Protein again? How much is too much?
I have encountered this question again and again during Karuna events. Below is a nice review on the subject of Protein Consumption by Harvard Medical School that I would like to share with you.
Whether you worry about your weight or not, you’ve probably heard the claims by now: Here’s a diet that’s delicious, easy to stick with, and guaranteed to help you lose weight effortlessly. Or, perhaps it’s supposed to build muscle, protect your joints or prevent Alzheimer’s. Whatever the diet and whatever the claim, there’s a good chance that it is, indeed, that it is too good to be true.
In recent years, high protein diets are among the most popular, whether the protein is consumed as a supplement (such as protein shakes for body builders) or simply as a larger than usual portion of a balanced diet (such as The Zone, Atkins or Paleo Diets).
Perhaps you’re curious about one of these diets or have already tried them – did you ever wonder whether too much protein might be a problem?
So, how much protein do you really need?
Protein is essential for life – it’s a building block of every human cell and is involved in the vital biochemical functions of the human body. It’s particularly important in growth, development, and tissue repair. Protein is one of the three major “macronutrients” (along with carbohydrates and fat).
So, consuming enough protein is required to stave off malnutrition; it may also be important to preserve muscle mass and strength as we age. And, in recent years, some have advocated a higher protein diet helps to catalyze the metabolism to make it easier to lose excess weight, though success in this regard is highly variable.
- The ideal amount of protein you should consume each day is a bit uncertain. Commonly quoted recommendations are 56 grams/day for men, 46 grams/day for women. So how much is that? Not much! You could get 46 grams/day of protein in 1 serving of low-fat Greek yogurt, a 4 oz. serving of lean chicken breast and a bowl of cereal with skim milk.
- A weight-based recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. For a 140 pound person, that comes to 51 grams of protein each day. (You can convert your body weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2; so, 140 pounds is 64 kg; multiplying this by 0.8 equals 51). Active people – especially those who are trying to build muscle mass – may need more.
- Based on percent of calories – for an active adult, about 10% of calories should come from protein
- To pay more attention to the type of protein in your diet rather than the amount; for example, moderating consumption of red meat and increasing healthier protein sources, such as salmon, yogurt or beans, especially soybeans.
But, some experts suggest that these recommendations are all wrong and that we should be consuming more protein, up to twice the standard recommendations. Still others claim that the average American diet already contains too much protein. (Most of the nutritional community debate surrounding this issue spawned from two “Protein Summits” in 2007 and 2013 respectively, which were organized “to discuss the role of protein in human health and to explore the misperception that Americans over-consume protein.” Note, these meetings were sponsored in part by animal-based food industry groups.)
Can too much protein be harmful?
The short answer is yes. As with most things in life, you can over indulge on a good thing and if you eat too much protein, and there may be a price to pay. Among the conditions linked to high protein diets are:
- High cholesterol and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease
- Increased cancer risk
- Kidney disease and kidney stones
- Weight gain (yes, this seems odd for a proposed weight loss strategy)
- Constipation or diarrhea
However, keep in mind these are only correlations – that is, some studies have noted these conditions among people on high protein diets; but that doesn’t mean the protein actually caused the condition. Also, some of these are not necessarily due to the protein itself but rather due to how the protein is consumed or what the protein replaces – for example, a high protein diet that contains lots of red meat and high fat dairy products might lead to higher cholesterol, and a higher risk of heart disease and colon cancer while another high protein diet rich in plant-based proteins may not carry similar risks. And one study found weight gain was more likely when protein replaced carbohydrates in the diet but not when it replaced fat.
So, when it comes to protein, how much is too much?
It’s hard to provide a specific answer since so much is still uncertain and there is no clear consensus amongst nutritional experts. However, for the average person (who is not an elite athlete or heavily involved in body building) it’s probably best to avoid more than 2 gm/kg; that would be about 125 grams/day for a 140 pound person. New information could change our thinking about the maximum safe amount, but until there is more clarity on the risks and benefits of high protein diets, this seems like a reasonable recommendation.
What should a protein lover to do?
If you want to maintain a high protein diet, the details matter:
- Find out from your doctor if you have any health conditions (such as kidney disease) that might make such a diet risky
- Get your protein from healthy sources such as low-fat dairy products, fish, nuts and beans, lean chicken and turkey.
- Avoid proteins sources that contain highly process carbohydrates and saturated fat
- Spread your protein consumption across all of your meals throughout the day
- Choose a well-balanced diet that includes lots of vegetables, fruits, and fiber. A good example is Karuna Prebiotic Smoothie Empower, a 12-oz bottle offers well-balanced nutrients: protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs packed with prebiotic fibers in addition to natural antioxidants from organic, non-GMO superfood ingredients that are minimally processed.