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The New Rules of Protein for Endurance Runners: Q&A with Claire Shorenstein, RD

How much protein do you actually need, and how should you get it?

Claire Shorenstein (MS, RD, CSSD) is a board-certified sports dietitian with over a decade of experience working with teenage and adult athletes from the recreational to elite level.

Through her virtual private practice, Eat for Endurance, she helps busy, active people learn how to fuel themselves for health and performance while navigating the challenges of everyday life.

Claire is a longtime distance runner herself, and also hosts The Eat for Endurance Podcast, featuring interviews with prominent endurance athletes and fellow sports dietitians on a variety of nutrition topics.

Fellow endurance athlete and podcaster Claire is ready to bust some protein myths.

I first met Claire in 2015  at the National Endurance Sports Summit at Princeton University. We were both on a panel about fueling and eating for endurance.

Claire caught my attention as someone who understands the science of eating for performance but also isn’t shy to say that there are no black and white answers.

We’re now learning that the human body can absorb more protein than we previously thought and recommended levels of protein are on the rise.

Is this helpful for runners? How much protein should we aim for, and does it depend on our training? What are the best sources of protein and if you’re plant-based, does that change anything?

Claire Shorenstein on How Much Protein Distance Runners Need

Claire returns to the Strength Running Podcast to give a measured and honest take on protein.

In this episode, Claire Shorenstein and I talk about:

  • How protein needs have been rising for athletes and what that may mean for you
  • The factors that influence individual nutrition and why RDA isn’t everything
  • Protein’s impact while injured or recovering
  • Why you need to consider all macronutrients and not just protein
  • Practical strategies to increase protein intake
  • Considerations for plant-based athletes around protein

If you learned a helpful tip about protein, send this to a friend who could benefit too.

Subscribe to the podcast in Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, or iHeartRadio.

Links & Resources from the Show:

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

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Nutrition Q&A and Myth Busting

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