USDA Waging War on Good Protein?

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They’re at it again.

The USDA issued new 2016 dietary guidelines for Americans.

And get this…

They tell teenage boys and men to cut back on protein foods, like meat, poultry and eggs.

That’s dangerous advice that messes with nature.

You see, the first humans were meat-eaters.1 Our primal ancestors adapted to thrive on meat as a healthy source of protein and fat. And early humans never suffered from diabetes, heart disease or obesity.

You need good protein in your diet to help your body repair and make new cells.

Without protein, the human race would not have survived into the 21st century. It gives you 20 amino acids, eight of which you can’t make. You have to get them from food every day.

And protein is an important component of every cell in your body. You use protein to build and repair tissues. And it’s an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, and blood. You also use protein to make enzymes, hormones and other body chemicals.

A primal diet with lots of protein gives you:

  • Potency and sex drive;
  • Strong muscles;
  • More power and ambition;
  • High energy and stamina;
  • Mental focus, clarity and a sharp memory;
  • A lean body.

So warning people to cut back on protein is extremely reckless and misguided advice.

Protein is also your best weapon against body fat. A steady supply of protein actually programs your body to melt fat. It’s a survival mechanism.

Let me explain…

Under normal circumstances, your body keeps fat on reserve for one reason: to prevent starvation. But when your body has more protein than it needs, there is no threat to survival. It feels “safe” enough to let go of fat stores.

Unlike fat and carbohydrates, your body does not store protein. You have to eat it every day.

I give my patients this easy rule-of-thumb to follow daily:

Eat one gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass.

In other words, if you weigh 200 pounds and have 20% body fat, you’re carrying 40 pounds of fat, with 160 pounds of lean body mass. In this example, you would eat 160 grams of protein each day.

Your doctor or local health club can measure your lean body mass. You can also buy a scale that calculates your body fat for you. Or there are reliable hand-held devices available on the Internet.

For men, the average lean body mass is between 15-17%. For women, the average is between 18-22%. Obviously, the heavier you are, the higher the percentage.

I recommend making quality animal protein the focal point of every meal. And then add two protein snacks a day. Good snack choices are a couple of handfuls of nuts or seeds, a hard-boiled egg, or some cottage cheese.

Here’s how much protein you’ll get in a serving of some common foods:2

Food

Serving Size

Protein Grams

Beef steak, lean

6 oz.

52

Ground beef, lean

6 oz.

48

Poultry

6 oz.

42

Fish (salmon, trout, etc.)

6 oz.

42

Pork chop, lean

6 oz.

40

Cottage cheese

1 cup

28

Whey protein powder

30 grams

20

Yogurt

1 cup

12

Nuts (cashews)

½ cup

11

Milk

1 cup

9

Hard cheeses (cheddar, etc.)

1 oz.

7

Egg

1 large

7

Peanut butter

1 tablespoon

4

Seeds (pumpkin)

2 tablespoons

3

But be sure your protein choices are high quality. That’s something the government ignores in its guidelines and it’s a huge mistake.

Most of the meat and dairy in your supermarket comes from diseased animals. Factory farms feed animals grain instead of allowing them to graze on open pastures. Their food is also full of pesticides, cement dust, candy, animal manure, cardboard, nut shells, feathers and meat scraps3.

Factory farming creates sick, diseased animals. And then they’re given massive doses of antibiotics to keep them alive in these deplorable living conditions.

Every time you eat meat or dairy from these animals you’re getting their hormones, deadly bacteria, antibiotics and diseases.

The government guidelines would make sense if they warned people of this kind of poisoned animal protein — but they make no distinction between good and bad protein.

I recommend eating only grass-fed beef and dairy products.

To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS

1Palmer, J. Tool-making and meat-eating began 3.5 million years ago. BBC News. Science & Environment. August 11, 2010.
2Personal Nutrition, 4th Ed, Wadsworth, 2001.
3Robinson, J., Why Grassfed is Best, Vashon Island Press, WA, 2000, pg. 10

Al Sears, MD
My name is Dr. Al Sears. I’m the founder of the Palm Beach Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine. I’m often referred to as America's #1 Anti-Aging Pioneer.

I was one of the first doctors to be board-certified in anti-aging medicine. And I currently write and publish the monthly e-newsletter, Confidential Cures, and my daily email broadcast, Doctor’s House Call.

I’ve also appeared on over 50 national radio programs, ABC News, CNN, and ESPN, and have published 15 books and reports on health and wellness with a readership of millions spread over 163 countries.

I am also board-certified as a clinical nutrition specialist and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American College for the Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Southern Medical Association (SMA), the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), and the Herb Research Foundation, (HRF) and an ACE-certified fitness trainer.

Since 1999, I have published 15 books and reports on health and wellness with a readership of millions spread over 163 countries.