Do You Really Need 100 Grams of Protein Every Day?

Protein is key to a well-balanced diet—but has the current hype outpaced actual needs? Many fitness influencers promote getting anywhere from 100 to 200 grams of protein a day (or more), but that might not be right for you. To separate fact from fad, we’re answering common questions and sharing easy ways to add protein to your meals.

What is protein and why does it matter?

Protein is an essential macronutrient. It’s found in every cell of your body, from your muscles and bones to your skin and hair. In fact, your body produces more than 10,000 proteins that carry out vital functions, such as supporting growth, tissue repair, and metabolism.

Proteins are made of amino acids. While your body needs 20 different amino acids to perform properly, nine of those can only be obtained from food. Proteins that come from animal sources contain all nine of these amino acids, but proteins that come from plants don’t always include every essential amino acid.