What Happens If You Overeat Protein?
Although high-protein diets claim to help with weight loss, when a person exceeds total calorie requirements, they are stored as energy reserves, which can lead to increased fat stores.
Excessive consumption of anything is harmful to your health, including protein. According to ICMR (the latest guidelines from 2020), healthy adults need about 0.8 to 1g of protein per kg of body weight. But unfortunately, people consume too much protein in India, only a rough estimate, or not even 0.6 g per kg body weight.
Dr. Eileen Kandei, HOD - Nutrition, and Dietetics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said consuming more than double the protein requirement over a long period could harm vital organs that metabolize body waste.
Doctors add that the risks associated with chronic protein overload in people who already have organ dysfunction include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- vascular disease
- Injuries to the liver and kidneys
- Additional damage to this organ can be fatal
Excessive consumption is also related to it.
- Increased risk of complications in people with type 2 diabetes.
- The risk of cancer is higher for those who overeat processed meat
- Osteoporosis and osteopenia when consuming protein without essential minerals
1. Weight gain
Although a high-protein diet claims to help you lose weight, if you exceed your total caloric requirement, your caloric needs are stored as energy reserves, leading to increased fat stores. This can interfere with weight loss because excess protein is stored as fat.
2. Kidney damage
Excess protein can harm patients who already have kidney disease. This is the abundant nitrogen in the amino acids that make up proteins. Damaged kidneys must work harder to remove excess nitrogen and waste products from protein metabolism.
3. Increased risk of cancer
For example, colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer have been linked to eating more red meat and processed meat. Consumption of protein from other sources, on the other hand, is associated with a lower risk of cancer.