Protein Calculator

Proteins are one three main sources of daily energy supply (macronutrients): carbohydrates, proteins and fats. All of them are essential in maintaining a healthy life and good exercise condition, but different diets and different goals will call for a different percentage of proteins. Our protein calculator is here to help you estimate how much protein-rich food you need to eat to fulfill your diet plan. 

A typical adult human body usually contains 10-12 kg (22 – 26.5 lb) of proteins, which has an energy equivalent of about 18-19,000 kCal. Most of it is located within skeletal muscle mass. Protein forms from amino acid building-block linkages with peptide bonds joining amino acids in chains, forming many diverse forms and chemical combinations: dipeptides, tripeptides, various polypeptides… Due to this variety, even one cell can contain thousands of different proteins, while a typical adult body contains approximately 50,000 different protein-containing molecules with differing biochemical functions. 

While the body requires 20 amino acids, there are two major types: essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are indispensable as they must be ingested through food. There are 8 such types of acids. The remaining 12 are non-essential amino acids. They can be synthesized from the body itself in normal quantities to support life. 

Unlike carbs and fats (lipids), proteins are not “stored” in reservoirs in the body, instead they are only found as tissue building blocks, plasma membranes and internal cellular material. Proteins are a key ingredient in maintaining and increasing muscle mass. Tissue synthesis (anabolism) accounts for more than 30% of protein intake early on in life, but the percentage declines with age. Amino acids degrade continually and adequate intake is still necessary for replacements, which is one more reason to use a protein calculator to estimate an adequate level of protein in your food regime.