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How to calculate my protein intake - type 2

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,394
Location
Wrexham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
OK, brain isnt working. I appear need around 55g of protein a day. Is that the protein component of the food, or the total?

eg. an egg weighs about 50g. Do I just count the 6g of protein within the egg in my total? Like i count the carbs in a food towards that total, not the weight of the food?

sorry if its a stupid question. Thinking about my protein is a newish thing to me, I have only looked at my carbs up until the past few weeks.

And, how much protein would a man 6' 6" tall and active need?
 
Yes it’s just the protein that you would be interested in. Personally I do not count it as such, but I work on a very broad theory that cheeses tend to be around 20% and red meats often around 30%

So an egg is ~6g
 
Yes, only count the grams of protein that food contains, so for your egg it would be 6g.

How have you calculated that 55g protein may I ask? I eat almost twice that amount most days, 5ft 3ins and just under 9 stones. However, I always have. It isn't something I have ever considered restricting - it is too important for life, health and well being, particularly as we age.
 
Some, but not all, find that protein can measurably raise glucose concentration over time, so it’s sometimes helpful to keep it somewhat limited. The general aim is to use it only for cell maintenance rather than any leftovers also being used for fuel, which requires reconstruction into glucose.

Some are affected and some aren’t. I suspect it hinges rather heavily on the individual level of insulin sensitivity.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
How have you calculated that 55g protein may I ask
Click to expand...
Just read it somewhere. I am also 5' 3" tall, but weigh a lot more than you.
My husband is 6' 6" tall, and I have no idea how much protein he needs really. Just guessing at around 60g a day?
 
lucylocket61 said:
Just read it somewhere. I am also 5' 3" tall, but weigh a lot more than you.
My husband is 6' 6" tall, and I have no idea how much protein he needs really. Just guessing at around 60g a day?
Click to expand...

Popular opinion tends to lean toward 1-1.5g per kilo of body mass. Although some say lean body mass, so make of that what you will.
 

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I am not affected at all.
 
lucylocket61 said:
Just read it somewhere. I am also 5' 3" tall, but weigh a lot more than you.
My husband is 6' 6" tall, and I have no idea how much protein he needs really. Just guessing at around 60g a day?
Click to expand...

It varies from person to person. Body mass comes into it, also activity levels, gender, and age. One size doesn't fit all, as per usual.
 
lucylocket61 said:
Just read it somewhere. I am also 5' 3" tall, but weigh a lot more than you.
My husband is 6' 6" tall, and I have no idea how much protein he needs really. Just guessing at around 60g a day?
Click to expand...
That’s interesting. A similar disparity in height between myself and my wife. I am sure she needs less of everything than I. Though she puts in a harder day than I do, workwise.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
It varies from person to person. Body mass comes into it, also activity levels, gender, and age. One size doesn't fit all, as per usual.
Click to expand...
I agree with this thinking with all food intake, carbs, protein the lot.
 
lucylocket61 said:
Just read it somewhere. I am also 5' 3" tall, but weigh a lot more than you.
My husband is 6' 6" tall, and I have no idea how much protein he needs really. Just guessing at around 60g a day?
Click to expand...
I have always meant to ask. Presumably the avatar is the hubby. Great picture!
 

@Jim Lahey, Wound you recommend staying under the recommended protein for one’s body? I am struggling with protein at the moment. Well I think it’s that anyway. I have no idea how low to go. Thanks
 
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Flora123 said:
Wound you recommend staying under the recommended protein for one’s body? I am struggling with protein at the moment. Well I think it’s that anyway. I have no idea how low to go. Thanks
Click to expand...

No. I don’t recommend necessarily limiting protein. It’s vital that you get sufficient. If you’re having problems with glucose control and you suspect that protein may be the cause then you could try dialling it back a bit and seeing if you experience an improvement. But you need to ensure you’re getting enough. I definitely do not recommend actively seeking to limit protein consumption in the same manner as one might with carbohydrate. That could lead down a path of malnutrition, as unlike carbohydrate, protein is an essential macronutrient that we must consume in order to support life.
 
I don’t count my protein intake. However I wouldn’t want to be undernourishing myself. I do try to have plenty of protein in my diet. I would think I have far more than I need, what with the cheese, eggs, bacon, sausage and stuff like nuts, chicken and beef.

But am all ears on this thread.
 
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todays protein:

100g of tuna (drained weight)
1 pint whole milk
2 slices of wholemeal bread (does that have protein?)
30g butter
30g full fat mayo (proteinish)

not sure how to work out how much protein I have had..............
 
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lucylocket61 said:
todays protein:

125g of tuna (drained weight)
1 pint whole milk
2 slices of wholemeal bread (does that have protein?)
30g butter
30g full fat mayo (proteinish)

not sure how to work out how much protein I have had..............
Click to expand...
I am nonethewiser either. Can you not look the stats up just like you do for carbs?
 
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