Who Needs A High-Protein Diet?

Protein is an essential component in anyone’s diet since it is from protein that we gain the amino-acids that are important in making many cells in our bodies; this includes muscles, hair, nails, etc. In general, a healthy person will not lose significant protein other than through hair and nails, so the protein and amino-acids you eat in your diet stay in your body. However, if you have an illness or an infection, you may need to consider a high-protein diet to replace the protein that is lost.

Young children also require high-protein diets and more protein per pound of body weight due to the growth of their bodies. In extreme cases, a protein deficiency accompanied by an energy deficiency can result in a form of protein-energy malnutrition called marasmus, noticeable by loss of body fat and wasting of muscle tissues.

Protein should comprise 10 to 15 percent of a healthy diet. If you eat 1,500 calories per day, you should be eating about 56 grams of protein.