| Comment about: Exporting the U.S. Diet |
 |
| March 16, 2008 | | Other sources of protein abound... and what happens to all that extra protein anyway? | Dr. Magee -
I enjoyed reading and watching this post. You pointed out that our meat consumption has grown from 50 pounds per year per person to 200 pounds per year per person. That's a remarkable shift. I expect that is related to the tremendous increase in portion sizes, especially in fast food and restaurant dining. I actually thought the average daily meat consumption would exceed 8 ounces a day. That's about 2 servings and it really doesn't sound like a lot. But it adds up fast. I'll explain...
There is protein in plenty of other foods, including grains, legumes (beans, peanuts), tree nuts (walnuts, almonds), dairy (milk, cheese yogurt), soy products (tofu, soymilk). When you look at the whole diet it is easy to reach the recommended amounts of protein, which is only 0.8-1g/kg.
So a 150 pound woman only needs 55-70 g protein per day and a 190 pound man only needs 70-85 g protein per day. There's 30g protein in a teeny 3.5 ounce portion of very lean sirloin. Plug and chug some numbers and you can quickly see that 8 ounces of beef on average meets 100% of the protein needs for 190# male. But not everyone is 190# male and what about the other sources of protein?
Well, all protein is digested down to amino acids and what is needed is used, but the rest is turned to sugars and fats. I think people don't realize that. I fear that the low fat craze and low carb craze are colliding and the end result is keeping us unhealthy because we haven't accepted "all foods in moderation" and "portion control" as a realistic, balanced diet.
I agree with your comments in this story. From a health perspective, I think people can see benefits from becoming more aware of their portion sizes and how it compares to their needs. The USDA MyPyramid planner might help people plan out their meals to help improve balance and overall nutrition.
In health,
Rebecca
| |
|
|
