Is too much protein bad for you?

sarah5893
sarah5893 Posts: 106 Member
in Food and Nutrition
just completed my first food diary ( i've lost 30lbs but only just getting into the habit of using this website)

however it's telling me i've consumed too much protein. is this bad?? surely lots of protein is good for you?

Replies

  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    The number MFP gives you is a good minimum intake to aim for.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    The number MFP gives you is a good minimum intake to aim for.

    This. I have changed my amounts to give me a higher protein allowance and lower carbs and fat.
  • dollylohaze
    dollylohaze Posts: 15
    I wondered this too! I always go over protein and 'healthy' fats, but am way under on carbs. Hasn't had any negative effect on me, though.
  • nsdodge
    nsdodge Posts: 20 Member
    MFP defaults to a 15% protein 55% carbohydrate 30% fat diet. It is easy to change this if you go to goals and choose custom rather than guided.

    I found this website very helpful about what kind of diet to choose for weight loss: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/best-weight-loss-diet/

    The take home message is it really doesn't matter that much whether you pick a low fat/high protein/high carb diet but rather you pick a diet you can follow and keep below your calorie goal. However, the people who have most success at dieting usually have a high protein diet (25% protein). Personally I find that when I changed my protein to 25% I felt much fuller than when I had been eating more carbs.

    Good luck!
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    just completed my first food diary ( i've lost 30lbs but only just getting into the habit of using this website)

    however it's telling me i've consumed too much protein. is this bad?? surely lots of protein is good for you?
    MFP doesn't just give you a "minimum" amount, but it's a minimum amount for a sedentary person. Customize it and increase it to at least 25% if you engage in even moderate amounts of exercise.

    if you engage in regular resistance/strength training, you'll likely want to raise it to around 30%.

    For resistance/strength-training athletes the general rule of thumb is from 0.7 to 1.0g of protein per pound of lean body mass, but we're all different.
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    Unless you've played with the stock settings, going over on MFP's recommended protein setting is a good thing.Better to be over in that than over in carbs.
  • boerke33
    boerke33 Posts: 6 Member
    I think it's fine but it's known to back you up - you have to eat tons of fiberous foods to compensate.
  • stefaniealvarado39
    stefaniealvarado39 Posts: 12
    You should be aiming for about 1/2 to 3/4 gram per pound of body weight. Now, many things influence this, but it's a good base to give you somewhat of an understanding.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    It depends on how your info is set and where the protein came from, if you ate all your protein from nasty fatty sources then yea it's bad. If it's from lean healthy sources then no. If you eat too much protein then you body just marks it up as waste and poo it out. But make sure you are getting enough of your other nutrients as well.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    ...if you ate all your protein from nasty fatty sources then yea it's bad...
    This statement goes against the science. Protein, whether from whey isolate, whole eggs, or a very-marbled ribeye are all assimilated well by the body.
    If it's from lean healthy sources then no.
    I'm guessing by this (and the above statement) you're "anti-fat" but there is no scientific evidence to be so, and nothing to suggest protein from a "lean" source is better for an individual in any way than protein from a "fatty" source.
    If you eat too much protein then you body just marks it up as waste and poo it out. But make sure you are getting enough of your other nutrients as well.
    Well, no. Too much protein during a caloric surplus will be stored as fat, period. Just like too much of any macronutrient during a caloric surplus. The waste product from excess protein with a caloric intake <= TDEE is excreted in urine... Not "poo".
  • B_Town154
    B_Town154 Posts: 13 Member
    The more protein the better imo.

    I weigh 188 and my intake is 200+ grams daily. Still in a caloric deficit and under 100g carbs each day.

    Winning all around.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    ...if you ate all your protein from nasty fatty sources then yea it's bad...
    This statement goes against the science. Protein, whether from whey isolate, whole eggs, or a very-marbled ribeye are all assimilated well by the body.
    If it's from lean healthy sources then no.
    I'm guessing by this (and the above statement) you're "anti-fat" but there is no scientific evidence to be so, and nothing to suggest protein from a "lean" source is better for an individual in any way than protein from a "fatty" source.
    If you eat too much protein then you body just marks it up as waste and poo it out. But make sure you are getting enough of your other nutrients as well.
    Well, no. Too much protein during a caloric surplus will be stored as fat, period. Just like too much of any macronutrient during a caloric surplus. The waste product from excess protein with a caloric intake <= TDEE is excreted in urine... Not "poo".

    If you want to take in extra fat from a ribeye or eat gristle be by guest. I'm sure it's fine to take in all kinds of protein with reckless regard if you don't have to worry about things like cholesterol and hypertension.

    I'm not "anti-fat", I just prefer healthy fat. I also have the blessing of worrying about my cholesterol levels and blood pressure which you probably don't.
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    you will poop the excess....well there's always a limit here but it's better more protein than more carbs,fat or sugar.....
  • malyndad
    malyndad Posts: 30 Member
    Too much protein can create toxins IF you don't drink enough water. Good fats are the best thing to add to a moderate diet to cut cravings. Fat does not make you fat. Excess carbohydrates are what usually add belly fat because they are stored much more easily. Do the research for what makes you feel best. Lean meats, eggs (no they DON'T raise your cholesterol), fish, healthy nuts and seeds are good choices.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    If you want to take in extra fat from a ribeye or eat gristle be by guest. I'm sure it's fine to take in all kinds of protein with reckless regard if you don't have to worry about things like cholesterol and hypertension.

