I was talking with my gastroenteroligist recently when I told him I was consuming 120-150 grams of protein a day. He then warned me not to go over that limit or else my kidneys would be damaged.
This is no fly by night quack, he is a respected doctor at the Cleveland Clinic so I took what he said seriously.
I also happened to find this online:
"Consuming excessive amounts of protein can seriously damage human health. As indicated, it can result in a negative calcium balance and osteoporosis, because calcium and other minerals are lost in the urine, along with the excess protein.
Calcium lost due to high protein diets must be handled by the kidneys, which contributes to the formation of painful kidney stones. Excess protein causes destruction of kidney tissue and progressive deterioration of kidney function. Many people in affluent societies have lost 75 percent of their kidney function by the eighth decade of their lives. Extra kidney capacity enables the kidney to carry out its function in otherwise healthy people, but for people who suffer from additional diseases related to the kidney, such as diabetes, surgical loss, or injury from toxic substances, damage due to the excess protein may be fatal. When people with partial loss or damage to their kidneys are placed on low-protein diets, they are able to maintain much of their remaining kidney function."
That’s a bit harsh, but there is also this: " An article that appeared on the Sept 9, 1992 issue of THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE [ 307:652-659 (1982)] states that when renal patients “with serum creatinine concentrations averaging 2.2 mg per decilitre (190 micromole per liter) were maintained on a diet containing 30 to 40 gm of protein per day and were phosphate-restricted, no significant fall in glomerular filtration rate was observed over two years, whereas continued deterioration of renal function characterizes comparable patients whose intake of protein and phosphorus is not restricted.”
The main point is, although protein is the most important macro, we shouldn’t get too zealous about its intake. I’d suggest asking your doctor about what’s a safe level, or at least not going over 1.5g per pound of body weight.
We all know not having enough protein can stunt results, but it seems having too much can also be a serious problem.
Many “older” doctors are under the same misconceptions about bodybuilding and protein intake. Unless your doctor looks like they lift weights, do not expect them to know about protein intake or bodybuilding. Some even still believe that creatine is harmful despite the evidence to the contrary. There are MANY doctors who are into weightlifting today. You are the one that has to find one that actually knows a little about what they speak of. My professor for patient management was convinced that protein in “excess” was possibly harmful. He was also obese and smoked everyday. Worrying about calcium is even more ludicrous as far as most “bodybuilders” are concerned. I drink at least a gallon of milk every 2-3 days. If you are one of those people who only think in extremes, like some teenagers I know who take in protein at the expense of actually eating right, then you may have a problem. Protein itself is not harmful in large amounts.
first of all as far as calcium loss, take a calcium supp or drink milk.
as far as osteperosis, training with weights strengthens bones. im sure the benefits of weight training will far outweigh the osteoperosis problems that come from excess protein.
and as far as your study with people losing kidney function in their 8th decade. well “no doy” they are 80 years old, that isnt the only thing they lose function of.
OMG, RUN FOR THE HILLS!!! The protein is gonna get you!
Oh man that protein is evil! Here are some points as to why:
Old bodybuilders are dying at an alarming rate. We just don’t know that because it’s a govt conspiracy that is hiding their deaths. That conspiracy is being funded by “BIG MEAT”.
People with renal failure can’t handle tons of protein!! Who woulda thunk it!?! I mean people without legs can’t walk either!?!? What is this world coming to!?!?
Lab rats develop renal failure from too much protein. These same rats acquire cancer from being a lab rat, and also become combustible when filled to the brim with gasoline…
A relative of mine is so anti-protein that she ordered her daughter and son-in-law to feed their children protein depleted diets. The kids are all under the age of 6 and have never ate meat! Her husband is dying from a kidney disease, so she assumes that his diet should be the diet of everyone else. Needless to say, his is a rare case where protein is bad.
I seem to remember hearing about all those cavemen who died of renal failure from their high protein diets.
Funny how your entire argument supports that excess protein is bad argument, even though there is tons of information easily available that refutes this. Being a T-Man includes not accepting everything you hear as factual and learning to sort out the bullshit from the reliable information. If you want to try to discuss something like this, you need to develop a better argument, locate better quality information other than this “my Dr. told me” stuff and an unsubstantiated internet source.
Also, there is no need to go over 1.5 g/lb body weight.
Much ado about nothing. All of us have been chugging down beef like water for many many years, and we’re still peeing like normal people do, and walking around healthy and alive. There.
One, I am not new to t-mag and yes I have read those articles.
But being a T-man does not mean taking everything in the magazine as Scripture and the Word of God (unless it is in the Atomic Dog Column).
And if you think the New England Journal of Medicine is unsubstantiated then there is no use of arguing with you.
I also apologize if it hurts your feelings that I trust accredited doctors with Phd in nationally recognized hospitals over your unsubtantiated arguments.
I’m gonna stop before a flame war starts because that’s not what I want.
The point is simple. Excess carbs are bad, excess fats are bad and (GASP) excess protein can be bad. Defining what is excess, though, is a highly personal matter.
I am not just pulling random articles off the net, these are all from sources in the lead of modern physiological science.
Here are some more FACTS:
The Heart Institute of Spokane announced today the publication of its paper, "Amino Acids Induce Indicators of Response to Injury in Glomerular Mesangial Cells’ in the American Journal of Physiology, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.
High protein diets, resulting in increased circulating amino acids, produce hypertension in the small vessels of the kidney where filtration of blood occurs (renal hemodynamic changes termed glomerular hypertension). This is a major mechanism of progressive kidney injury. In diabetes, this is a particular concern because high protein diets have been promoted to control blood glucose or for weight loss. Furthermore, chronically elevated blood glucose also increases plasma amino acid concentrations. Therefore, increases in plasma amino acids are common in diabetes and could worsen kidney injury. Whether amino acids produce direct cellular injury, independent of renal hemodynamic changes, has not been previously explored.
Yes, this means excess protein poses far more of a threat if you are older or have diabetes, but the threat of chronic kidney change is still there for everyone.
Most of you, knowing proper diet, probably don’t go overboard on protein, this article is for those who may be unhealthily zealous.
Josh that woman needs to be shot! Children not eating any protien!?! She’s going to cause them to be seriously underdeveloped mentally and physically. I hate people like that! Tell me were she lives and I will have a bunch of Omaha steaks delivered ASAP!
Franks: i dunno, as the info dealt with only problems that appear after a long period of being benign. I’d consult a good physician as to what is ailing her.