Protein or Exercise: which do you need more?

If you go onto the internet, you will find yourself inundated by promotions for protein. The essence of the message is that you will shortly die if you dont up your game with regard to protein. 

The thrust of the argument is that the world is protein deficient. We all lose muscle after the age of thirty. Sarcopenia is the technical term. 

So if you dont stuff yourself silly with protein, well, you will find yourself holding the short end of the stick. But allow me to pose what is the right question. 

Is it protein or more exercise that you need? 

It does not take rocket science to know that a higher protein intake will not increase muscle. Muscles get built by using them. The more the better. 

According to statistics, outside of forced physical labor, 2% of Indians exercise. Exercise in this case means doing a thirty minute walk. 

So imagine you signed up for what we can label the "protein movement." You increased your protein intake to say 200 gms per day. Whey, yoghurt, eggs, chicken, fish. 

What ever the source. We can ignore for now, the efficacy of the protein and focus on the quantity. Your goal is to eat protein, no matter how. 

So will this increased protein magically do its job? While you sleep? Sit and watch television perhaps? 

If only life were that simple. 

The daily required intake for protein globally has been set at 0.8 grams per kilogram of weight. So for my 60 kilos, I need 48 grams worth. Sure, I can up this to 80 or even 100. 

But the extra benefit will only add up if I become a part of those 2% who exercise.

In this case, weight train. 

Catching an Indian inside a gym is like running into Brad Pitt on your morning walk. Sure, it can happen. But it is unlikely to say the least. 

So if you want to prevent or protect your health, focus more on exercise and less on worrying about your protein intake. In any case the benefits of protein intake above 1.6 grams per kilogram is sketchy at best.

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