Have you noticed that whenever someone tries to change their diet they always worry about protein? When you’re trying to get healthier, whether it’s giving up fast food, trying to gain muscle, or trying to become a vegetarian or vegan, you always hear about eating enough protein. Obviously we need protein in our diet, but is this obsession with consuming a lot of protein really reasonable? Or are we simply conditioned to think that the more protein we eat, the better off we will be? Well, it turns out that there is excess protein. Generally, the amount of protein you need varies by age, gender, and activity level, peaking at around 3.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for serious athletes who train intensely every day. On average, people generally need between 45 and 55 grams of protein per day. But what happens when you eat too much protein? Well, you’re about to find out.
Indigestion
You know that feeling when your stomach feels hard and heavy and like it’s weighed down? It’s not a pleasant feeling. Eating too much protein can definitely feel like this, as protein is hard to digest and if you consume too much at once or just consume too much all the time, your stomach and intestines will struggle.
Dehydration
Having too much protein can cause your body to eliminate water, leaving you dehydrated. Most of the time you can just drink more water to counteract that, but many times people don’t even realize they are thirstier than usual, because many times we don’t drink enough water at all.
unexplained exhaustion
While protein is great fuel for our bodies and is rightfully what our muscles are made of, it’s also not the easiest thing to digest. When you eat too much, your digestive system has to work harder and harder to digest it, and that can leave you feeling exhausted for no apparent reason.
Constipation
Many times the people who eat too much protein are those who follow a low-carb, high-protein diet. When you build your meals around protein and try to minimize carbohydrates, you’re likely to get very little fiber in your diet, and that alone can lead to constipation.
Bad breath
When you eat too much protein and too few carbohydrates, your body goes into ketosis, which actually causes very bad breath. And you can’t really fix that with mouthwash or brushing your teeth frequently. The smell comes from their digestive system. The best thing you can do is try to hide it by drinking more water and chewing gum.
