2.75 USDA – Protein
The USDA Food Plan recommends 5 ½ ounces of protein daily on a 2000 calorie diet which is slightly less than the DASH diet and the AHA diet, which recommend 6 ounces daily.
Twice per week, the USDA recommends that seafood be the protein that you eat. They say to keep meat and poultry lean, meaning low in fat. They say to trim all the fat from meat and remove the skin from poultry which has a lot of fat attached to it. The USDA says to choose beans, peas, seeds and nuts (plant based) more often as a protein source, but they of course do not say to go completely plant based.
We have already discussed protein earlier in the HeartStrong.com program and how easy it is to get plenty from plants. The problems with animal protein are many including the cholesterol and saturated fat that comes in meat and the animal protein itself, not to mention TMAO, heme iron, FGF23 and the lack of fiber in meat and seafood. HeartStrong.com recommends that 100% of protein comes from plants.
Here is the USDA recommendations for protein and what American’s actually eat. As you can see, many Americans, especially men, eat too much protein:
