Don’t make this mistake: eating too much protein is bad for your kidneys

How many eggs do you eat per week? And have you ever followed an eating pattern in which you consume a lot of protein and few carbohydrates? I have, and I do know that too much of anything is never good, but because I hate diets yet love almost all types of protein (both plant-based and animal-based), I may not always have thought carefully enough about how much protein per day would actually be too much. And I’m talking about what seemed like ‘normal’ amounts to me, not the avalanche of protein you consume with, for example, that exceptional ‘carnivore diet’…

That meat diet is obviously over the top anyway, but these two sisters (one a cardiologist and the other a chef and photographer) put it even more nuanced. Annemieke and Janine Jansen combine a strong case for healthier eating with their love of Mediterranean cuisine and have written several cookbooks on this theme. As they put it themselves: Janine cooks and photographs the dishes, while Annemieke approves or rejects them from a medical/health perspective. This is what Annemieke says about protein, and how you should be careful not to overdo it…

Kidney problems

In the AD, she explains: “Carbohydrates and fats are our main sources of energy, while proteins are the building blocks. The latter are also important for our immune system. Proteins promote the formation of muscle tissue, so someone who exercises needs a little more protein. Overdoing it is not smart at all, because it is bad for your kidneys. Approximately 1 gram per kilogram of body weight is how much protein you need per day. Perhaps twice that for a strength athlete, but definitely no more! For anyone aged 65 or older, it is wise to increase protein consumption to prevent muscle breakdown.”

Grams per kilo

So if you are a healthy person with a normal activity pattern and weigh, for example, 60 kilos, then according to the doctor, 60 grams of protein is what you need per day. An egg contains approximately 13 grams of the nutrient, 100 grams of chicken breast approximately 30 grams, and 100 grams of tofu approximately 12 grams. And in response to the frequently recurring question of how many eggs you may eat per week, the sisters say: ‘Experts have all expressed different views on this; we go by 3 to 5 per week. This applies to a healthy person. In addition to protein, eggs contain minerals and vitamins, as well as more good than bad fatty acids, namely amino and linoleic acids.’

And even healthier than animal-based proteins are plant-based proteins. They are not difficult to get enough of at all, especially with tasty recipes such as this red lentil soup or a chickpea pancake. A small handful of unsalted nuts per day also contributes to your physical well-being. And if I’m being completely honest, I sometimes get some protein through a fantastic whiskey sour as well..!

Also read:

• Leftover egg whites or yolks?
• Lidl sells the happiest eggs in the Netherlands
• Budget cooking: chickpeas

Source: AD