Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH protein?

llaurenmarie
llaurenmarie Posts: 1,260 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Sometimes I go over but are there any health effects?
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Replies

  • twilighttabby
    twilighttabby Posts: 50 Member
    Good question because I am always over. I hope you get a answer....
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    Unless you have kidney troubles. NO.

    This question is being asked on a daily basis. Use the search function.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Yes, it is possible to eat too much protein. It's nearly impossible to do so though. MFP estimates protein needs very, very low.

    You didn't post how much you were eating, and you are asking for nutrition feedback with a private food diary so...

    I wouldn't be concerned too much, even if you are eating as much as 1gram/lb of body.
    .
  • ruststar
    ruststar Posts: 489 Member
    The MFP settings for protein are really low. You can eat 1g of protein per pound of body weight and be just fine, so going over a little bit isn't a big deal. I aim for 30% of my calories from protein and find it keeps me more full throughout the day.
  • chicky89
    chicky89 Posts: 260 Member
    Would love to know this as well!
  • nursenessa1
    nursenessa1 Posts: 182 Member
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900
  • PhatAv8r
    PhatAv8r Posts: 150 Member
    #1, you really should evaluate how much your getting. For weight loss, the standard MFP values (%) is actually low. You should be getting at least 20% if not 25-30% of your calories from protein every day...

    Protein is the only nutrient that provides muscle building amino acids, your body can't manufacture some of them, it has to consume them.

    So, be happy if your getting protein over carbs because your providing your body what it needs to rebuild and sustain your muscle mass so that you keep your BMR running at a rate you can BURN...

    If you lift weights, a small 'shake' of whey protein, or even just a glass of chocolate milk will help FUEL your muscles and provide recovery more quickly. Which will help your energy and build muscles.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    Yes, it is possible to eat too much protein. It's nearly impossible to do so though. MFP estimates protein needs very, very low.

    You didn't post how much you were eating, and you are asking for nutrition feedback with a private food diary so...

    I wouldn't be concerned too much, even if you are eating as much as 1gram/lb of body.
    .
    I highly doubt she is eating too much. I would bet my life she is not eating at 1g per pd (which she should be).

    Protein and Fats are the two most important macro-nutrients.
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    Unless you have impaired kidney function, then no.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    If youre poop is black you prob eating too much
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    #1, you really should evaluate how much your getting. For weight loss, the standard MFP values (%) is actually low. You should be getting at least 20% if not 25-30% of your calories from protein every day...

    Protein is the only nutrient that provides muscle building amino acids, your body can't manufacture some of them, it has to consume them.

    So, be happy if your getting protein over carbs because your providing your body what it needs to rebuild and sustain your muscle mass so that you keep your BMR running at a rate you can BURN...

    If you lift weights, a small 'shake' of whey protein, or even just a glass of chocolate milk will help FUEL your muscles and provide recovery more quickly. Which will help your energy and build muscles.
    Stop using %'s.

    20% of protien at 1500 calories is much different than 3000 calories. Go with 1 to 1.2g per lb of weight, or use 1g per lb of lean body mass. If you know your bodyfat %.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    Sometimes I go over but are there any health effects?

    There is such a thing, but it would be pretty hard to do. Don't worry.
  • nursenessa1
    nursenessa1 Posts: 182 Member
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900
    [/quote

    If too lazy to read this article the answer is yes it is damaging to your kidneys and linked to a cancer risk.
  • Gt3ch
    Gt3ch Posts: 212 Member
    Going a little over is nothing to worry about. The RDA recommends 0.36 g protein for every lb of body weight. But if you're trying to grow muscle it's completely safe (and advisable) to eat between 0.7-2.5g protein for every lb of lean body weight. In the end you have to listen to your body. You need to eat enough to feel good and be healthy and recover. But if you are weak, dizzy, have bad breath, and have problems with dehydration or insane thirst where you're consuming absurd amounts of water, you need to back off the protein- esp animal protein.
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Nope. If you work out regularly, you'll probably need more protein than MFP gives you anyway! I aim for at least 90 grams a day, as per my doctor's orders. She's a big supporter of a high protein, low fat, low sugar, low starch diet. If I'm hungry, she's told me to eat more protein! LOL. So I guess it's not a huge issue unless you have a medical condition that says you shouldn't!
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900


    If too lazy to read this article the answer is yes it is damaging to your kidneys and linked to a cancer risk.

    Yeah no.

