I’m not splitting hairs with you here when I say that it isn’t protein that is bad for the kidneys, it is having too high an acid level in your body that causes the problem - the kidneys have to work harder to remove the toxic components from the blood stream.

HOWEVER, one can lower the PH level of their body if they consume a lot of fresh vegetables; as veggies are more basic.

If someone ate nothing but protein, they would lean out very quickly and then become sick. But if they eat a balanced diet they will be fine if they increase their protein consumption, even a dramatic increase will have no ill effects on a healthy individual.

I would never advocate for someone to eat NOTHING but protein, I advocate for a balance diet with lots of vegetables. The problem is, when I give the talk, people grab onto the too much protein being bad for you argument in an attempt to discredit what the science actually has to say about nutrition - that body composition changes to increase the amount of lean body mass that you have when you increase your protein intake.

Protein is made up of essential and non essential ammino acids. Essential being threonine, valine, tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine and histidine. ALL 9 of these must be present in order for the molecular structure of the branched chain amino acid to form properly and if not then the body destroys it and will not consume any of it and it turns to waste to the kidney. These are found in pill forms, protein shakes and bars. These forms are often missing one or two of the nine essential amino acids and the body will descerte it as waste. When the body rids it as waste often an individual will experience gas frequently or discolored feces. Therefore the output of protein is higher than the intake if all 9 are not present equaling a negative nitrogen balance, placing too much output on the kidneys and increased urea production which is toxic to the body. Increased uric acid in the body will contribute to kidney damage (failure), renal stones and even gout. Note also that too much protein intake causes the excess protein to be converted to fat during a positive energy balance.

Non essential amino acids that the body makes and therefore does not reject are alanine, arginine, aspartic acxid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, cysteine, and tyrosine. Not all need to be present for a branched chain amino acid to form properly as the body makes it itself and breaks it down.

Protein quality is dependant upon both by the amino acid content and the digestibility of the food. For essential amino acids, all nine MUST be present to form a branched chain amino acid and the correct ratio as well. Meat is the most complete source of all nine, whether its red meat or chicken. Plant proteins are only 70-90% digestible for humans whereas meats and refined grains are 95% digestible. A greater intake of well portioned amino acids (that include all 9) and less output will result in a positive nitrogen balance where the protein will be utilized properly for cellular repair and energy systems for bodily function.

Talk to me later about how to access for protein need (ie tracer method). Protein digestion, absorption and utilization.