Q: I love to eat steak, chicken, and my protein shakes. Can there be such thing as too much protein in my diet?

A: Yes.

While the recommended daily allowance of protein is less than 100 grams, most sports trainers and nutritionists recommend around 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. For a 200-pound male, this equates to 200 to 300 grams of protein per day. Some nutritionists recommend up to TWO grams per pound of bodyweight, which would put the 200-pound trainer at 400 grams of protein per day.

Some top athletes regularly consume up to 500 or 600 grams per day. However, it should be considered that they are 250 to 300 pounds (or higher!) and they naturally have a higher caloric requirement than the rest of us.

Because each gram (g.) of protein contains four calories, your body stores excess protein as fat. Just as it would with carbohydrates or fats which were not used by the body. Your body cannot “store” protein - it is excreted as urine.

There are also issues with the dangers of making the kidneys filter high levels of protein. Their renal function is designed to process a fixed amount of protein. When a person triples or quadruples the workload, the kidneys do have to work harder. When you factor in the rigors of pre-contest water deprivation, you begin to realize the real strain that kidneys go through thanks to bodybuilding. And it conjures of memories of the dozen or so big-name bodybuilders who have suffered from kidney failure.

As with all good things, moderation is the key. Start at 300 grams of protein and move up very slowly - maybe 50 grams daily every week. As the benefits begin to taper off, consider not adding any more protein. After all, the bodybuilding phase of your life will likely last two decades, before it evolves into training for health and longevity. Your kidneys are in this for the long haul. So take care of them!

Dane Fletcher is the world’s most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for http://www.BodybuildingToday.com

If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit http://www.BodybuildingToday.com -the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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