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There is actually no scientific proof for the claim that too much protein can harm the kidneys or liver. The science that created that myth was badly flawed. E

There is actually no scientific proof for the claim that too much protein can harm the kidneys or liver. The science that created that myth was badly flawed. Edit: see https://examine.com/nutrition/can-eating-too-much-protein-be-bad-for-you/ https://examine.com/nutrition/can-eating-too-much-protein-be... for a nice write up including sources

Nasrudith 8y ago
That is trivially untrue just from cats - as obligate carnivores they have "overclocked" kidneys such that they can drink sea water and gain hydration. This serves them regardless of fresh water availability due to their need to break down so much protein for calories and will quickly suffer ammonia poisoning if given they lack sufficient argine while digesting a meal. And yet the kidneys are still a common thing to start failing in old age and call for a lower protein diet to counteract. Again in an obligate carnivore with less intestinal length. It is true that we aren't obligate carnivores but the underlying mechanism for damage exists regardless of how well it is countered.
- sawmurai 8y ago
  Maybe ... but that still does not mean that science proofed a high protein diet is bad for the kidneys of healthy humans.
- ianai 8y ago
  Well said. And humans definitely need healthy intestinal tracts - and need complex carbs to last long enough to feed beneficial microbiota.
- justtopost 8y ago
  Humans are not cats. There is no data supporting any of what you mention in people. Protien is perfectly safe. Are you going to argue we die without carbs next? Got a single citation to your point?
  - Nasrudith 8y ago
    The dose makes the poision in everything - it is just a statement that it isn't perfectly safe and nothing is. Oxygen can cause cancer. The point was that if even a far more specialized species could have problems with proteins there is a mechanism for damage from too much - what that ammount may be is another question. Just like too much carbohydrates can overwhelm the pancreas too much protein may overwhelm the kidneys and liver. I had done extensive feline research recently for a fiction side project and will give my links - I had one that described the metabolic process specifically.
    - Nasrudith 8y ago
      Bizarrely and disappointingly I'm finding less than expected when looking through my history. Here are a few relevant bits. https://pets.thenest.com/lowprotein-cat-food-cats-kidney-disease-9912.html https://pets.thenest.com/lowprotein-cat-food-cats-kidney-dis... https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-obligate-carnivore https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is... https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.196.3.633# https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.19...
- close04 8y ago
  This is interesting, can you link to a good resource I could use to read more on this (in cats, to be clear)? Googling just provided me with very shallow explanations for the mechanism and implications.
- twic 8y ago
  A low-protein diet might be a useful response to kidney failure, but that doesn't mean that a high-protein diet causes kidney failure. You would ice a sprained ankle, but you don't think that keeping your ankle at room temperature causes sprains, do you?

Nasrudith 8y ago

That is trivially untrue just from cats - as obligate carnivores they have "overclocked" kidneys such that they can drink sea water and gain hydration. This serves them regardless of fresh water availability due to their need to break down so much protein for calories and will quickly suffer ammonia poisoning if given they lack sufficient argine while digesting a meal. And yet the kidneys are still a common thing to start failing in old age and call for a lower protein diet to counteract. Again in an obligate carnivore with less intestinal length. It is true that we aren't obligate carnivores but the underlying mechanism for damage exists regardless of how well it is countered.

sawmurai 8y ago
Maybe ... but that still does not mean that science proofed a high protein diet is bad for the kidneys of healthy humans.
ianai 8y ago
Well said. And humans definitely need healthy intestinal tracts - and need complex carbs to last long enough to feed beneficial microbiota.
justtopost 8y ago
Humans are not cats. There is no data supporting any of what you mention in people. Protien is perfectly safe. Are you going to argue we die without carbs next? Got a single citation to your point?
- Nasrudith 8y ago
  The dose makes the poision in everything - it is just a statement that it isn't perfectly safe and nothing is. Oxygen can cause cancer. The point was that if even a far more specialized species could have problems with proteins there is a mechanism for damage from too much - what that ammount may be is another question. Just like too much carbohydrates can overwhelm the pancreas too much protein may overwhelm the kidneys and liver. I had done extensive feline research recently for a fiction side project and will give my links - I had one that described the metabolic process specifically.
  - Nasrudith 8y ago
    Bizarrely and disappointingly I'm finding less than expected when looking through my history. Here are a few relevant bits. https://pets.thenest.com/lowprotein-cat-food-cats-kidney-disease-9912.html https://pets.thenest.com/lowprotein-cat-food-cats-kidney-dis... https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is-an-obligate-carnivore https://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-what-exactly-is... https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.196.3.633# https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.19...
close04 8y ago
This is interesting, can you link to a good resource I could use to read more on this (in cats, to be clear)? Googling just provided me with very shallow explanations for the mechanism and implications.
twic 8y ago
A low-protein diet might be a useful response to kidney failure, but that doesn't mean that a high-protein diet causes kidney failure. You would ice a sprained ankle, but you don't think that keeping your ankle at room temperature causes sprains, do you?