In The Red

My problem is sodium. I regularly go over by double, and am working to fix that. I have made some progress, but it is difficult while eating "on the go".

As far as "too much protein," what follows is from a relatively well-respected nutrition website:

Protein is hard for the kidneys to break down. Excessive protein intake may put strain on the kidneys, especially in certain populations. In some people, high protein intake can also lead to increased excretion of calcium through the kidneys, which can result in low bone mineral density and osteoporosis. People who take in large amounts of protein need extra amounts of vitamin B-6, because protein needs adequate B-6 intake to break it down. Eating too much animal protein fat can increase your saturated fat intake, which can lead to heart disease.

Amounts

Most people need a minimum of around 0.8 g of protein per kg of weight, or about 64 g for a person who weighs 160 lbs., according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Excess protein starts causing problems when people take in 2 g per kg or more. Athletes who do endurance training have higher protein needs, about 1 to 1.2 g per kg per day, according to Carmen Sceppa, M.D., of Tufts University School of Medicine.

High-Risk Groups

Groups at high risk of developing problems from excess protein include people with kidney disease, diabetics, who often have kidney disease and the elderly, who often have reduced kidney function. People who consume large amounts of animal protein as part of a high-protein diet can also over do their protein intake. Because the liver breaks down amino acids in protein, people with liver disease may accumulate large amounts of amino acids, which can be toxic.

Considerations

Most Americans consume one to two times the amounts of protein needed for healthy body functioning, with excess protein is normally excreted in the urine. For healthy people, consuming as much as 20 to 25 percent of their daily calorie intake from protein usually poses no problems. For people with early-stage kidney disease or diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests restricting protein intake to no more than 0.8 to 1 g per kg, or about 10 percent of their daily dietary intake. People with later-stage kidney disease should restrict their protein intake to no more than 0.8 g per kg.