ommended dietary allowance for protein is about 0.4 grams per pound of body weight per day, most active people need slightly more. And athletes involved in heavy resistance exercise or prolonged endurance events may require 0.7 to 0.9 grams per pound per day. Even this amount is relatively easy to eat, since 3 ounces of fish or chicken, 1 1/2 cups of tofu, or 1 1/2 cups of garbanzo beans contain 20 to 24 grams of protein. As an active person, you need protein for building muscles, repairing tissues, growing hair and nails, making hormones, and assisting in numerous other functions that contribute to a strong and healthy body. Protein is found in many foods--such as meats and dairy products--besides fish. The daily amount of protein you need ranges from 0.5 to 0.9 grams per pound of body weight per day; the higher end of the range is appropriate for athletes who are growing, building muscles, doing endurance exercise, or restricting calories. A 6-ounce serving of fish provides about 40 grams of protein--a good part of the daily 75 to 135 grams of protein needed by a 150-pound athlete.The protein in fish is among the most healthful animal sources of protein. That's because fish is low in saturated fat, the type associated with clogged arteries and heart disease. Saturated fat (as in beef lard and cheese) is solid at room temperature. Fish would be unable to function if their fat were saturated like that of many warm-blooded animals. Instead, fish store energy in the form of polyunsaturated oils that are soft and flexible in the cool temperatures of oceans and mountain streams. Proteins, besides water, are the most plentiful substance in the body. Protein is also one of the most important element for the health of the body. Protein is the major source of building material in the body and is important in the development and growth of all body tissues. Protein is also needed for the formation of all hormones...
