High-Protein Diets

With all of the high-protein diets available, many people wonder exactly what their protein intake should really be. These are the guidelines from Health Canada

• From birth to 4 months of age, protein requirements are approximately 2 grams per kilogram body weight. This is taken care of through breast feeding or an infant formula.
  
• Throughout childhood and the teen years,
  the requirement is between 1 to 1.5 grams per kilogram.
  
• For adults, 1 gram of protein per kilogram body weight per day is recommended.
  
• For athletes, very active people or people experiencing severe medical trauma or burns, these requirements can increase.

The average person's protein requirements are best met by consuming 2 to 3 servings per day of lean meat or alternates and 3 to 4 servings per day of low fat milk products or alternatives. There is also some protein in grain products and a trace amount in vegetables.

For more healthy eating information, ask our on-line nutritionist.