    I'm not "anti-fat", I just prefer healthy fat. I also have the blessing of worrying about my cholesterol levels and blood pressure which you probably don't.
    Dietary cholesterol does NOT equate to serum cholesterol or a worsening of your cholesterol profile. Period. The science is extremely clear on this.

    Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient and unless you eat an excess of calories (above your TDEE) no macronutrient will be stored as body fat.

    Neither dietary cholesterol or dietary fat affect your blood pressure in the long term. (There is a small, temporary effect after ingesting them as we start to metabolize our meal, but that's true of all three macronutrients.)

    No offense, but it's time you researched this rather than believing in a decades-old hypothesis that's never been proven, and often research shows a negative correlation, not positive.

    http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14998608
    http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1133027
    http://www.ravnskov.nu/A hypothesis out of date.pdf
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18615352
    http://www.jpands.org/vol8no3/ravnskov.pdf
    http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.ca/2009/07/diet-heart-hypothesis-stuck-at-starting.html

    If you're worried about blood pressure - lose weight and engage in cardiovascular exercise. If worried about your cholesterol profile, reduce your refined carbohydrate intake (flour/sugars) and eat more healthy fats - which amazingly include things like steak and butter in addition to coconut and avacodo. Avoid trans-fats and refined oils. (cold-pressed oils are much healthier)
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    If you want to take in extra fat from a ribeye or eat gristle be by guest. I'm sure it's fine to take in all kinds of protein with reckless regard if you don't have to worry about things like cholesterol and hypertension.

    I'm not "anti-fat", I just prefer healthy fat. I also have the blessing of worrying about my cholesterol levels and blood pressure which you probably don't.
    Dietary cholesterol does NOT equate to serum cholesterol or a worsening of your cholesterol profile. Period. The science is extremely clear on this.

    Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient and unless you eat an excess of calories (above your TDEE) no macronutrient will be stored as body fat.

    Neither dietary cholesterol or dietary fat affect your blood pressure in the long term. (There is a small, temporary effect after ingesting them as we start to metabolize our meal, but that's true of all three macronutrients.)

    No offense, but it's time you researched this rather than believing in a decades-old hypothesis that's never been proven, and often research shows a negative correlation, not positive.

    http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14998608
    http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1133027
    http://www.ravnskov.nu/A hypothesis out of date.pdf
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18615352
    http://www.jpands.org/vol8no3/ravnskov.pdf
    http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.ca/2009/07/diet-heart-hypothesis-stuck-at-starting.html

    If you're worried about blood pressure - lose weight and engage in cardiovascular exercise. If worried about your cholesterol profile, reduce your refined carbohydrate intake (flour/sugars) and eat more healthy fats - which amazingly include things like steak and butter in addition to coconut and avacodo. Avoid trans-fats and refined oils. (cold-pressed oils are much healthier)

    If you re-read my post I never said I was against fat. I just prefer different sources. Always have. But stuffing my face with gristle and cupcakes doesn't appeal to me. Never has.

    I might be a special unicorn if my cholesterol has lowered after changing my diet to include far less fatty or cholestrol heavy foods while not really changing my carb intake.

    I exercise alot. I have for the better part of 2 years aside from getting sick the last quarter of last year. I have essential hypertension. I would prefer not to worsen it by dietary choices.

    Don't feel obligated to respond, as a unicorn I have some wishes to grant and little girls to visit I suppose.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    If you re-read my post I never said I was against fat.
    No, you simply made a bunch of absolutely incorrect statements with no basis in either science or reality.
    I might be a special unicorn if my cholesterol has lowered after changing my diet to include far less fatty or cholestrol heavy foods while not really changing my carb intake.
    ... so you're eating healthier ... not changing your carb intake, but probably watching refined carbs ...

    ... and ...
    I exercise alot. I have for the better part of 2 years aside from getting sick the last quarter of last year. I have essential hypertension. I would prefer not to worsen it by dietary choices.
    I'm sure the high amounts of regular exercise and resultant changes in body composition have nothing to do with improved blood pressure and cholesterol profile? It's all about your dietary fat/cholesterol intake?

    As for hypertension: dietary fat and cholesterol simply do not affect it. Never have, never will. Sodium is the main dietary culprit that impacts hypertension.
    Don't feel obligated to respond, as a unicorn I have some wishes to grant and little girls to visit I suppose.
    ... and serious ignorance to engage it, it seems. No offense, but to ignore the science and prefer your own example of anecdotal evidence that isn't based in the scientific method and ignores conflicting variables (and is, well - to be blunt - wrong) doesn't make you a unicorn, it simply makes you ignorant.

    I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I will always correct blatantly-false statements.
  • rock127
    rock127 Posts: 369 Member
    just completed my first food diary ( i've lost 30lbs but only just getting into the habit of using this website)

    however it's telling me i've consumed too much protein. is this bad?? surely lots of protein is good for you?

    Very common question and very common answer ---> YES

    Eat all things in balance and as per the aim.Too much protein may give you some issues.I answered it in detail somewhere but today too lazy to write all again :bigsmile:

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