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The Importance of Protein Intake for Muscle Building and Aging
Increasing protein intake is automatic for everyone, even without consciously trying. Stu Phillips disagrees with the recommended 0.8 grams per kilogram body weight, but it's a moot point because people naturally consume around 1.6 grams per kilogram. Phillips believes that muscle strength building is 90% workout and less than 10% diet, so protein supplementation is unnecessary. Personal experience supports this, as excessive protein intake is not required for building lean muscle mass. Nature ensures that even a predominantly plant-based diet provides sufficient protein. While protein is important for maintaining muscle mass as you age, other factors like dentition, loneliness, and depression have a bigger impact on sarcopenia. The key is to eat enough food rather than increasing protein concentration in a small amount of food.