The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) have released updated dietary guidelines, and protein is the star. According to PBS, the guidelines advise Americans to "prioritize protein foods at every meal" while increasing their total daily intake to as much as double the previous recommendations. The updated guidance forms a cornerstone of HHS and USDA's campaign to encourage Americans rely on whole and unprocessed foods for the bulk of their daily calorie intake.
According to LiveScience, previous nutrition guidelines recommended around .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, while the updated guidance advises 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. In practice, this means that a 154-pound person would consume 3 to 4 ounces of protein each day, compared to 2 ounces under the old guidance.
Many Americans are already exceeding the previous lower protein recommendations — according to one study published in 2013 in the journal Kidney International, average intake was between 1.2 and 1.4 grams per kilogram, which falls squarely within the updated recommendations.
Protein recommendations differ across nutritional guidelines, and there's no official red line for too much protein. Some studies indicate that high protein could aid with weight loss, and others show that too much protein can also contribute to bone loss and kidney stones.
Should Americans follow the updated protein guidelines to the letter? Like any other general guidelines, they aren't written with specific individuals in mind. Consider your own age, body weight, activity, health goals, chronic conditions, and preferences when you decide what and how to eat, and consult a physician or registered dietitian for tailored recommendations.
