The following Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson,

and is narrated by Tina Lehman.

Should you eat less protein?

Over the past several years, I've noticed a subtle shift in the way the media discusses dietary protein,

with many experts promoting lower intakes.

The push for lower intakes hasn't only come from the mainstream crowing about red meat and colon cancer.

Many voices from the alternative health communities are urging a reduction in protein.

Even the ancestral health community counts among its ranks protein skeptics.

Am I one?

I'm not sure.

In past posts, I've discussed how my own tastes have changed, going from eating high

protein to more moderate amounts.

Today I'm addressing eight standard arguments levied against high protein intakes.

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of the issue.

Number one, high protein diets stress the kidneys.

While it's true that people with existing kidney damage or disease must limit protein intake,

this isn't the case in healthy people.

Even type 2 diabetics with good kidney function can safely eat a long-term high-protein diet.

If anything, higher protein intakes protect against kidney disease by making it easier to avoid

obesity. Number two, high protein diets exceed your capacity for ammonia detox. Protein metabolism

begets ammonia a toxin. The liver usually converts ammonia into urea, which is safely expelled through the urine.

The average human can handle about 230 grams of protein before ammonia urea conversion tanks.

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