"4 Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Protein" Review

How do you know if you're eating too much protein? You may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms (and not realize it)...sorry Dr. Atkins (from the article 4 Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Protein).

1. You’re Gaining Weight


If you increase your protein intake without decreasing other foods in your diet, you’ll have an excess of protein and calories. And if you have a sedentary lifestyle and eat excess protein — or excess anything — you will gain weight.

Moody Wisdom: Increasing your protein to lose weight (especially animal protein) sounds great in theory....who doesn't love meat on a grill (and it's nutritional makeup helps you build muscle). It's time to jump off the Atkins train, though: Animal protein WILL NOT help you lose weight. More nutrient dense (and less inflammatory) options are waiting for you, instead. You should read 26 Weight Loss Myths You Shouldn't Believe for other suprises too.

2. You’re Dehydrated


Excess protein is filtered out of your body by your kidneys. A by-product of protein metabolism is nitrogen. The kidneys use water to flush out the nitrogen, which creates a dehydrating effect. When you decrease carbs, your body retains less fluid as well.

3. You’re Having Digestive Issues


Have nausea, indigestion, diverticulitis or constipation? When you increase meat, fish, chicken, cheese and other dairy on a high-protein diet and don’t eat enough fiber, the kidneys use excess water to rid your body of nitrogen and you can develop constipation.

Too much protein also puts a strain on your digestive enzymes, which can lead to digestive issues.

4. You’ve Got Bad Breath and Headaches


In a diet low in carbs with increased protein and fat, your body may go into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, your body is burning fat for fuel instead of carbs. Bad breath and headaches are a side effect of ketosis.

The biggest potential problem with following a high-protein diet is that you may not be getting enough fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, all of which are found in vegetables and fruits.

Moody Wisdom: You may experience frequent headaches for a number of reasons, including dehydration. More likely than not, it's stemming from something in your diet. Any time you experience this symptom, take note of your dietary choices: The culprit may lie on your plate.

So what can you do? Switch some of your protein sources to plant-based proteins, which will then provide you with these other needed nutrients.

Here are some higher-protein plant sources:


Beans (1 cup = 15 grams)

Lentils (1/2 cup cooked = 9 grams)

Quinoa (1 cup cooked = 8 grams)

Buckwheat (1 cup cooked = 6 grams)

Almonds (1/4 cup = 4 grams)

Sunflower seeds (1/4 cup = 6 grams)

Peanut butter (2 tablespoons = 8 grams)

Almond butter (2 tablespoons = 7 grams)

Spinach (1 cup cooked = 5 grams)

Hemp seed (3 tablespoons = 11 grams)

(Source: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference)

Keep in mind that all plant-based sources of protein don’t have all of the essential amino acids your body needs like animal proteins do. But if you eat a variety of whole foods throughout the day, you’ll likely get all the amino acids that you need.

What other weird reasons affect your waistline?

Are you having trouble losing weight? Read "50 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet" Review. It's probably time to rewrite your grocery list.

Picture Credit: Livestrong.com-Is your protein intake underminingweight loss?

Article Credit:
Author: Michael Moody Fitness with excerpt sourced from the article " 4 Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Protein " on Livestrong.com.
"4 Signs You May Be Eating Too Much Protein" Review
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