling to lose weight without constant hunger pangs? Protein might be the secret weapon you're missing. Dani Marenburg is a double-certified nutrition coach who has helped over 1,000 women achieve their weight loss goals. On her podcast Mindin’ My Macros, Danny shares her top protein hacks that can help you melt fat fast while keeping you satisfied. We also asked other experts to weigh in with their proven tips. Whether you're a protein novice or looking to optimize your intake, these tips will give you the edge in your weight loss journey.

Protein Does More Than Build Muscle

Protein is often overlooked and under-consumed, but it's essential for numerous body functions. Dani says in her podcast, "Protein plays a vital role in numerous body functions from muscle repair and immune support to hormone production and enzyme activity."

Linda Sun, a nutrition expert, adds, "Protein repairs tissue, creates antibodies, gives us energy, makes up the cells that make up basically every part of us."

Protein Boosts Your Metabolism

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For women and men alike, protein is crucial for muscle development, which supports overall strength, metabolism, and healthy body composition. Dani explains, "Protein is especially crucial for women and men as it supports muscle development, which is key for overall strength for metabolism and metabolic health and maintaining healthy body composition."

"Protein is one of the most essential tools to help you achieve a weight loss and body recomposition goal," saysAutumn Bates, a Clinical Nutritionist. "Proteins help you tap the fat burning and achieve your weight loss goals," she adds

Eating Protein Won't Make You Bulky

Dani in her podcast addresses common protein misconceptions. "The fear of getting bulky from protein couldn't be farther from the truth," she explains. "Adequate protein intake benefits both men and women of all activity levels and ages by supporting muscle maintenance, but also supporting bone health and even weight management."

Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof and the “Father of Biohacking” adds, "Protein is one of the most essential tools to help you achieve a weight loss and body recomposition goal."

High Protein Diets Are Safe for Most People Fiction

Dani in her podcast also clarifies the misconception about protein and kidney health: "Research actually shows that healthy individuals with no preexisting kidney conditions can safely consume higher protein diets without actually causing any harm on the kidneys."

However, it's important to note that Harvard Health warns, "People that eat very high protein diets have a higher risk of kidney stones."

Your Body Can Handle More Than 30g of Protein at Once

Addressing another myth, Dani states, "There is an old study on 30 grams of protein being the maximum of amount of protein that one's body can efficiently absorb and process at a time."

However, she explains that newer research has shown "the body is constantly breaking down protein into amino acids and the small intestine can actually absorb and store those amino acids to use later when your body needs them."

The 1g Per Pound Rule Is a Good Starting Point

There's no one-size-fits-all protein amount. Dani recommends in her podcast, "A good rule of thumb is to aim for a protein amount that is anywhere from 0.8 to 1.2 grams per pound of body weight." She suggests starting with a one-to-one ratio: consuming about a gram of protein per pound of body weight, up to 165 grams.

This aligns with Asprey's recommendation: "I recommend getting at least 1 gram of protein per pound of your ideal body weight per day."

More Protein Can Help Build Muscle Faster

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For those struggling to build muscle, Dani advises, "If you're somebody who really struggles putting on muscle and no matter how hard you feel like you're trying, it's just not happening... I'd recommend skewing a little bit higher on that protein scale, maybe closer to 1.1 to 1.2 grams per pound of body weight to help with muscle development."

Linda Sun shares her personal experience: "A protein range of a hundred to 150 grams for me made sense as someone who's pretty active, works out almost every single day, and is trying to build a little bit of muscle."

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Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Increase Protein Needs

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Dani, in her podcast, also notes that protein needs can change during pregnancy and breastfeeding: "Your protein intake will increase through your trimesters and remain slightly elevated during breastfeeding to support the growth and development of both you, the mom, and your baby."

You Don't Need Meat to Get Enough Protein

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Dani reassures that getting sufficient protein doesn't mean eating only meat. "There are so many amazing plant-based protein options too, such as beans, lentils, tofu, quinoa, that can also contribute to meeting your protein requirements," she states.

