Excess Protein Burdens the Kidneys and Liver
Processing all that excess dietary protein � as much as
300 grams (10 ounces) a day �causes wear and tear on the kidneys; and as a
result, on average, 25% of kidney function is lost over a lifetime (70
years) from consuming the Western diet.8,9 Fortunately, the kidneys are
built with large reserve capacity and the effects of losing one-quarter of
kidney function are of no consequence for otherwise healthy people.
However, people who have already lost kidney function for other reasons �
from an accident, donation of a kidney, infection, diabetes, and
hypertension � may suffer life-threatening consequences from a diet no
higher in protein than the average American consumes.10,11
The time-honored fundamental treatment for people with
failing kidneys is a low-protein diet. End-stage kidney failure, requiring
dialysis, can usually be postponed or avoided by patients fortunate enough
to learn about the benefits of a low-protein diet.10-13
People suffering with liver failure are also placed on
diets low in protein as fundamental therapy � short of a liver transplant,
this is the most important therapy they will receive. During the end
stages of liver failure, patients will often fall into a coma from the
build-up of protein breakdown products (hepatic coma). A change to a
cost-free, very low-protein diet can cause these dying people to awaken.
Well planned, plant-food based diets are particularly effective with both
kidney and liver disease.14,15
Excess Protein Damages the Bones = Osteoporosis
Worldwide, rates of hip fractures (and kidney stones)
increase with increasing animal protein consumption (including dairy
products). For example, people from the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden,
Australia, and New Zealand have the highest rates of osteoporosis. 15,16
The lowest rates are among people who eat the fewest animal-derived foods
(these people are also on lower calcium diets) � like the people from
rural Asia and rural Africa.15,16
Osteoporosis is caused by several controllable factors;
however, the most important one is the foods we choose � especially the
amount of animal protein and the foods high in acid.17-19 The high acid
foods are meat, poultry, fish, seafood, and hard cheeses � parmesan cheese
is the most acidic of all foods commonly consumed.20 This acid must be
neutralized by the body.21 Carbonate, citrate and sodium are alkaline
materials released from the bones to neutralize the acids. Fruits and
vegetables are alkaline and as a result a diet high in these plant foods
will neutralize acid and preserve bones. The acidic condition of the body
caused by the Western diet also raises cortisol (steroid) levels. 22
Elevated cortisol causes severe chronic bone loss � just like giving
steroid medication for arthritis causes severe osteoporosis.
Excess Protein Burdens the Kidneys and Liver
Processing all that excess dietary protein � as much as
300 grams (10 ounces) a day �causes wear and tear on the kidneys; and as a
result, on average, 25% of kidney function is lost over a lifetime (70
years) from consuming the Western diet.8,9 Fortunately, the kidneys are
built with large reserve capacity and the effects of losing one-quarter of
kidney function are of no consequence for otherwise healthy people.
However, people who have already lost kidney function for other reasons �
from an accident, donation of a kidney, infection, diabetes, and
hypertension � may suffer life-threatening consequences from a diet no
higher in protein than the average American consumes.10,11
The time-honored fundamental treatment for people with
failing kidneys is a low-protein diet. End-stage kidney failure, requiring
dialysis, can usually be postponed or avoided by patients fortunate enough
to learn about the benefits of a low-protein diet.10-13
People suffering with liver failure are also placed on
diets low in protein as fundamental therapy � short of a liver transplant,
this is the most important therapy they will receive. During the end
stages of liver failure, patients will often fall into a coma from the
build-up of protein breakdown products (hepatic coma). A change to a
cost-free, very low-protein diet can cause these dying people to awaken.
Well planned, plant-food based diets are particularly effective with both
kidney and liver disease.14,15
Excess Protein Damages the Bones = Osteoporosis
Worldwide, rates of hip fractures (and kidney stones)
increase with increasing animal protein consumption (including dairy
products). For example, people from the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden,
Australia, and New Zealand have the highest rates of osteoporosis. 15,16
The lowest rates are among people who eat the fewest animal-derived foods
(these people are also on lower calcium diets) � like the people from
rural Asia and rural Africa.15,16
Osteoporosis is caused by several controllable factors;
however, the most important one is the foods we choose � especially the
amount of animal protein and the foods high in acid.17-19 The high acid
foods are meat, poultry, fish, seafood, and hard cheeses � parmesan cheese
is the most acidic of all foods commonly consumed.20 This acid must be
neutralized by the body.21 Carbonate, citrate and sodium are alkaline
materials released from the bones to neutralize the acids. Fruits and
vegetables are alkaline and as a result a diet high in these plant foods
will neutralize acid and preserve bones. The acidic condition of the body
caused by the Western diet also raises cortisol (steroid) levels. 22
Elevated cortisol causes severe chronic bone loss � just like giving
steroid medication for arthritis causes severe osteoporosis.
