I work for a hospital so I get a few perks, such as free nutrition advice from the Nutritionist. So anyways I give her a few days of logged meals of what I’m eating and drinking. Firstly I’m about 160 and looking to gain mass so I eat about 3500-3800 calories a day. But as I ends up I’m getting about 200-220 grams protein while trying to get those calories and not going overboard on carbs but the nutritionist was very much against this saying I should only get 1.8grams protein per kilogram bodyweight cause its Very bad for my kidneys. So, I guess what I’m asking is, is this true, will long term 200grams protein at 160lb’s be bad for my kidneys or is she just too used to coaching fat old ladies on how to “eat right”?
After reviewing my food log personally I think I’m doing a pretty fantastic job of getting the right foods considering my busy schedule But I guess I could alter it a bit to decrease protein intake and up early carbs to make up for the calories.
Simple answer…NO, it is not true. Let me guess, this nutritionist was in amazing shape. You could have ended that conversation quickly by asking her to show you studies that prove it stresses kidney function to get more than 1.8gr per kg a day. The info she gave you is based on recommendations for SEDENTARY individuals. It does not relate to those who are looking to gain lean body mass and no studies show kidney damage in higher protein intakes.
I’ll add that kidney fears for high protein or ketogenic diets seem to stem from early studies based on UNHEALTHY individuals who show kidney stress under various conditions.
The advice of your nutritionist is less than useless at this point.
Next thing you know you’ll be advised to follow the food pyramid and avoid cholesterol containing foods based on other outdated studies involving UNHEALTHY sendentary individuals.
Once again you have proven to be very helpfull. I just started seriously working out along with an eating plan and found this site so helpful with my staying on track. Naturally as I become more and more excited about this new lifestyle I share my excitement with others. So today while I was at work, Lifetime Fitness for the many of you who have heard of it, I was talking to a man about the importance of getting as much protien as possible. I myself weigh 212 currently and intake about 300 grams of protein a day. But then another man was saying that that much protien was bad for you. So, once again, I ran to the T-Nation posts to see what I could find…literally 2 minutes after I checked you had answered the exact question I wanted to ask. Anyway, sorry for being long winded but wanted to let you know that your posts have been very helpfull, and although rediculed by some for being to harsh, are always true and helpfull. Thanks for being a strong support on this site.
The professor is spot on. Even if that limit were realistic, your are lifting and need a surplus of protein to gain mass. 200 grams of protein isn’t much anyway. There are guys on here that eat way more, and destroy the 1.8g per Kg guideline. I know I do.
Yeah thats what I figured. The person is in less then stellar shape and her other tips were “Too get more carbs you should try to add Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt or bagels”… I internally sighed… But she did know I’m active and persuing bodybuilding. I swear sometimes I wish I could make the money these people make when they know very little as far as current nutrition goes.
I understand that the only study they have that high protien diet is bad is a study based on several 80 year old women that already had kidney problems.
Look at articles that Dr. John M Berardi has written. He uses 2 grams per lb of body weight.
When I was in high school I worked in the food service dept at a hospital. We prepped/served food to the patients… Why is it that every nutritionist I worked with was a fatty in a lab coat?
Isn’t that just like the old saying:
“Don’t trust a bald barber…”