The British Heart Foundation suggests, "White fish is a low-fat protein source. Oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel or salmon, are a little higher in fat but contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are heart healthy."

Plant-Based Eaters Need Slightly Less Protein

For plant-based eaters, Dani suggests in her podcast, "You can aim for a slightly reduced goal. So anywhere from 0.6 to 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight, that's a great place to start for plant-based."

Your Body Might Need Time to Adjust to More Protein

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When increasing protein intake, Dani warns of initial side effects: "As your body starts to regulate and adjust to the increase in protein intake, you might experience a little bit of bloating that typically lasts anywhere from one to two weeks and is completely normal." She also mentions increased feelings of fullness, assuring that the body will adapt over time.

Asprey confirms this effect: "Protein increases satiety by increasing the hormones that tell your body that it's full.

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Slowly Increasing Protein Intake Works Best

Dani advises in her podcast, "I always like to recommend giving yourself a good two weeks of increasing your protein. And again, my motto is that you don't have to go from zero to a hundred. You can start by slowly increasing your protein day over day, week over week, until you get close to or at your goal."

Build Your Meals Around Protein

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Dani offers practical tips for boosting protein consumption, starting with: "Build your meals around a protein source. So this does not mean it has to be chicken breast, and then you have broccoli and rice. Absolutely not."

Small Increases in Portion Size Add Up

She suggests, "Maybe you're including four ounces of shrimp, maybe include five ounces of shrimp. That's a very easy way to start to bump up your protein intake without it feeling too overwhelming."

You Can Ask for Extra Protein When Eating

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For eating out, Dani recommends, "If you're out and about, and let's say you're going out to dinner, you can always ask for extra protein."

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Smart Swaps Can Boost Your Protein Intake

Dani shares her favorite protein swap: "One of my favorites is chickpea pasta. So instead of just having regular pasta, I sub it for chickpea pasta because it has much more protein because it's coming from chickpeas, which are a good protein source."

Lean Proteins Help Balance Fat Intake

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For those concerned about fat intake, Dani advises, "If you struggle with also increasing your fat along with your protein, which I'll often see opt for lean protein sources like lean ground, Turkey, Turkey, bacon, chicken, white fish, shrimp, lean beef, pork tenderloin."

However, Dr. Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD, from the Mayo Clinic, warns, "A high protein diet that contains lots of red meat and higher amounts of saturated fat might lead to a higher risk of heart disease and colon cancer."

Protein Benefits Go Beyond Weight Loss

Dani in her podcast highlights that protein isn't just about weight management: "Protein is such an important aspect of your diet that supports muscle growth. AIDS in muscle recovery, promotes weight management, hormone production and regulation. It supports the immune system and so much more."

Asprey adds, "Protein also helps you preserve lean muscle when losing weight, which is essential for health and longevity."

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Balance Is Key - Don't Forget Other Nutrients

By implementing these strategies, you can harness the power of protein to transform your body and overall health. As Dani concludes, "If you're looking to dive even deeper to understand how to properly pair a specific protein goal with a carb and fat goal to support your health goals, whether that's to build muscle, reduce fat, regulate blood sugar, to eliminate cravings in that afternoon slump, or simply looking for a balanced and sustainable way of eating to get off the hamster wheel of yo-yo dieting," consider exploring more resources on macro-based nutrition.

However, Dr. Zeratsky cautions, "Some high-protein diets limit carbs so much that you might not get enough nutrients or fiber. This can cause problems such as bad breath, headache, and constipation."

Don’t forget, that while protein is crucial for health and weight management, it's important to maintain a balanced diet and consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss I’m a Nutritionist and Here Are 25 Weight Loss Truths You Need to Hear.

Are you trying to lose weight? You have likely heard that weight loss is 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. Many people believe the key to slimming down is staying in a caloric deficit: Burning more calories than you consume. However, it is a lot more complicated than that. According to several weight loss warriors and experts, there is one habit that you can adopt that will totally transform your body — and Body Network has the answer.

