Final answer:
The recommended percentage range of calories from protein is 10-15%. Protein is crucial during periods of rapid growth, contributing to new cell production. An average adult diet with 2,000 Calories should include roughly 300 Calories from protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
Generally, the recommended percentage range of our calories that should come from protein is 10-15%. Protein is essential for growth, especially during infancy and adolescence when the body is growing rapidly. A deficiency in protein during critical growth periods can slow growth and missed development may not be recoverable later.
The body uses amino acids, the building blocks of protein, to produce new cells. On an average adult diet of 2,000 Calories per day, about 15% should usually be consumed as protein, which equates to roughly 300 Calories or about 75 grams of protein.
It's important to maintain this balance of protein intake as part of the primary foods, alongside fats and carbohydrates. The advice is to aim for 20-30% of total calories from fat and 50-70% from carbohydrate. However, protein should not be overlooked as it provides 4 Calories of energy per gram and includes essential amino acids that are vital for the body's functions.