Is it protein that harms the kidneys, or is it

R

Ruhl

New Member
Is it protein that harms the kidneys, or is it unused protein that harms the kidneys?

To explain what I mean by the term 'used' or 'unused': exercise makes the body 'use' more protein (muscles take up more protein).

Is this the case for creatine as well and other sorts of nutrients? Are kidneys better protected from creatine by exercising after taking the creatine versus not exercising?
 
Protein does not harm the kidneys. Alcohol can harm the kidneys, but not protein.

You seem to be very concerned about your kidneys Ruhl. Do you have a medical condition such as renal disease?
 
No, I'm just thinking long term. I don't want any problems when I'm 70 or something if I can help it.
 
I think some of the confusion might be that some people, like those in chronic renal failure) need to reduce their protein intake to a very low level. Normal people, with normally functioning kidneys who have a well-balanced diet and sufficient fluid intake on a regular basis shouldn't worry about protein intake. People who develop renal failure do so for reasons other than protein intake- things like severe trauma, drug and alcohol abuse, and certain metabolic conditions are all possible (and well-documented) causes.
Jake
 
This theory came from some very poor, very old science. I believe it involved a high protein diet and patients with renal insufficiency. They had a worsening of their insufficiency (no crap). So they proposed that "protein taxes the kidneys". Using this logic is like saying cardio will kill you b/c it "taxes the heart" and a study of exercise with severe coronary insufficency caused problems.
 
Exactly- you don't want a person with renal insufficiency eating lots of protein, but that caveat doesn't apply to people with normal kidneys! I'm not sure that the people doing the early research on protein intake and renal insufficiency/failure developed the wive's tale- that seems to have taken on a life of its own as something of a syllogism (protein is bad for bad kidneys, therefore protein is bad for all kidneys). Your parallel with cardio is exactly on target!
Jake
 
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