A low-protein diet limits your protein intake to 3–9% of your total daily calories. Protein is necessary for good health, however for certain people, lowering protein intake can be helpful. Low-protein diets can be beneficial to people who have damaged kidneys or liver. They may also be recommended for people with protein metabolism disorders like homocystinuria and phenylketonuria.
Protein is an essential macronutrient for muscle growth, tissue repair, and the production of enzymes and hormones. When you eat it, the liver breaks it down into amino acids, whereas the kidneys filter the waste products of protein digestion. If these organs aren’t functioning properly, they’ll have to work extra hard to process the protein you ingest. When you consume more protein than your body can manage, waste products will accumulate in your bloodstream, resulting in loss of appetite and fatigue. A low-protein diet reduces the stress on the kidneys, allowing the remaining healthy section of the kidney to work less hard.
By limiting protein intake, patients with kidney disease who aren’t on dialysis can minimize stress on their kidneys and prevent urea buildup in the bloodstream. A 2018 meta-analysis of 17 studies involving 2996 people with reduced kidney function. Found that very low protein diets, when compared to low or normal protein intakes, reduce the number of people with advanced kidney failure, who progress to dialysis.
A low-protein diet has been shown to have various benefits for those with renal disease. It has been proven to lower protein in the urine, improve cholesterol and lipid levels, and even improve glucose management. According to the National Kidney Foundation, restricting protein intake can extend the time until dialysis is required. Urea is a major problem for many patients with kidney disease. The amount of urea produced by protein metabolism is lowered when you eat a low-protein diet. This can help keep kidneys safe by reducing blood urea nitrogen levels.
Low-protein diets, specifically those derived from red meat and other types of animal sources, have also been linked to several health benefits, according to one study, limiting protein intake in middle-aged adults was associated with a longer lifespan and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
There may be negative effects if a low protein diet is not closely supervised by healthcare specialists. When you cut back on protein, you run the danger of not obtaining enough calories. Weight loss may occur unintentionally as a result of this. Getting enough calories to maintain a healthy weight is especially crucial during this time. Increase your intake of healthy fats such as nuts, seeds (chia seeds and flax seeds), avocados, and olive oil to make up for the excess calories.