How Much Protein Do You Really Need?

The Kaufmann Diet encourages a lot of foods that are high in protein, such as chicken, fish, beef, eggs, and nuts. These are all great sources of protein, and importantly (from the perspective of the Kaufmann Diet), they are lacking in two things: sugar and simple carbohydrates. And how much protein do we need?

The Kaufmann Diet––like many other low carb diets––encourages a high protein, low sugar diet. Unlike other low carb diets, there is a very specific reason for this. Sugar and simple carbohydrates are yeasts’ food of choice. If you are suffering from yeast overgrowth, a diet high in protein and low in sugar is ideal for essentially starving and ultimately eliminating yeast. 

Protein is an essential nutrient for everyone. It is one of the three macro nutrients, which also include fat and carbohydrates (fiber is a type of carbohydrate). Getting enough protein is paramount to good health; our bodies break down protein from our diet into amino acids, and reassembles them to make the proteins and enzymes necessary for our body’s biochemical processes. Protein is essential for muscles, collagen, and even the structures that form cells. 

There has been some debate over how much protein is necessary for good health. One argument is that too much protein in the diet strains the kidneys, which are responsible for eliminating excess amino acids, electrolytes and other wastes and sending them out via urine. For people with normally functioning kidneys however, studies have not really confirmed this hypothesis. (However, if you do have impaired kidney function, you should always follow your doctor’s dietary recommendations.)

It is important to remember that The Kaufmann Diet is not a diet that enforces the counting of macronutrients. As long as you are eating the foods on the diet, you can have as much as you need to not feel hungry, and the diet will work towards eliminating pathogenic yeasts, and you will still be avoiding foods that are known to be contaminated with mycotoxins. 

However, some people thrive on metrics, and it is important for some to know what scientists say about optimal protein consumption. 

Today, it is known that people who exercise require more protein than those who are sedentary. For someone who is sedentary, it is recommend to consume .8 grams of protein per kilogram of lean body weight. So the average man, weighing in at 90kg (198lbs for we Americans) should consume about 72g of protein per day. For those who are active (for example, people who regularly run or cycle) the recommendation goes up to 1.4g per kilogram of body weight. So in our example, a 90kg man would require 126g of protein per day. For those who do resistance training, depending on the intensity of your lifting or training, 1.6g to 2g per kg body weight is recommended.

Ideally, on the Kaufmann Diet, you will be incorporating a sensible exercise routine, which means that research indicates between 1.4g and 1.6g of protein per kg body weight is the minimum amount that is recommended. Likely, on The Kaufmann Diet, you will be getting this at the very minimum. And, it is possible to consume more without worrying too much; just remember to stick to the foods on the diet, and you will likely be getting adequate protein and nutrition

Related Articles:

Top 6 Sources of Protein for the Kaufmann Diet

Tired of Chicken? A guide to Other Healthy Proteins

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