fbpx Skip to content

Protein Morning to Night

Researchers say we need to spread out our protein intake for greater muscle gains.

| Earn 1 CEC - Take Quiz

Protein Intake

Two recent journal papers demonstrate why it’s important to consume protein-rich foods throughout the day to build and maintain muscle mass.

A report in Frontiers in Nutrition found that, based on food diaries, older individuals typically do not eat enough high-quality protein at their lunch meal compared with dinner, and this could accelerate age-related losses in muscle mass and functioning. These losses play a role in failing to thrive as people age.

Building new muscle requires a regular supply of amino acids. The process becomes less efficient as we get older, making consistent protein intake at all meals even more vital.

Moving on to a younger generation, scientists in Japan reported on a separate investigation in the Journal of Nutrition. Young men involved in a resistance training program three times a week built higher amounts of muscle mass if they consumed more of their daily protein allotment (1.3 grams per kilogram of body weight per day) at breakfast as opposed to eating little protein in the morning and loading up at dinner.

See also: Resistance Training Volume Is the Key to Muscle Size


Matthew Kadey, MS, RD

Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.

Related Articles