How Much is Too Much Protein?

Marc Jennings

Too Much Protein?

Everyone seems to think that consuming tons of protein will build up muscle and that you will lose tons of weight if you stick with a protein rich diet. This is not true and can actually be harmful to your body, creating numerous side effects. Protein does not help boost your muscle mass. On the contrary, consuming more than 30% of your daily caloric intake in protein can cause a lot of stress on the body causing a buildup of toxic ketones. Essentially, you can dehydrate if you exercise heavily because your kidneys will rid your body of these toxic ketones and you will lose a ton of water weight. Moreover, you will lose muscle mass and bone calcium in the process. These symptoms can make you feel very weak and lead to a myriad of other problems.

Basically, eating massive amounts of protein each day can lead to many problems such as weight gain, dehydration, kidney problems, intestinal irritation, seizures, nutritional deficiencies and can put you at risk of heart disease. If you are consuming an excess amount of calories from protein, they may be stored as body fat. Everyone also knows that too much protein can lead to constipation as well. Plus, if you are getting all of your protein from unhealthy sources, this can lead to heart disease.

It is important to note, however, that the above issues are associated with excessive protein diets, but only when you suffer from dehydration and are not eating a balanced diet. Protein is very important to the body, but should be consumed in the appropriate amount with a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and complex carbohydrates. Furthermore, it is crucial to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

The amount of protein you need depends on a number of factors. Mainly, it depends on your weight and daily calories consumed. It is most beneficial to eat about a third of your body weight in protein a day. So, if you weigh 150 lbs., you should consume approximately 50 grams of protein a day.

For an individual who exercises regularly, the recommended protein intake is 1 gram per pound of body weight. This will provide your body the necessary amount of essential amino acids to build muscle tissue. This is the appropriate method for building muscle, not just consuming an uncapped amount of protein per day. Don’t risk your health to build muscle. Research and study the appropriate ways depending on your body type and level of exercise to make the right choices for yourself when it comes to daily protein intake.

This post was written by

Marc Jennings – who has written posts on Men's Total Fitness.

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