Even though sulfur-containing amino acids are essential
for our survival, an excess of these amino acids beyond our needs places a
critical burden upon our body and detracts from our health in six
important ways:
1) Amino acids, as the name implies are acids; the
sulfur-containing amino acids are the strongest acids of all, they
breakdown into powerful sulfuric acid. Excess acid, as discussed above, is
a primary cause of bone loss leading to osteoporosis and kidney stone
formation.29
2) Methionine is metabolized into homocysteine � animal
foods are the major source of the amino acid, homocysteine, in people �
the more meat in the diet, the higher a person�s blood level of
homocysteine. A diet high in fruits and vegetables lowers the levels of
this amino acid. Epidemiological and clinical studies have proven
homocysteine to be an independent risk factor for heart attacks, strokes,
closure of the arteries to the legs (peripheral vascular disease), blood
clots in the legs (venous thrombosis), thinking problems (cognitive
impairment), and even worse mental troubles, like dementia, Alzheimer's
disease, and depression.30
3) Sulfur feeds cancerous tumors. Cancer cell metabolism
is dependent upon methionine being in the diet; whereas, normal cells can
grow on a methionine-free diet (feeding off of other sulfur-containing
amino acids). This methionine-dependency has been demonstrated for breast,
lung, colon, kidney, melanoma, and brain cancers.31,32 Increasing
methionine in the diet of animals promotes the growth of cancer.33
There is also evidence of cancer promoting effects of
methionine mediated through a powerful growth stimulating hormone, called
insulin-like growth factor - 1 (IGF-1).34 Meat and dairy products raise
IGF-1 levels and promote the growth of cancers of the breast, colon,
prostate, and lung.35
4) Sulfur from sulfur-containing amino acids is known to
be toxic to the tissues of the intestine, and to have deleterious effects
on the human colon, even at low levels.36 The consequence of a diet of
high-methionine (animal) foods may be a life-threatening inflammatory
bowel disease, called ulcerative colitis.37-38
5) Sulfur restriction prolongs life.39 Almost seventy
years ago, restricting food consumption was found to prolong the life of
animals by changing the fundamental rate at which aging occurs.40
Restriction of methionine in the diet has also been shown to prolong the
life of experimental animals. By no coincidence, a diet based on plant
foods is inherently low in both calories and methionine � thus the easiest
and most effective means to a long and healthy life.
6) Possibly a stronger motivation to keep protein, and
especially methionine-rich animal protein, out of your diet is foul
smelling odors � halitosis, body odor, and noxious flatus � akin to the
smell of rotten eggs � are direct results of the sulfur (animal protein)
you eat.41,42
Do Not Waste Your Health Away
Animal foods, full of protein waste, promote poor health
and early death by accelerating the aging process and increasing the risk
of diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, that in their own
right, cause premature death. From now on, think of the excess protein you
consume as garbage that must be disposed of in order to avoid toxic waste
accumulation. Obviously, the best action is to avoid the excess in the
first place and this is most easily accomplished by choosing a diet based
on starches, vegetables, and fruits. Within a few days of changing to a
healthy diet, most of the waste will be gone and the damaged tissues will
begin healing.
Unfortunately, you will find little support for such an
obvious, inexpensive, and scientifically-supported approach � especially
when the common masses of people worldwide are ignorant of the truth �
most are gobbling down as much protein as they can stuff in their mouths �
and the food industry is supporting this behavior by advertising their
products as �high-protein� and "Atkins-approved" � as if this was somehow
good for the body. This paradox is age-old, and because it is ruled by
emotions, rather than clear thinking, a change in mind-set in your
lifetime, should not be expected.
Two thousand years ago, in this Bible passage, Paul
asked for tolerance between meat eaters and vegetarians (Romans 14:1-2).
�One man�s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man whose faith
is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look
down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not
condemn the man who does...� Do not wait for a consensus before you take
action.
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41) McDougall J. Halitosis Is More than Bad Breath . McDougall
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www.drmcdougall.com.
42) McDougall J. Bad Farts? Meat Stinks! McDougall Newsletter. August
2002 at www.drmcdougall.com.
�2004
John McDougall All Rights Reserved
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