He thought the suggested amount was nothing. He says, "In an ideal world, Antonio said, totally sedentary adults should consume at least twice that; people who seriously exercise should start with a minimum of 2.2 grams per kilogram, and ramp their levels up from there" (1). These numbers show how much more Antonio thinks the RDA should be. It's much more than what is recommended. A bit later on, we learn others agree with increasing the protein intake. According to the text, “And second, even if the 0.8 number does meet our barest needs, “there’s a much more optimal amount we should be consuming” that would further improve our health, Katie Hirsch, an exercise physiologist at the University of South Carolina, told me” (2). This professional says it can be a beneficial part of a high-protein diet. We can dig a little deeper and answer our question: Should the RDA for protein be increased? However, there are those who disagree that the RDA for protein should increase. There is little research on whether more protein is better. Researchers also say there can be negative side effects that come with a high-protein …show more content…
These studies help us see Katie's claim that there can be optimal benefits with a higher protein intake. Later in the article, we get more studies. The article includes, “In addition to improving body composition and possibly enhancing fat loss, high protein diets may increase blood sugar control, reduce blood fat levels, and increase bone density in older adults” (Kubala). These results support the claims that a higher intake of protein can be optimal for our health and the concerned health risks actually bring in more benefits. This helps support Antonio and Katie's claims that the RDA for protein should be higher. This can hopefully answer our questions about whether to increase the RDA for protein. This is an important topic because the RDA for protein is being questioned on whether to increase or stay the same. Many health professionals argue for the change in the recommended amount of protein per day. Another important topic from the text is that one? ? mentions the extreme focus on protein may lead to forgetting about other essential nutrients in our diets. For example, they mentioned that people lack fiber in their diet and it is important to prioritize as