what foods dont have protein in?

Unfortunately when people read this type of thing often enough, they begin to believe it. Of course, they shouldn't take advice from the forums. But they do. And there are a LOT of MFP members with diabetes or insulin resistance or other disorders which could make eating too much protein dangerous. The likelihood is that the percent of the MFP population for which too much protein has the potential to cause harm may be larger than the percent of the overall population, since by nature of the site MFP probably has a larger percent of people with the very medical conditions for which it can be dangerous.

Presumably people with any of those medical conditions would have a physician helping them with their nutrition. If they take blanket statements from a forum as universal truths--that I happen to believe have implied disclaimers given the context--over the advice of a doctor, then that's they're problem. If they don't know they have these medical conditions and they're going on weight loss programs without consulting a physician, then I lack a certain amount of sympathy for them; though, I suppose some of those people can't afford to see a physician, but they can apparently afford to access the internet and its various researching options if they're posting here.

I have an appreciation for what you're saying because I generally have an appreciation for precision and accuracy. I guess I'm just over trying to keep people from making stupid decisions because they're too lazy to read stickies that are designed to keep them from making stupid decisions. Again I'm assuming such a disclaimer exists at all. If it doesn't, then fine.

A protein question is exactly the one I came on to ask. I hope it doesn't cause an argument.

I joined MFP a week ago and have been getting on ok except I am finding it hard to stay within the protein level suggested. I am over by between 3 and 6 per day. I am ok on the other things - carbs etc...

Should I worry about the protein?

This is an incorrect and potentially dangerous statement.

Oh please explain. I'd love to hear your reasoning.

The protein recommendations on MFP match those set by the Institute of Medicine, which sets population based recommendations based on current medical science. Eating above these recommendations may be safe for many people, but for many others it can cause medical problems, some severe. While some lifestyles may benefit from more protein, the average person doesn't "need" more protien. Before eating outside medical recommendations it would be wise to check with your doctor or a licensed dietician, rather than listening to a potentially dangerous blanket statement on a www forum.

From what I could find, the most recent report on the IOM website is from 2002. That is hardly current. The recommendation there is 0.8 g per kg of bodyweight of protein for adults, but no adverse effects are listed should one exceed the recommendation (given normal health markers).

If you are going to make claims, please back up your claims with citation-- it lends validity.

Source:

http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2002/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Energy-Carbohydrate-Fiber-Fat-Fatty-Acids-Cholesterol-Protein-and-Amino-Acids.aspx

2002 is recent enough if there has since been no scientific evidence to refute the recommendation. Medical organizations don't willy nilly change recommendations every year. They change when there is suffiecient medical evidence to warrant a change.

I disagree with 2002 being recent enough! When ever ANYONE has to do research on a topic the sources must be with in the last 5 years to be considered recent anything older is seen as out of date. And unless you have kidney problems there is no reason to fear protein. MFP does set the protein levels too low and if you go over by some it really isn't a problem.

That is ridiculous. Are you really suggesting that medical organizations should change nutrition recommendations based on nothing other than a date? So the conversation would be something like

Dr. Y: "Dr. X, we need to change the protein recommendations."
Dr. X: "Why?" Is there new prevailing medical evidence suggesting they are incorrect?"
Dr. Y: "Well no, but those recommendations have been in place for 10 years."
Dr. X: "OMG, how can that be? Let's change them immediately!"

Thank God, science doesn't work that way.

If you ammend you statement to say "If you have no known medical conditions, then going over the MFP recommendation it is unlikely to be a problem.", then it would be a correct statement.

When is comes to nutrititon and health, blanket statements are rarely true.