I'm struggling here to understand, why we would worry about having more protein in our diet than 56 grms, and hope you can help me. I'm not considering protein supplematation, but normal dietary sources.
If, as I am, someone with diabetes, was attempting to lose wieght, was underatking fairly arduous exercise regularly, would protein not be a good choice for a large proportion of your calorie intake because:
1. it is necessary to repair and build muscle.
2. if as Dr. Bernstein says it is inefficiently converted to glucose, then we can have more protein calories than carbohydrate calories for the same effect on our blood sugar.
3. if we have enough fat in our diet for our body's maintenance of nerves etc, why would that be a superior choice for our calorie need than protein, given 2 above?
I hope this makes sense to you.
Thanking-you in anticipation
Ian
Dear Ian,
You make some excellent points, especially the first two. But regarding your third point you mention fat for maintenance of nerves. Actually, we must have fat or carbohydrates rather more for energy. And when we follow a very low-carb diet, we get almost all of our energy from that fat.
While we need protein to repair and build muscles, above the amounts the Institute of Medicine stated (e.g. 56g/d for men), more isn't better. It is in fact not good if we are trying to control our blood glucose level. I am working as hard as I can to do that and also to control my weight. So I need to limit my protein as well as my carbohydrates. Of course, I have to limit my fat intake too!
David
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2013 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
5 Health Problems Caused by Drinking Too Much Alcohol 
What Your Feet Say About Your Health 
Top 8 Low-Carb Mistakes 
The Facts on Diabetic Neuropathy 
Do all of you who eat low-carb diets feel you eat too much protein. Dr. Eades, book author, does not believe 100 grams of protein per day is too much, especially if one is active. When one is hungry between meals we don't have a lot of choose from: a piece of chicken, couple of cubes of cheese, peanut butter; we stay away from raw carrots, though I do eat a lot of cucumber!