Problems with too much protein in a diet

Hi Charlie,A lot of protein in a generally balanced diet isn't much of a problem, the body can deal with it.However, eating a diet that restricts things like carbohydrates and replaces them with proteins (e.g. Atkins diet) can cause problems:When the body relies on breaking down its own fat because it is starved of energy from carbohydrate deficiency, ketones are created. Ketones are poisonous to the kidneys, and producing ketones for a prolonged period can damage internal organs (as is the case with a lot of extreme, starvation "weight loss solutions"). Damaged kidneys lead to dehydration;Not all proteins are equally nutritious. Some proteins are not "complete," they do not contain all the essential amino acids we need in our diet. Depending on what proteins you're eating, you can end up with deficiencies. Animal proteins tend to be complete, plant proteins tend to not have all the essential amino acids, so you need a variety of plant proteins to make sure you're getting all the amino acids you need;If you are restricting things like fruits and vegetables, you can end up with deficiencies in various vitamins and minerals which protein-rich foods just don't contain. Also, not having carbohydrates in your diet reduces your intake of fibre, which can lead to constipation, impacted bowels, and increased risk of colon cancer and appendicitis;Many protein-rich foods are also rich in fat (meat, dairy products, and nuts), so excessive consumption can raise cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of blood clots and heart disease, even if you've lost weight;Some people believe, and there is a little evidence to support the theory, that soya-based products such as tofu can interfere with hormones in the body, but more research has to be done to confirm this.The best option for a healthy and fit body is always, and will always be, a balanced diet, containing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, vitamins/minerals, and water. I hope that some of this helps!

Cheers that helped a lot! :)

Excess protein is converted to urea and glucose.Glucose is stored as fat, and urea has to be removed by the kidneys.

High blood protein (hyperproteinemia) is an increase in the concentration of protein in the bloodstream. High blood protein is not a specific disease or condition in itself, but it might indicate you have a disease. High blood protein rarely causes signs or symptoms on its ownRisks Associated with the Development of Hyperproteinemia  The transportation highway is disrupted: Water is a key player in the movement of blood and many of the body’s most vital substances. Because of this, the permeability of soluble substances decreases as protein concentration increases, posing a threat to water’s ability to transport. Water’s ability to act as a information carrier it predominantly reliant on its purity, thus the transport of blood can greatly be hindered by the heightened levels of protein.   It lowers the blood ability to take up oxygen: Oxygen is the very building block of life, so any condition that limits the uptake of this element is a serious hindrance to the body’s functionality. Because red blood cells usually carry a positive charge and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) as well as low weight proteins in the blood have a negative charge, the proteins will attract the red blood cells and create protein-cover chains. Although this does not completely eliminate the ability to take up oxygen, these protein chains severely limit the capacity for oxygen. These circumstances often lead to a premature cell aging and degeneration. Calcifications can form: If hyperproteinemia persists for an extended period of time, the body will attempt to bind the negatively-charged proteins with positively charged mineral compounds. This bond can create nearly insoluble mineral-protein compounds known as calcifications. These calcifications can build up and be deposited into blood vessels and tissues leading to very serious side effects. These deposits can cause a reduction in organ function, complicate vascular rigidity (known as arteriosclerosis) and impede the material supply to tissues leading to further degeneration.Additional complications of long-term hyperproteinemia include:Mineral deficienciesOsteoporosisAberrant Electrical Heart ConductionGoutGERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)CystitisAllergiesEczemaAsthmaMyalgiaArthritisHeart Disease