Although high-protein diets promise to help you lose weight, if you consume more calories than you need, the extra calories are stored as energy reserves, which can contribute to an increase in fat storage.
Overconsumption of anything is harmful for your health, and proteins are no exception. A healthy adult requires roughly 0.8 to 1 gramme of protein per kg of body weight, according to the ICMR (latest 2020 standards). In India, people either consume too much protein or barely get to 0.6 grammes per kilogram of body weight.
Dr. Eileen Canday, HOD – Nutrition and Dietetics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, states that ingesting more than double the daily protein intake for an extended period of time might put essential organs at danger of metabolizing waste.
The hazards of chronic protein overconsumption in those who already have an impaired organ function, according to the doctor, include:
– Cardiovascular disease
– Disorders of the blood vessels
– Injuries to the liver and kidneys
– More injury to these organs might result in death.
Overconsumption has been connected to a variety of health problems–
– A greater risk of cancer for individuals who consume too much processed beef
– An increased risk of problems in those with type 2 diabetes If you eat protein that is devoid of necessary minerals, you might have osteoporosis and osteopenia.
The doctor highlights some of the potentially harmful side effects of excessive protein consumption:
- Increased body weight
Although high-protein diets promise to help you lose weight, if you consume more calories than you need, the extra calories are stored as energy reserves, which can contribute to an increase in fat storage. This may obstruct weight reduction by causing extra protein to be stored as fat.
- Damage to the kidneys
Patients who already have renal illness may be harmed by too much protein.
This is due to the abundance of nitrogen found in amino acids, which make up proteins. Damaged kidneys have to work harder to remove excess nitrogen and waste products from protein metabolism.
- A higher cancer risk
According to research, some high-protein diets, particularly those high in red meat-based protein, have been linked to an increased risk of a variety of health concerns, including cancer. Eating redder and/or processed meat has been associated to colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer. Other sources of protein, on the other hand, have been related to a reduced risk of cancer.
