How Much Protein Does an Athlete Really Need?

How Much Protein Does an Athlete Really Need?  From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

 

Recommendations-

While protein needs of both endurance and power athletes are greater than that of non-athletes, they’re not as high as commonly perceived. 

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend the following for power and endurance athletes, based on body weight:

• Power athletes (strength or speed): 1.2 to 1.7 grams/kilogram a day
• Endurance athletes: 1.2 to 1.4 grams/kilogram a day

For an adult male athlete, that’s about 84 to 119 grams of protein a day; for adult females about 66 to 94 grams.
By comparison, a sedentary adult male needs about 56 grams of protein a day; for females it’s about 46 grams. 

Continue Reading - http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442477918