Can you eat too much protein?

Like, a lot more of it.

Its no wonder why people are putting cottage cheese ineverythingto get those gains.

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But how much istoomuch for the sake of your well-being?

5 possible signs youre eating too much protein

1.

As such, its important to consume a well-balanced diet composed offiberand fluids to help keep things moving along.

Broth in Bowl on gray background, healthy food, top view.

a registered dietitian and neuronutritionist

Dehydration

Richter explains that protein consumption prompts the production of urea, awaste byproduct found in urinefrom metabolizing protein.

It needs to be removed [from the body].

Over time this can potentially lead to kidney stones or other more problematic kidney issues, she says.

Close-up of sliced purple cabbage,

(And anyone who has had a kidney stone can tell you: You donotwant one.)

Bad breath

Over-consuming protein can also impactoral health.

This can cause noticeablefoul breath, Richter says.

soba noodles

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5.

Some research studies also suggest that excess IGF-1 may be linked to anincreased risk of cancer and mortality2.

Meanwhile, high amounts of mTOR mayincrease the risk for cardiovascular disease3.

A hand is stirring a sourdough starter in a glass jar, on a kitchen countertop. The light casts a warm glow, highlighting the ingredients inside the jar.

a registered dietitian and neuronutritionist

How much protein is too much per day?

She says its a hotly debated topic, and people vary greatly on their recommendations.

She argues thatmost Americans are already meeting (or even exceeding)the recommended daily intake.

Frozen beef steaks on brownish packaging paper. Light effect.

How should I calculate my protein intake?

The sweet spot of protein consumption for the average person is about one gram per kilogramnot poundof body weight.

However, these levels shouldnt be sustained for long periods of time, she says.

Woman shopping in a grocery store with a basket

What is the healthiest protein to eat?

Richter recommends going plant-based whenever possible.

But she adds that meat and fish can also have a place in a healthy diet.

Ko, Gang-Jee et al.

The Effects of High-Protein Diets on Kidney Health and Longevity.Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASNvol.

31,8 (2020): 1667-1679. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020010028

Gulick, C N et al.

Exercise, Dietary Protein, and Combined Effect on IGF-1.International journal of science and research methodologyvol.

16,3 (2020): 61-77.

Zhang, Xiangyu et al.

High-protein diets increase cardiovascular risk by activating macrophage mTOR to suppress mitophagy.Nature metabolismvol.

2,1 (2020): 110-125. doi:10.1038/s42255-019-0162-4

Song, Mingyang et al.

Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality.JAMA internal medicinevol.

176,10 (2016): 1453-1463. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.4182

Huang, Jiaqi et al.

Association Between Plant and Animal Protein Intake and Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality.JAMA internal medicinevol.

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