Lacey Baier Lost 250 Pounds, and Protein Was Key

Lacey Baier (@LaceyBaier_) is a Sweet Pea chef and social media influencer who promotes a healthy "cleanish" lifestyle on her YouTube channel and is a weight loss warrior who lost over 250 pounds. In one YouTube video, she reveals her top hacks, and “getting enough protein” is on her list. “Having more protein in your diet is so important for fat loss,” she says, noting that it helps your muscles grow and helps burn fat, "especially in your abdomen, which is where a lot of people have that excess body fat because of that visceral fat."

Luisana Carrero Lost 28 Pounds in 4 Months and Says the Same

Luisana Carrero is a nutrition coach and social media influencer who lost 28 pounds in 4 months, stressing the importance of eating high-protein foods in one of her Instagram posts. “As a general guideline, if your goal is to lose fat, aim to consume .8-1.2g of protein per lb of target body weight a day,” she says.

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Another Expert, Katya Campbell, Agrees

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Katya Campbell, GM/Fitness Director, Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat agrees that adding protein to your diet is the top habit you should incorporate if you want to lose weight. “As we age, we begin to lose one of our body's most precious resources, our skeletal muscle. This incredible endocrine organ is what we call 'the organ of longevity,’” she says.

Protein Feeds Your Muscles

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“Not only does having muscle make the body look more toned, but it burns more calories just keeping it alive. But we need to do something to build and maintain this incredible metabolic sink, and that is to feed it,” she says.

It Is Difficult for Your Body to Store Protein As Fat

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“Protein is the builder macro (the others being carbohydrates and fats). It is very difficult for your body to store protein as fat, and has the greatest satiety of all the macronutrients,” she continues.

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It Has a High Thermic Effect

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Another bonus of protein. “It also has the highest thermic effect of all the macros,” says Katya. This means “it burns more calories in the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients,” she explains.

Here’s How Much Protein You Need

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So how much protein is enough? “We recommend consuming at minimum .8 grams per pound of ideal body weight and ideally we target 1 gram per one pound of ideal body weight,” suggests Katya. “This means if we are 180 lbs, but according to our doctor our ideal weight is 140 lbs, we then eat 140 grams of protein per day. This will allow you to build your metabolic warehouse, feel full longer while doing it, and burn more calories just to digest it!”

Science Backs This Up

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What does science say about protein aiding in weight loss? According to clinical trials, consuming more protein than the recommended dietary allowance not only reduces body weight (BW), but also enhances body composition by decreasing fat mass while preserving fat-free mass (FFM) in both low-calorie and standard-calorie diets.

Here Are Some Tips for Getting Enough Protein

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In Carrero’s post she offers some tips on how to make sure you are eating enough protein.

• Spend 5 mins in the morning planning what you’ll eat.
• Cook protein in bulk to quickly put meals together in less than 5 mins.
• Start your day with at least 30g protein, this helps control hunger levels, decrease cravings and it makes it easier to reach your protein goal.
• Opt mainly for lean protein sources for higher volume, fewer calories and more protein per serving.

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And, Here Are Some Food Recommendations

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She also offered some high protein food suggestions in order to “140g of protein in a day and make fat loss easier.”

• Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt: “I opt for plain greek yogurt for lower calories and more protein. 200g greek yogurt provides 22g of protein. I add stevia, peanut butter and frozen blueberries to mine, I eat that for dessert every night,” she says.
• Chicken breast: “130g of cooked chicken breast will give you 40g of protein. I cook it in bulk and use it to make many different meals like grilled chicken sandwiches, tacos, salads, bowls,” she explains.
• 96/4 Lean Ground Beef: “140g of cooked ground beef provides 40g of protein. I cook it in bulk and make burger patties or use it for my pasta,” she says.
• Egg whites: “200g of liquid egg whites will give you only 108 calories and 22g of protein. You can add liquid egg whites to your full eggs for more protein and more volume. I mix a cup of egg whites with 2 full eggs, or use it for my french toast or my pancakes,” she explains.
• Fat Free Cottage Cheese: “A serving of cottage cheese gives you 13g of protein. You can add it to your eggs, eat it with fruits or add it to your salads,” she adds.

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