The debate over nutritional needs seems ridiculous if you think that a simple measurement or experiment can tell you how much protein you should be eating daily. By changing the target of the experiment many are realizing that current recommendations may not be enough for active adults. Instead of aiming at enough protein (0.34 grams per pound of body weight) for a sedentary adult, the study looked for an optimal level for exercising adults (up to 1.5 grams per pound).
In any study, you get answers based on the questions you ask. Asking how much protein someone needs to just exist going to work and sitting on a couch in the evening will get you a different answer that ‘What is the level needed for optimal health?’ Optimal health includes some form of exercise, ideally both cardio and resistance. For these individuals, the question of how much protein is needed will be quite different.
In this British study, prior estimates of basic survival needs for protein were generally around a third of a gram per pound of body weight. Just take your weight and divide by 3 to get an estimate. An 150 pound person should eat 50 grams per day unless another health condition like kidney disease changes the situation.
When looking at physically active individuals whose metabolic needs were higher, this minimal level is likely insufficient. Protein is needed for recovery of various tissue types, production of hormones, energy production and more. Estimates from different studies indicate that baseline protein needs could be 2 to 5 times higher for the active individuals.
This paper recommends consideration of national (Britain) policy recommendations for both more exercise and more protein. Helping our patients at Sanctuary restore, maintain, and pursue healthier, more abundant lives requires our guidance on not only supplemental therapies but also on the foundations of nutrition. A diet balanced in what we call macros (carbs versus fats versus protein) serves as a critical foundation for health, regardless of what other troubles show up.
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Original Article:
Chris Macdonald. Beyond the bare minimum: the case for revised physical activity guidelines and protein intake recommendations that maximise healthspan. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026; 13 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1853124
Thanks to Science Daily:
Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. “Scientists say most people need more protein than current guidelines suggest.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 June 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091429.htm>.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
