How much protein intake is too much? What about all those protein products on store shelves?

Health professionals disagree on how much protein we need. Trainer Kim Hastings thinks a high-protein diet is the way to go if you are trying to shed extra pounds. Sports medicine specialist Dr. Kim Leblanc said we don't need the extra protein that food labels are pushing

Leblanc said a person's normal diet will have sufficient protein without the additives and supplements. Still, Hastings credits her successful weight loss to two things: a boot camp class and a lot of protein. High-protein foods include beef, chicken, fish, eggs and some dairy, beans, soy, nuts and seeds. Protein is used to build and repair tissues, make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals.

Protein is also a building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood.

According to the American Dietetic Association, diets that contain more calories from protein than is recommended could be considered high-protein diets. Usually this means that the total number of calories a person consumes each day, 25 to 35 percent of those calories come from protein, as opposed to a typical diet in which only about 10 to 15 percent of calories come from protein.

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, teenage boys and active men can get all the protein they need from three daily servings for a total of seven ounces.

For children age 2 to 6, most women, and some older people, the government recommends two daily servings for a total of five ounces. For older children, teen girls, active women, and most men, the guidelines give the nod to two daily servings for a total of six ounces.

* A major benefit of high protein intake is that it leaves the person feeling full for a longer period of time and therefore curbs the dieters desire to eat frequently, which can lead to weight loss
* A major risk is eating only protein forces the body into starvation mode because you are depriving your body of necessary carbohydrates and the body begins breaking down muscle

It is important to remember to diversify your diet. A helpful tip when diversifying your diet is to eat from all the colors of the rainbow to get those essential nutrients your body needs.