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Comment by latency-guy2 | Hacker News Reader

> Current evidence-based recommendation for daily protein intake is 1.6g protein per kg of target body weight

That measure is for when you are specifically looking to build muscle I believe, which might be a bit orthogonal to direction you want to go (if for weight loss).

It is also, IMO, a lot of protein to consume a day. I personally have never done that level of protein intake, ever, but I know a few who have, its an insane (to me) amount of protein powder, chicken, and broccoli (or alternatives) you have to consume, every day. If the goal was sustainability, it's definitely not possible for average people.

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> It is also, IMO, a lot of protein to consume a day. I personally have never done that level of protein intake, ever, but I know a few who have, its an insane (to me) amount of protein powder, chicken, and broccoli (or alternatives) you have to consume, every day. If the goal was sustainability, it's definitely not possible for average people.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

If you exercise regularly and you're going on a cut, 1.6kg is a good target to maintain muscle mass. That said, in order for you to reach this point, you already have to be very good at regulating your food intake.

Otherwise, .9g per kg is a much more realistic target for the 90%+ of people who are simply trying to be fit.

Research shows that 0.8g per kg of body weight is the absolute minimum recommended for individuals with minimal physical activity. If you are attempting to become fit, research suggests you want at least 1.3g per kg for moderate activity.

Honestly 1.6g per kg isn’t that much. It’s much more than most people are used to, but it’s not like you need protein shakes and chicken breast only. It just requires you to not consume all your calories in carbs and fat, which is a lot easier.

See: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26797090/#:~:text=To%20meet%....

0.9g/kg is considered by numerous sources to be insufficient for people in many different ages and stages:

https://examine.com/guides/protein-intake/

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