There’s a lot of myths around protein and the effect of high protein diets. While high protein can be subjective, here’s some common myths debunked.
Myth 1: High protein diets lead to kidney disease.
Nope, it’s safe unless you have a pre-existing kidney condition.
Myth 2: High protein diets increase risk of osteoporosis.
Nope, there is a lack of evidence to support the theory that protein can leach calcium from cells. In fact, the presence of phosphorous in protein containing foods prevents this.
Myth 3: High protein is better.
…better for what??
Fans claim protein is the solution to all. While hitting a target is necessary as per your goals, going above the target doesn’t give you bonus points especially if it’s displacing another nutrient.
Things to consider before jumping to conclusions:
- Is protein intake at the cost of other important food such as vegetables and wholegrains?
- Is protein intake accompanied with a lot of saturated fat (e.g. butter, fried meat)?
These are important factors to take care of whether or not your diet contains a lot of protein.
Protein is great, please eat it but don’t overdo it. The other pieces of the puzzle whether that’s good old veggies, regular exercise or even adequate sleep still matter.
References:
- Jäger, R., Kerksick, C. M., Campbell, B. I., Cribb, P. J., Wells, S. D., Skwiat, T. M., . . . Antonio, J. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1), 20. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8