Jul 30, 2018Too Much Protein
Doctors at Dayton (Ohio) Children’s Hospital recently issued a warning against excessive protein intake after seeing an increase in the number of student-athletes visiting the emergency room after over-consuming protein powders.
According to the Dayton Daily News, Dr. Lora Scott, the hospital’s Medical Director of Primary Care/Sports Medicine said that while protein helps build and repair muscles, it has no benefit once the daily requirement is fulfilled. Although excess protein is expelled in urine, it still can cause problems.
“People think, ‘Oh, if a little bit’s good, then a lot’s better,’ and that’s not the case,” Scott said. “The kidneys are only made to filter a limited amount of protein and if you’re taking more than you need, it’s all just going to go straight through the kidneys and can eventually lead to some kidney failure.”
According to wdtn.com, the Dayton Children’s Hospital found that teens only need 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight, per day. Scott most teenagers get enough protein in their daily diet, so they do not need to consume protein powder.
“A lot of times, coaches will encourage them to take it. But they don’t need it,” Scott said.
Scott said there are many alternative ways of getting protein, such as beans, cheeseburgers, fish, and oatmeal.
“If you suspect you’re part of that small population that could benefit from [protein powder], it’s best to speak to a nutritionist to get an idea of how much you need for your body type and your exercise demands,” Scott said.
