Is It Possible To Consume Too Much Protein?

I discovered last week that protein is essentail for cell renewal and growth. Today I’m wondering if its possible to have too much protein. Is a protein overdose possible?

Well I’ve done a bit of research. Apparently, the best diet construction is 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat. Now I’m not about to say whether this is ideal or not, but what ‘they’ are essentially saying is that 40% of your dietary intake ought to be protein. No more! Now how on earth are we supposed to find that out? I have no idea what my daily caloric intake is. Quite frankly that is too time consuming and laborious. I just want to eat right and be happy – not waste my time counting numbers!

So while that may be a good recommendation, I’m still kinda keen to find an easier one.

I’ve read a couple of scary-ish things about what too much protein can do to you: If you’re older and you consume too much protein, it can put stress on your kidneys and force them into overdrive – possibly even into failure. So thats not too good! Also, the more protein you eat, the more calcium you excrete. Sounds a bit gross, but this can cause osteoporosis. Brittle bones is not something I want to set myself up for in a bid to build muscle! As well as those things, protein requires vitamin B6 for ultimate absorption into the body. The more protein you consume, the more vit. B6 you’ll need to make it worth it.

So I’m afraid I don’t have very clear answers. Too much protein is not good, neither is too little. So where is that fine line? Well try having a little protein at every meal. I like making smoothies and adding whey protein to it. If I’m not working out, I don’t like to consume too much protein – however if I’m working out, then I like to have a protein shake or two during the day and a bit of extra meat, cheese or eggs to speed up recovery time. Its different for every body though – so listen to your body and be wise. If you’re really concerned about your protein intake levels, see a doctor or a dietician – someone who is qualified and has excellent scientific knowledge on the subject.

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Tagged as: build muscle, osteoporosis, protein, scientific knowledge