When protein becomes dangerous for you

According to Mrs Serah Abagai, Head, Dietetics Department National Hospital, Abuja “the highest protein consumption for an adult should be 50 grams per day.  But these days’ people live in affluence and eat lots of fish and meat at the same time. Some eat a quarter half of chicken at a meal. Yet there is […]

According to Mrs Serah Abagai, Head, Dietetics Department National Hospital, Abuja “the highest protein consumption for an adult should be 50 grams per day.  But these days’ people live in affluence and eat lots of fish and meat at the same time. Some eat a quarter half of chicken at a meal. Yet there is protein in other meals they eat too.”

Abagai says when you eat more than the required level, you end up overloading your kidneys. “When you overload the kidney, you slow down the kidney and they become weak. Kidney is a filtration organ that helps to dispose waste from the blood stream. When they are overworked, they grow weak, they cannot filter waste well. Then you have crystallized nitrogen which the body cannot get rid of. These will be found in your joints and knees; this will bring about issues in your gouts. Protein is supposed to be taken for repair and normal health for adults, Abagai says.”

According to other experts, there’s limited evidence to suggest that people with healthy kidney function are at risk of damaging their kidneys solely based on protein consumption. If you have healthy kidneys, you can consume as much as 91 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. This is the most protein a healthy adult can use per day.

If you have kidney disease, your doctor may ask you to limit your protein intake in order to avoid extra stress on your kidney function. Specific recommendations in these circumstances will likely depend on the current health of your kidneys. If you have diabetes, doctors will probably ask you to keep your protein consumption at or below 20 percent of your total calorie intake.

High-protein diets may not be ideal if you have impaired kidney function. This would include anyone with kidney disease, severe obesity or diabetes. In these cases, doctors will most likely recommend that you closely monitor your intake of protein. The exact amount of protein considered safe will vary based on your overall kidney function. Expert’s states people with kidney disease may need to consume about half the required protein, or 0.18 g per pound of body weight.

Protein is a nutrient in your diet that is made up of amino acids, which are building blocks for all of your cells, tissues and organs. You need amino acids to form your own internal proteins, which support a wide array of essential, life-sustaining body processes. You only need a certain amount of protein each day to fulfill your needs, and your body can’t store the excess protein in your diet.

People in different age groups need varying amounts of protein each day. Adult males need about 56 g of protein a day, while adult and adolescent females need 46 g. Adolescent boys need 52 g of protein per day. Children between the ages of 9 and 13 need 34 g of protein a day, while children between the ages of 4 and 8 need 19 g a day. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 need 13 g of protein each day. Depending on age and other factors, recommended protein intake can range anywhere from 10 to 35 percent of a person’s total daily calorie intake.

In addition to impairment of kidney function, consumption of more protein than your body can use has potential consequences that include dehydration of your tissues and insufficient intake of the vitamins, minerals and fiber found in various forms of carbohydrates. If your excess protein intake comes from animal sources, increased acid content in your bloodstream can trigger a loss of calcium stored in your bones. In addition, animal foods that contain high amounts of protein frequently contain high amounts of saturated fat, which can increase your cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease