People are maxing out their protein intake, and while it’s an essential macronutrient for a healthy diet, there can be risks tied to the wellness trend.
ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula said it’s important to understand how one’s diet interacts with kidney function.
“The kidneys are sort of the main filter of our blood. They produce waste, which is our urine,” Narula said. “Depending on how many chemicals or what type are in the urine and how hydrated or dehydrated you are — in addition to maybe your lifestyle, your diet, your genetics and medical conditions — you may be set up for producing kidney stones.”
Kidney stones affect one in 10 Americans. Symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain on one side of the body, fever, chills, nausea and obstruction of the kidney.
The American Heart Association recommends 0.8 g/kg per day for adults over 18, which is about .36 grams per pound of body weight. The new federal dietary guidelines had increased the recommendation to about .55 grams per pound.
“In terms of calories, the recommendation is 10% to 35% of your daily calories come from protein,” according to the AHA.
“So for 150-pound person, that’s about 55 grams of protein,” Narula noted.
If you have a normal plate of food that includes appropriate amounts of protein such as a piece of chicken or some Greek yogurt, Narula said that’s not a potential concern.
Narula said a diet “that’s very, very heavy in animal proteins” can be risky. “What you can do is swap in some plant protein — legumes, beans, nuts, tofu, soy — so you’re not just fully focused on animal protein.”