Protein Requirements for different stages of life

From birth to teenager to adulthood to old age, protein is required at every stage of life as it is essential at every age and every stage. From building muscles to maintaining strength to recovering from surgery, protein is a must. Protein requirements in our body change at every step as the nutritional needs changes. During the infant years, protein has a crucial role to play in growth and development. During adulthood, protein is required to maintain a healthy BMI-Body Mass Index. Further, as the body ages, protein helps support the lean muscle required to stay active. Let us now dive in deep and discuss the protein requirement for every group that requires protein.

Infants and Children

For a healthy immune system, a healthy gut is a foundation for the entire life, so a baby must consume proteins, the building blocks, from the very beginning. This begins with human milk that contains the beneficial bacteria supplied to the gut. 70% of a baby’s immune system is found in human milk. HMO or Human Milk Oligosaccharides are the prebiotics that is naturally found in the mother’s feed. They can support the developing immune system among infants. Besides mother’s feed, they are found in some formula milk as well as prescribed by a paediatrician. Among children, protein is equally important, and it should not be overlooked. A baby’s brain is developing in the baby’s first year. The brain makes thousands of neural connections each passing day. To support this rapid window of physical growth and development, a baby needs all the important nutrients.

Adults

Adulthood is the time when you have to accomplish a lot of life goals to earn a living and support your family. Whether you are a male or female, both have their significant roles to play. So, it is very important to maintain a healthy BMI. Getting a sufficient dose of protein every day is crucial as we age. The reason is a human body might begin losing muscles once they come under the age slab of the 40s. So, if you are trying to maintain strength, build muscles, or in the other case, recover from surgery, protein is essential. 25 to 30 grams of protein must be inculcated in every meal to support muscles. Protein is found in meats, fish, beans, nuts, tofu, seeds, and nutritious drinks. The drinks shall be consumed after being prescribed by a certified health care practitioner.

Expecting Mothers

Motherhood brings unprecedented happiness and responsibilities too. The role of a mother begins once the baby is in the womb. During pregnancy, a woman’s diet plays a significant role in the growth of the baby and the health of the mother. Protein is pivotal during pregnancy as it helps the baby grow normally. They also contribute to the other spheres of development. The spheres include hormones and enzyme production, growth of new tissues and repair of damaged tissues, antibodies production for the baby’s immune system, proper muscle function, and oxygen transfer through blood. Not only this, proper protein consumption during pregnancy aids in the appropriate weight of the baby during birth. So, a bit higher protein intake is required during pregnancy. For adults, the RNI (Reference Nutrient Intake) is 0.75g per kg of body weight every day; an additional 6g per day for a pregnant woman. Both quantity and quality of food matter during pregnancy. As different proteins offer different amino acids, eating a variety of protein sources is suggested. The major sources of protein include fish, eggs, meat, poultry, pulses and beans, nuts and seeds, and cheese. Try incorporating a portion of protein in every meal.

Ageing Adults

During this phase of life, protein intake is equally important and can’t be neglected. Above 50, there are more chances of muscle loss and strength loss, thereby increasing the risk of fractures due to falls and slower recovery as well. Higher protein intake is recommended at this age to support muscle and strength requirements. When we consume protein-containing food, our body makes a substance called HMB. This substance supports muscle health. Besides eating normal protein-rich food, nutritional drinks can offer an appropriate amount of HMB. It is advised to consult the nutritionist for nutrition drinks suggestions and daily protein intake during the ageing period.