    All of the literature that demonstrates any problem with a high protein diet was done with a population of people who already have renal impairment. Of course it will be a problem for them. There's no evidence of it being harmful to anyone who is healthy. Regardless, it's exceedingly difficult to eat that much protein anyways.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    And do you know how much of even the highest protein foods (whey, eggs, etc) you would have to eat to eat enough to damage your kidneys? At 1600 calories I'm finding it impossible to even meet the recommended amount for building muscle....
  • odin0329
    odin0329 Posts: 1
    As a personal trainer, and someone who does meal planning for people, I get asked that question all the time. Unless someone has a gun to your head, you probably won't ever consume too much protein. It's goes against most people's appetites and stomach space to do so. The real question to ask is "Am I eating too many simple carbs?"
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    And do you know how much of even the highest protein foods (whey, eggs, etc) you would have to eat to eat enough to damage your kidneys? At 1600 calories I'm finding it impossible to even meet the recommended amount for building muscle....
    For starters no male should be consuming 1600 calories even during a cut.

    Protein at 1g per pound of lbm.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    Blah I'm short 5' 3" and 18-20% BF - I'm not gonna wait a year to get cut. I got my endurance and running speed up rapidly on a net 1220 calorie diet (went from running 1 mile to 10 miles in a month, and from 11 min miles to 6 min miles in two months while losing 29 lbs).... so I doubt 1600 isn't enough...
    And do you know how much of even the highest protein foods (whey, eggs, etc) you would have to eat to eat enough to damage your kidneys? At 1600 calories I'm finding it impossible to even meet the recommended amount for building muscle....
    For starters no male should be consuming 1600 calories even during a cut.

    Protein at 1g per pound of lbm.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    Blah I'm short 5' 3" and 18-20% BF - I'm not gonna wait a year to get cut. I got my endurance and running speed up rapidly on a net 1220 calorie diet (went from running 1 mile to 10 miles, and from 11 min miles to 6 min miles in TWO MONTHS while losing 29 lbs).... so I doubt 1600 isn't enough...
    And do you know how much of even the highest protein foods (whey, eggs, etc) you would have to eat to eat enough to damage your kidneys? At 1600 calories I'm finding it impossible to even meet the recommended amount for building muscle....
    For starters no male should be consuming 1600 calories even during a cut.

    Protein at 1g per pound of lbm.
    It's a lot harder to gain muscle than it is too lose fat.

    Good luck with your muscle atrophy goals for 2012.

    Lol at "I am not going to wait a year."
  • llaurenmarie
    llaurenmarie Posts: 1,260 Member
    I went over by about 35g the other day, 22g another day, 12g today..
    Just love chicken and egg whites I suppose
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    We'll see in a month.
    Blah I'm short 5' 3" and 18-20% BF - I'm not gonna wait a year to get cut. I got my endurance and running speed up rapidly on a net 1220 calorie diet (went from running 1 mile to 10 miles, and from 11 min miles to 6 min miles in TWO MONTHS while losing 29 lbs).... so I doubt 1600 isn't enough...
    And do you know how much of even the highest protein foods (whey, eggs, etc) you would have to eat to eat enough to damage your kidneys? At 1600 calories I'm finding it impossible to even meet the recommended amount for building muscle....
    For starters no male should be consuming 1600 calories even during a cut.

    Protein at 1g per pound of lbm.
    It's a lot harder to gain muscle than it is too lose fat.

    Good luck with your muscle atrophy goals for 2012.

    Lol at "I am not going to wait a year."
  • Gt3ch
    Gt3ch Posts: 212 Member
    I went over by about 35g the other day, 22g another day, 12g today..
    Just love chicken and egg whites I suppose

    That's probably nothing to worry about. In fact it's better for your diet to have that lean protein.
  • liroez29
    liroez29 Posts: 221
    no problem at all going over your protein! That should never be a concern! Your body will only absorb so much anyway! What you should worry about is not getting enough protein!
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    Yes, there is such thing but I highly doubt you have to worry about it, especially if you're eating in a calorie deficit.
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    The only time you can eat too much protein to the point of where it has negative affects on your kidneys, etc. is if you are consuming an ungodly amount of protein in one sitting. Like eating 500g of protein in ONE meal, and you'd have to repeatedly do that over some time for you to damage kidneys and other organs.
  • charpera
    charpera Posts: 2 Member
    Yes it is possible to go over and have some issues with it. However, back when I was in high school my body ran off of ketosis (basically when your body runs off of protein and not carbs, If you end up taking 20 - 30 grams more a day that's not that big of a deal. Its when you start getting into the 300 grams per day which is bad for you. I went and saw a nutritionist which said that the reason I was so tired all the time was because I was eating ALOT of protein and hardly any fats. So try to eat a good amount of carbs, eat good fats like from fish, and get a good amount of protein but dont overdose it.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    When I was in one of my beefcakes modes in college I'd eat 300 grams a day .... and felt like crap and my poop was black and I was constipated all the time - I got big fast though (gained 25lbs.... in A MONTH) but for someone who was 5'3" 140 lbs I think it was excessive.... so I wouldn't worry about eating too much - your body will tell you :).
  • monkeydharma
    monkeydharma Posts: 599 Member
    Is there such a thing as too much protein?? When a cow is sitting on your chest - YES.
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