New research suggests that eating too much protein can be detrimental to your heart’s health in the long run. Researchers found that middle-aged men who followed a high-protein diet increased their risk of heart failure.
Researcher Dr. Jyrki Virtanen explained that high-protein diets are not as safe as touted, and people should not take their benefits for granted. These diets have some risks too, Virtanen added.
Past studies have associated protein-rich diets with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and early mortality.
In their study, scientists analyzed the risk of too much protein from animal sources. Only the protein coming from eggs and fish was not harmful. Other types of protein raised the risk of heart failure in male study participants. Nevertheless, more research is needed to confirm the findings.
High Protein Diets Only Good for Some People
Experts recommend not to artificially boost your protein intake because a normal diet usually offers the recommended amount every day. Only bodybuilders and athletes should focus more on protein, with a recommended daily intake of 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
- However, average people who don’t exercise or exercise to stay in good shape should get between 0.75-1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight.
- It largely depends on the level of physical activity.
The minimum protein requirement for women is 45g and for men is 55g. Older people should eat more protein as they tend to shed more muscle as they age. Hitting the daily protein quota is not hard. For instance, two-medium-sized chicken breasts contain around 40 grams of protein.
Also, one large egg has 6g protein, 226 g of cottage cheese contains 27g protein, 85g of beef contains 22g protein, and a can of tuna (150g) offers 39g protein.
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