Protein is a popular dietary component in the modern era of fitness. Walk into any shop dedicated to the subject and you will likely see rows of protein powders that are all intended to make your exercise both easier and more productive.

However, like in so many other cases, too much of a good thing can actually be bad for you. In fact, there has been some debate in recent years about the potentially detrimental effects of a high protein diet in the human body.

If you are considering starting such a diet, or you already consume a lot of protein, it may be worth taking a little time to contemplate some of the risks that have been associated with it.

Increased Bodyweight

There is a reason why bodybuilders eat a high protein diet, as it allows them to make quicker weight gains that they can then turn into muscle.

That may be fine for a body builder, but a cyclist should be much more interested in a leaner body shape. Eating more protein than you need simply leads to that protein being turned into calories and sugar. Add that to your regular diet and you have a recipe for unwanted weight gain.

Liver Damage

When you eat any protein, your body will produce ammonia as a waste product. This will be processed by your liver and exits your body in the usual ways.

However, eating too much protein creates more ammonia than your liver can comfortably deal with. Do it over a large period of time and your liver will become overtaxed, which will result in the ammonia entering your bloodstream.

Not only does this lead to liver damage, but it can also cause a decline in brain function and have a terrible effect on your nervous system.

Dehydration

When your kidneys process protein, one of the main waste products that is produced is blood urea nitrogen. This is then ejected from the body whenever you urinate.

Of course, the more protein you consume, the more nitrogen is created. If more nitrogen is created then you will need to get rid of it, which leads to you literally flushing the water your body needs down the drain.

As such, if you have a high protein diet, the least you should do is to always make sure you drink plenty of water.

As Bad As Smoking?

One of the more recent studies into the health ramifications of a high protein diet has claimed that it can increase the possibility of a person getting cancer by as much as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

The research tracked a large group containing thousands of adults over the course of two decades, eventually concluding that someone who eats a high protein diet is four times more likely to die of cancer than somebody who eats a low protein diet.

The findings seem to gel with similar results when it comes to the consumption of red meats and have even led to health organizations reconsidering the recommended daily amount that is safe to consume.

What is the Moral of this Story

Overindulgence in any one thing is generally bad. Keep everything in moderation! The Paleo Diet may be the new diet of choice, but in a couple years it will be something else. A better gauge is seeing how you feel after each meal. If you cut out one thing at a time, say gluten for a few days and it makes you feel infinitely better, maybe you need to consider eating less gluten. The same principle applies to all foods! Common sense goes a long way in eating proper foods especially when fitness is involved.