GMA: High Protein Diets Danger, Food Products, Kidney Stones + Ketosis

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Diets high in protein are all the rage right now, but are we getting more protein than we actually need? Find out what experts are saying, and what too much protein can lead to, from Good Morning America.

GMA: High Protein Food Products

Some say that Greek yogurt could be at fault for the popularity of protein products. Shortly after its introduction on the market, sales of the product skyrocketed, and manufacturers took notice. Now, all sorts of products are offering more protein, including Cheerios with protein, protein pretzels, and Flap Jacked pancakes with fifteen grams of protein. Oscar Meyer even released the P3 package, which is kind of like a Lunchable for adults, and advertised as full of protein.

Nutritionist Lisa Drayer said the recommended protein serving is 46 grams a day for women, and 56 grams a day for men. So what does that breakdown look like for a woman? Lisa Drayer said a typical diet that meets these standards for a woman could include a fruit and yogurt parfait for breakfast, a mid-morning latte, a chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, apple with peanut butter for a snack, and a four-ounce fish fillet with rice and vegetables for dinner.

GMA: Popular High Protein Diets

The Atkins Diet, and others that focus on protein consumption, have boosted the popularity of protein-infused products. Lisa Drayer explained that protein helps build muscle mass, and the more muscles we have, the more calories we burn. Using some of these protein products might be a good thing in some cases, like if your child who’s a picky eater won’t eat meat or eggs.

Good Morning America: High Protein Ketosis Danger + Kidney Stones

However, too much protein can lead to some serious issues, including kidney stones. Lisa Drayer said that subbing carbohydrates for protein can lead to ketosis, which actually alerts that body that it’s in starvation mode.

Dr. Jen Ashton was on Good Morning America to talk more about the protein problem. She explained that ketosis is the term used for when your body doesn’t have carbohydrates to burn and turns to burning fat. Dr. Jen Ashton said that some people wake up with a mild form of ketosis from not eating during the night, which is normal; however, excessive ketosis could lead to health problems.

So how much protein is too much? Dr. Jen Ashton said that it’s not a one size fits all serving. She admitted that she eats a lot of protein, and so did the other people on Good Morning America. She said your age, weight, gender, body type, and activity level can all determine what your daily intake should be for protein. Generally speaking, an adult should eat .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight.