Are High Protein Diets Good for Your Kidneys?

A protein diet is one that emphasizes consumption of proteins and certain fats while limiting intake of carbohydrates. Followers of this plan claim the diet helps them lose weight because the restriction of carbs causes the body to burn stored body fat instead of glucose. While some doctors and nutritionists question a high-protein diet's long-term effect on the kidneys, there is no firm evidence suggesting it causes damage to the organs.

History

• High-protein, low-carb diets rose to popularity with the advent of the Atkins diet in the 1990s. It was invented by cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins, who followed the plan himself to lose weight. Atkins claimed that an unbalanced menu of mostly beef and eggs -- and the near-elimination of carbs such as fruits and bread -- not only helped with weight loss, but staved off illnesses and improved energy. Since then, variations of the plan, such as the South Beach Diet, have come to the forefront.

Benefits

• The Atkins and other protein plans have become popular because, if followed properly, they have been proven to help with weight loss. Also, protein diets typically do not have any sort of caloric restriction. While followers of such plans are encouraged to eat sensibly, they can eat until satisfaction, avoiding the hunger pangs that come with many diets.

Kidneys and Protein

• The human kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near the middle of the back, one on each side. Kidneys have many functions, including acting as a "filter" for blood to remove waste. They also control how much water is in the body. Some experts believe that consuming too much protein places too much stress on these all-important organs, and can lead to kidney stones or even failure.

Ketosis

• The process of burning fat rather than glucose for energy -- as protein diets promote -- is called ketosis. Medical experts believe that during this process, the body forms dangerous compounds known as ketones, which can cause organs, specifically kidneys, to fail. Ketosis is believed to be avoided by consuming a minimum of 100 grams of carbohydrates per day. Most protein diets, however, limit carb intake to less than 50 grams per day.

Summary

• Doctors not only have expressed concern over a high-protein diet's affect on kidneys, but on the liver and heart as well. However, there has been no verification of such anxieties. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found the Atkins Diet to be healthy and beneficial, even for the long term.
  Either way, anyone who goes on a high-protein plan should be sure to drink no less than six 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Water is the best thing you can give your kidneys, fighting off disease and assisting digestion.