Protein too high

Kali13
Kali13 Posts: 30 Member
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
I've only just noticed (duh!) that while my overall calories are fine and my fat intake is also fine, my protein intake is way up. Can anyone tell me what are the consequences of this?

cheers,

Kali13.

Replies

  • Kali13
    Kali13 Posts: 30 Member
    I've only just noticed (duh!) that while my overall calories are fine and my fat intake is also fine, my protein intake is way up. Can anyone tell me what are the consequences of this?

    cheers,

    Kali13.
  • PrincessLaundry
    PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member
    Hey there!!! And good morning!!!

    Protein is okay to be over on because it is a good fuel. But try to plan your food at least each day so you can log it in and stay on track correctly on the different food groups. I sometimes change my plan during the day, but it really helps me so I do not end up making quick out of control decisions...my old habit was so hard to break!

    Good luck!:flowerforyou:
  • elliott062907
    elliott062907 Posts: 1,508 Member
    How I controlled my protiens, (because of the "can't go to the potty issue"), I started eating more lean cuts of meats like a fillet and lots of fish.

    Then I tanked up on veggie dishes on some days rather then eat meat.
  • littlespoon
    littlespoon Posts: 165
    It depends how over on protein you are. For some reason there's a way of thinking thats developing that excess protein is fine, and its not necessarily true. Excess protein puts strain on the kidneys and can create lethargy and bloating.

    Theres plenty of info on recommended levels from lots of different countries on Google, which is quite interesting.
  • Thrust
    Thrust Posts: 63 Member
    It depends how over on protein you are. For some reason there's a way of thinking thats developing that excess protein is fine, and its not necessarily true. Excess protein puts strain on the kidneys and can create lethargy and bloating.

    This contradicts the research I've read. Do you care to post links to articles/studies that reported such findings?

    TIA :smile:
  • littlespoon
    littlespoon Posts: 165
    It depends how over on protein you are. For some reason there's a way of thinking thats developing that excess protein is fine, and its not necessarily true. Excess protein puts strain on the kidneys and can create lethargy and bloating.

    This contradicts the research I've read. Do you care to post links to articles/studies that reported such findings?

    TIA :smile:


    http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/130/4/886
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900
    http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/nutrition/protein_2/
    http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/weightandnutrition/207501.html
    http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/8388.html
    http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyu/eatWell/protein_1.html
  • IcanIwill1
    IcanIwill1 Posts: 137 Member
    Yep. Excess protein is not fine at all

    They induce protein reaction and, They also put one at risk of kidney stones plus the kidney damage they may cause.
  • banks1850
    banks1850 Posts: 3,475 Member
    Well, lets be clear, more protein then this site suggests is probably ok. It's ok if you are active and healthy to consume around 20 to 25% of your calories in protein. Body builders usually can have more. This site recommends 17% which is pretty low for someone who is active. Now, that being said, if you're up around 35% or more, you should probably examine it, because that's where the build up of toxins and kidney issues can start. But just so you know, its not like you eat too much protein and the next day your kidneys fail. It takes (usually a minimum) of many many months of consistantly eating over the recommended protein levels to start to see any serious issues.

    So don't worry about being over once or twice a week here and there, unless this is the norm for you as opposed to out of the ordinary, it's not going to cause issues.
  • Thrust
    Thrust Posts: 63 Member
    It depends how over on protein you are. For some reason there's a way of thinking thats developing that excess protein is fine, and its not necessarily true. Excess protein puts strain on the kidneys and can create lethargy and bloating.

    This contradicts the research I've read. Do you care to post links to articles/studies that reported such findings?

    TIA :smile:


    http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/130/4/886
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900
    http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/nutrition/protein_2/
    http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/weightandnutrition/207501.html
    http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/8388.html
    http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyu/eatWell/protein_1.html

    Thank you for posting these! It provides an alternative perspective from the informal research I've done thus far. I'll have to dig a little more now.
  • littlespoon
    littlespoon Posts: 165
    Well, lets be clear, more protein then this site suggests is probably ok. It's ok if you are active and healthy to consume around 20 to 25% of your calories in protein. Body builders usually can have more. This site recommends 17% which is pretty low for someone who is active. Now, that being said, if you're up around 35% or more, you should probably examine it, because that's where the build up of toxins and kidney issues can start. But just so you know, its not like you eat too much protein and the next day your kidneys fail. It takes (usually a minimum) of many many months of consistantly eating over the recommended protein levels to start to see any serious issues.

    So don't worry about being over once or twice a week here and there, unless this is the norm for you as opposed to out of the ordinary, it's not going to cause issues.

    I believe that the links I provided did give indications of the levels of protein that were acceptable. I have seen another post where someone said that 1 gram per lb of bodyweight was normal (they were obviously confused with kg. I didnt offer my recommendations of how much protein, I simply posted credible websites and research. Research is part of my job and I like to know ALL theories of topics.

    Interestingly, some of the research I have read (journal research) says that although bodybuilders believe that large amounts of protein helps build muscle, there is no evidence of this, and it seems that this line of thinking was created by companies that make (the very expensive) protein supplements such as powered drinks etc.

    You always need to look at who is providing the information.
  • cp005e
    cp005e Posts: 1,495 Member
    Another thing to note is that there have been some studies linking excess protein (animal protein in particular) to osteoporosis. The U.S. has very high levels of osteoporosis compared to many other groups (I think only Eskimos and Scandinavia are higher) considering how well nourished we are, and we also tend to eat much more animal protein.

    http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar03/osteo0303.htm
    http://www.drmirkin.com/joints/8847.html

    The osteoporosis link is still being studied - I remember reading a lot about it in the late 90s, but now I see some other studies that have more mixed results. There's another one to watch from Yale right now (in progress) on whether extra protein helps *reduce* risk of osteoporosis.

    For the original poster - chances are that you are fine. If you are consuming more that 2g per 1kg of your body weight (1 lb = 2.2 kg) and you are not an endurance athlete, then you might want to try and get more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

    As for myself - my parents always insisted that I count my protein grams because I became a vegetarian when I was 13. In my VERY humble opinion... I don't think I need as much as 1g per kg of body weight - I almost never get that much, and I am still getting stronger, fitter, and losing weight. But your mileage may vary.
  • Carrie6o6
    Carrie6o6 Posts: 1,443 Member
    I seem to go over 4 out of 7 days by between 30 and 40 in my protein.. is that bad?
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