1. How much protein must be consumed to satisfy the needs of the human body?
"The protein RDA for adults is 0.8 grams per kilogram of healthy body weight per day." So says the textbook, Understanding Nutrition, by Whitney and Rolfes.
Analyzing the data for me. 125 lbs >> 57 kg
57 kg x 0.8 g = 45.6 grams of protein per day.
2. Can a person get enough protein without eating meat?
A breakfast of a bagel and cream cheese contains about 11 grams of protein.
A pizza covered in mexican shredded cheese offers 14 g of protein per half cup of cheese. It wouldn't be hard for me to eat a cup of cheese. That's 28 g of protein, not including what's in the rest of the ingredients.
A cup of cooked spaghetti for dinner contains 8 grams of protein without the help of soy protein in the spaghetti sauce.
This break down brings me to 47 grams of protein which is above the RDA for my weight. I believe this shows that is quite easy to get the RDA value for protein without eating meat.
3. What happens to the body if a person eats too much protein?
According to the textbook, there are inconsistent findings that suggest animal protein may be positively associated with obesity whereas plant protein may be negatively related. "A high protein intake does not cause kidney disease, but it does increase the work of the kidneys" (Understanding Nutrition, page 188).
An article on Medical News Today suggests that humans can eat as much as 2 grams of protein per kg of body weight without experiencing any dangerous side effects. Anything more than that can lead to a number of uncomfortable symptoms and can contribute to certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer.
- Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322825.php
4. Do grass-eating animals, such as cows, get protein from grass or do they not need it?
I had difficulty finding any scholarly articles on this subject. I did come to a reasonable conclusion based on the reading of multiple non-scholarly articles and verbal explanations given on various forums. Based on what I read, the cow has multiple stomachs and, in the process of digestion, uses fermentation and bacteria to alter the proteins from grass. This process turns the grass protein into a kind of protein the cow can use. I believe this is an accurate explanation because the many sources I read all agreed on the subject.
5. What happens to a body if it consumes too little protein?
Considering the protein quantities in basic foods, such as the meals I provided as examples in question 2 above, it is difficult to get too little protein, but doable. Side effects of protein deficiency include "slowed growth, impaired brain and kidney functions, poor immunity, and inadequate nutrient absorption" (Understanding Nutrition, 186). To be protein deficient, one would be lacking in many other nutrients, as protein deficiency and malnutrition go hand in hand. In consequence, the body would likely experience a plethora of symptoms related to malnutrition rather than solely and specifically linked to protein deficiency.
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