The body is unable to store protein therefore excess protein is broken down and converted into sugars or fatty acids. The liver removes nitrogen from the amino acids, so that they can be burned as fuel, and the nitrogen is incorporated into urea, the substance that is excreted by the kidneys. These organs can normally cope with any extra workload but if kidney disease occurs, a decrease in protein will often be prescribed.
Excessive protein intake may also cause the body to lose calcium, which could lead to bone loss in the long-term. However, many protein powders, for instance, come supplemented with various amounts of calcium per serving size so as to counteract the calcium-loss effect.
Some suspect excessive protein intake is linked to several problems:
Overreaction within the immune system
Liver dysfunction due to increased toxic residues
Loss of bone density, frailty of bones is due to calcium and glutamine being leached from bone and muscle tissue to balance increased acid intake from diet (blood pH is maintained at around 7.4). This effect is not present if intake of alkaline minerals (from fruits and vegetables, cereals are acidic as are proteins, fats are neutral) is high. In such cases, protein intake is anabolic to bone.
Many researchers think excessive intake of protein forces increased calcium excretion. If there is to be excessive intake of protein, it is thought that a regular intake of calcium would be able to stabilize, or even increase the uptake of calcium by the small intestine, which would be more beneficial in older women.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
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5 comments:
I think it's really interesting all of the health side effects of excess protein, especially bone loss. This is something that I feel people should be more informed about especially because of the recent phase of high protein diets. I think that a lot of people are still under the impression that high protein and low carb diets are the healthier choice.
I thinks its interesting that excess protein can lead to more calcium excretion. That was probably my case when i used to eat lots protein.
i was not aware that excessive protein intake can lead to loss of calcium in the body. Is there a study that gives how much is too much for certain body types or?
is it true that excessive protein intake can lead to weight gain?...i m trying to lose weight...plz suggest...
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