Excess protein intake can damage kidneys, dietician warns

According to Cynthia Onyekwere, a Registered Dietician-Nutritionist, while protein is necessary for the body to build muscle, repair tissue, and fight infection, too much of it can harm the kidneys.

 According to the dietician, eating too much protein may increase the burden on the kidneys, causing progressive damage.

Onyekwere also cautioned Nigerians against living mainly on processed foods, noting that those doing it are at risk of developing kidney diseases.

Eating a lot of processed foods, she warned can predispose those indulging in it to Type 2 diabetes and increase their risk of coming down with kidney diseases later on in life.

"Too much protein in the diet can harm the kidneys," Onyekwere said. Protein is necessary for the repair of worn-out tissues and the formation of new ones, but it is damaging to the kidneys when taken in excess.

"This is because the kidney aids in the removal of waste materials produced by protein digestion."

According to the National Kidney Foundation, having too much protein in the body can cause waste to build up in the blood, and the kidneys may not be able to remove all the extra waste.