A new report from Australia’s National Science Agency has revealed most Australians are eating enough protein, but not at the right time.
The CSIRO says Australians should be consuming protein throughout the day and choosing whole foods over processed products.
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Protein is trending with supermarket shelves packed with products promising special health benefits. But new research from the CSIRO suggests Australians may be missing the point.
“Often people are making a lot of mistakes when it comes to protein,” CSIRO dietitian Nicole Pritchard said.
Dietitians stress it’s better to spread protein across daily meals and stick to real foods rather than ultra-processed high-protein products.
“Aiming for that 25 to 30 grams of protein per main meal. And this is what can help you feel fuller for longer, can help reduce cravings and can also help people retain muscle mass as well,” Pritchard said.
For women, the ideal daily intake looks like two eggs at breakfast, a chicken salad for lunch, and fish or meat for dinner. For men, it’s about the same, just with a larger serve of meat.
Mary McConnell, 62, started the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet after struggling with her weight during menopause.
“Tried a few different things to try and shift it and nothing worked,” she said.
The former bodybuilder has lost 15 kilos and knows the value of protein in her diet.
“Because if you don’t have the muscle, I don’t want to become a frail old lady. I really, really want to stay strong and stay fit,” McConnell said.
The CSIRO says protein needs vary depending on age, weight and health goals. That’s why they’ve launched a new online calculator to help Australians work out how much protein they actually need.
“Rather than sticking to any trends or general advice,” Pritchard said.
The calculator is free to use.
