Let’s face it – while following the Paleo lifestyle we tend to have a higher protein diet than others. In fact many people think that is the main focus of the Paleo diet – meat, meat, meat. On Paleo we strive to get our carbohydrates from vegetables and fruits and our protein from animal sources (along with some good and healthy fats). While yes meat is important and a great way to get some healthy protein, the bigger part of the Paleo diet is selecting high-quality, unprocessed, real food while getting rid of foods the body struggles to handle like gluten, grains, dairy, legumes, sugars and food additives.
Can You Eat Too Much Protein?
With all that said there clearly is more protein being consumed than your typical diet so you might find yourself wondering if you can in fact eat too much protein. Well, the simple answer is yes. Let’s face it, you can have too much of just about anything – even water. So when it comes right down to it you can have too much protein and if you do get to the point of protein toxicity it can have some large impacts on your health.
How Much Protein is Too Much?
But where is that line? Are you in fact eating too much protein? How much is too much? This is a pretty big topic of late – party due to the popularity the Paleo lifestyle is gaining. Unfortunately due to differences in weight, caloric intake, and other lifestyle factors there isn’t just one specific number we can give. From some sources you will see that your threshold for protein is 30-35% of your calorie intake, while others say you should only be consuming .4 grams of protein per pound of your bodyweight and then you have yet another category stating protein intake is related to your fitness activity.
So that leads us back to our question of how much is too much. The Paleo lifestyle recommends good quality proteins that leave you satiated. Paleo recommends including protein in each of your meals but the “how much” as you can see is dependent on you, your size, your calorie intake, and your fitness level.
Most likely if you are feeling physically fit, healthy, hydrated, and keeping a good healthy weight you are doing just fine as far as your protein levels. If you really are worried about your health or that you might be consuming too much protein you should always speak with a nutritionist or doctor. In the mean time you can also take a look at a few of these resources:
How Much Protein Is Too Much With Paleo
3 Signs You Could Be Eating Too Much Protein