[Ch40s]

Originally Posted by http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/food/numbers1.html

Consumption of protein increased by about 10 per cent between 1992 and 2002, (from approximately 99 grams per person per day to about 109 grams in 2002). Statistics Canada says protein consumption rose faster in the early part of the decade and was stable between 1998 and 2002.

Originally Posted by http://www.healthgoods.com/education/nutrition_information/Nutrition_for_Athletes/protein.htm

For athletes in training, the recommended protein intake is .5-.9 g/lb body weight. For example, a 150-lb athlete should consume 75-135 g of protein (0.5-0.9 g/lb body weight x 150 lb= 75-135 g of protein). A diet providing 12-15% of its calories from protein should meet this requirement if you are consuming enough calories to meet your energy needs. Protein intake in excess of these requirements is usually not necessary and does not seem to have any benefits for either strength or endurance training.

Originally Posted by http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

Excess protein may also be converted to fat and stored.

Azure, you make it sound like it's impossible to get the amount of protein you need as a regular weight lifter from diet alone. One egg has 6.5g. It's easy.

Now as for drinking protein shakes because it's easier, well, I guess that's up to you isn't it. Professionals I've talked to recommend staying away from stuff like this, so I'm going to. Here's a story I found interesting:

Originally Posted by http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060722115010AAtv5xi

Avoid - Stay away from - Don't use --- Shaklee protein powder

My friend (now dead from botched heart surgery) used this product every morning, for 3 years. . . he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol - then a stroke . . . while he was quite physically active, and drinking this laboratory created stuff.

When the stroke did not kill him, he stopped all the artificial daily supplements (protein powder, etc) - and 'curative drugs' for BP, etc. and his body amazingly achieved 'normal' function levels. . .

I feel that the rampant use of man made, dietary supplements, is one of the root causes of many of today's illnesses. If the earth did not create and support it, I won't eat it. . .