Here's How To Know If You're Eating Enough Protein

Remember this the next time a social media influencer promotes a protein-packed meal.

When searched on Instagram, the word “protein” garners 26.9 million results, many of which are influencers touting its benefits or tips for adding more to your day-to-day meals.

And these social media personalities are right — protein is good for you.

“Protein is a macronutrient that is essential for the growth, repair and maintenance of the tissues in the body,” said Albert Abayev, a registered clinical dietician from Cedars-Sinai Weight Management and Metabolic Health Center in California.

“Protein is important in a well-rounded diet to help maintain appetite satiety, it helps to promote muscle recovery, especially in people that are active or athletes, and it aids in the body’s ability to repair itself,” Abayev explained.

Just how much protein you need will vary depending on your gender, size, age and how much you exercise, experts say. But “we don’t need as much protein as many people believe” to maintain muscle tissue, said Braeden Yacobucci, a registered dietician at OnPoint Nutrition in Philadelphia.