Posted on March 4, 2010.
facts and myths of protein for building muscle Of all the myths that surface from time to time, the protein myth seems to be the most deeply rooted and pervasive. It just will not go away. The problem is exactly who or what group, is perpetuating the "myth" Can not be easily identified.
You see, the conservative nutritional and medical opinion that it is the bodybuilders who perpetuate the myth that athletes need more protein and we of the bodybuilding community think that they (the majority community nutrition) that is to perpetuate the myth that athletes do not need extra protein! Who is right?
If you tell the nutritionist means you're on a diet rich in proteins, because you are an athlete they often reply: "Oh you do not want this, you do not need and this will lead to kidney disease" without a single decent study to back up their claim!
You see they are also sensitive to the spectrum prowling myth that spreads lies and confusion. In this article I want to address once and for all (hopefully) the protein myth as it applies to what the average person is told when they tell their doctor or anemic "all you need are the RDAs "spouting nutritionist that he or she is following a diet rich in protein.
Myth # 1 "of high-protein diets are bad for your kidneys"
For starters, the negative health claims of high-protein diet on renal function is based on information gathered from people who have pre-existing kidney problems, has little or no interest in healthy athletes. You see one of the jobs of the kidneys is the excretion of urea (generally a non-toxic compound) which is formed from the ammonia (a highly toxic compound) which comes from protein in our diet.
People with severe kidney problems have trouble excreting the urea increased emphasis on the kidneys and so goes the logic of a diet rich in protein should be hard on the kidneys for healthy athletes also. Now, for medical and scientific facts.
There is no single scientific study published in a reputable peer - reviewed using healthy adults with normal renal function showed that kidney dysfunction what so ever of a diet rich in proteins. Not one of the studies done with healthy athletes that have considered this question, or other research I read showed kidney abnormalities at all. For example, a recent study that examined the renal (kidney) function of athletes who follow a diet high protein, protein intake is well above the U.S. RDA-no health effects negative contribution of higher protein on renal function of these athletes.
The study entitled "Do regular high protein diets have potential health risks on kidney function in athletes? (International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 10 (1)) examined the renal function of bodybuilders and other well-trained athletes who follow a diet rich in protein and medium enterprises.
The athletes underwent a 7-day nutritional analysis record so that the blood sample and urine collection to determine if their high protein intake averages affected renal function. The study revealed the athletes had renal clearances of creatinine, urea, albumin, and filtration rate glomular who were in the normal range.
The authors concluded "there was no correlation between protein intake and creatinine clearance, excretion rate of albumin excretion rate and calcium." Furthermore, studies of animals is by using a diet rich in protein does not demonstrate a kidney dysfunction in healthy animals.
A study that examined the effects of a diet rich in protein, older dogs ("the effects of aging and dietary protein intake on uninephrectomized geriatric dogs." Am J Vet Res 1994 September; 55 (9): 1282-1290) is not only a diet rich in proteins have no adverse effects on the kidneys of dogs, the dogs higher protein intake lived longer! Now, remember, in the real world where millions.
