Can Too Much Protein Exacerbate Kidney Problems?

Can sacrificing a carbohydrate diet for a dominant protein diet harm your kidneys? The answer to this query is a definite ‘yes’. As much as hordes of body builders would prefer taking truck-loads of protein with the hope of enhancing their body muscles, research still shows that taking more than the recommended daily amounts of protein can be harmful to your body. In fact, the amount of protein that anyone takes should not account for more than 30% of the daily calorie intake. Let’s look at the relationship between protein and kidney problems.

Ketones And Kidney Problems

To start with, ingesting more than the required amounts of protein can lead to the accumulation of toxic ketones in the body. Ketones are harmful protein wastes that give the kidney nephrons (filtering units) a hard time. The situation is even made worse when an unhealthy kidney is involved in the process. Subsequent build up of protein wastes in the blood stream will gradually deteriorate the kidney, and in the long run it will lead to chronic stages of kidney problems.

Reduce Protein Intake To Slow Down The Degeneration Of The Kidney

Different studies show that patients with renal failure can slow down the degeneration process of their kidneys by cutting down their protein intake. These studies were conducted on patients with kidney problems, and those that were subjected to high protein diets registered fatal kidney problems as opposed to their counterparts. Consequently, as the kidney struggles to get rid of the protein waste in the body, the patient is likely to lose significant amounts of water which can in turn subject the patient to dehydration.

Prolonging Renal Function

Some of the most effective ways to prolong the functioning of the kidneys, is to control the blood pressure and the amount of ingested proteins in the diet. For diabetic patients, the attention is shifted to controlling the amount of blood sugar. In both cases, controlling the amounts of consumed proteins will relieve the kidney from processing too many proteins. Those with kidney disease should aim for no more than 20 to 50 grams a day (depending on the stage of kidney disease).

Quality Proteins For Patients With Kidney Problems

You are advised to take chicken, fish, eggs or soy products. Similarly, some protein foods are known to contain high levels of phosphorus, and such foods are not recommended to patients with kidney problems. Such foods include dried beans, yoghurt, cheese and nuts.

To conclude, patients experiencing kidney problems are advised to adopt healthy eating habits by incorporating all nutrients in their diet. They should remember to always take limited amounts of protein foods, as well as adequate calories to prevent weight loss and break down of body muscles.

Please consult with a naturopath or nutritionist to get a dietary plan.