In this article
Protein is the nutrient everyone has an opinion about. The numbers in magazines and gym talk range from “just eat normally” to “two grams per kilo, no excuses”. The truth is a band that depends on your goal. This guide gives the grams for different body weights, shows what real Indian meals provide, and explains where the limits are.
Protein by body weight and goal
| Body weight | Minimum (0.8 g/kg) | Active (1.2 g/kg) | Training (1.6 g/kg) | Muscle gain (2.0 g/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg | 44 g | 66 g | 88 g | 110 g |
| 65 kg | 52 g | 78 g | 104 g | 130 g |
| 75 kg | 60 g | 90 g | 120 g | 150 g |
| 85 kg | 68 g | 102 g | 136 g | 170 g |
Grams of protein a day. Use your goal weight rather than your current weight if you are carrying a lot of extra body fat.
The gap between the minimum and the training level widens with body weight. A 90-kg lifter needs more than twice the grams of the minimum.
Which number is right for you?
- Below the minimumunder 0.8
- Sedentary adult0.8 to 1.2
- Regular exercise1.2 to 1.6
- Strength training, cutting1.6 to 2.2
Sports nutrition groups suggest about 1.4 to 2.0 g per kg for people who train regularly. The upper end is for hard training or eating fewer calories than you burn.
- Weight loss: protein keeps you full and helps hold on to muscle. A range of 1.2 to 1.6 g per kg is common. The BMR and TDEE guide covers the calorie side.
- Muscle gain: 1.6 g per kg is where most of the benefit shows up. Going well beyond 2.0 adds little for most people.
- Over 65: 1.0 to 1.2 g per kg is often advised to slow muscle loss, with strength exercise.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: needs are higher. Follow your doctor or dietitian.
What a serving actually contains
The figures below are approximate, because brands and cooking differ. They are enough to plan a day.
Roti and rice add up too: five rotis over a day supply about 15 g. Values differ by brand and by how the food is cooked.
A full day at about 100 g
For a 65-kg person aiming at about 1.5 g per kg, a normal vegetarian-with-eggs day can reach 100 g without powders.
Breakfast: 2 eggs and a glass of milk. Lunch: 2 rotis, dal, curd and 100 g paneer. Snack: 30 g peanuts. Dinner: 2 rotis, 100 g chicken or 50 g soya chunks, and vegetables.
Spread it across the day
- Easier to digest and to reach
- Helps you feel full all day
- Fits training in the evening
- Little at breakfast and lunch
- Hard to eat 70 g in one meal
- No harm, but harder to stick to
The body can use protein from a big meal, so this is about practicality and fullness, not a hard rule.
Is more protein harmful?
For healthy adults, intakes up to about 2 g per kg are considered safe in studies. Very high intakes add cost and calories without clear gain. People with kidney disease are often told to limit protein, so ask your doctor before raising it. Pushing protein while ignoring vegetables, fibre and water is a worse diet overall.
For related numbers, see the one-rep max guide and the waist-to-hip ratio article.
Questions people ask
How much protein do I need per day?
The minimum for a healthy adult is 0.8 g per kg of body weight. People who exercise regularly are often advised 1.2 to 2.0 g per kg. For a 70-kg person that is 56 g at the minimum and 84 to 140 g for the active range.
How much protein do I need to build muscle?
Studies point to about 1.6 g per kg a day for most people lifting weights, so about 112 g for a 70-kg person. Going beyond 2.0 g per kg adds little.
How much protein for weight loss?
A common range is 1.2 to 1.6 g per kg. Protein keeps you full and helps protect muscle while you eat fewer calories.
Is 100 g of protein a day too much?
Not for most healthy adults who weigh 60 kg or more. It is about 1.5 g per kg at 65 kg. People with kidney disease should ask their doctor.
How can vegetarians get enough protein?
Combine dal, rajma or chana with rice or roti, and add paneer, curd, milk, eggs if you eat them, soya, tofu, sprouts and nuts. A 100 g day is realistic with normal food.
How much protein is in an egg?
A large egg has about 6 g of protein. Two eggs give around 12 g.
Can I eat all my protein in one meal?
You can, and your body will use it, but spreading it over three or four meals is easier and keeps you fuller. Aim for roughly 20 to 30 g at each meal.
Do I need protein powder?
No. Powders are convenient but food can do the same job. They are useful when you cannot reach your target from meals.