Is Too Much Protein Bad For Your Kidneys?
It depends on your goals, let's get into it!
Devotion Nutrition protein is a convenient and might I say freaking TASTY way to increase your protein intake and supplement your daily nutrition.
Now should you replace ALL your protein sources with whey? NO, don't do that.
You should be getting the majority of your protein from high quality sources, but as always you can use high-quality whey protein to fill the gaps, grab a quick meal and bake up your favorite treats.
Keep reading and find out what works best for you!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
· Protein is essential for maintaining and building lean muscle mass.
· Whey protein is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids.
· Many factors influence your protein needs, including your activity level and choice of workout.
Is Too Much Protein Bad for Your Kidneys?
This question comes up all the time—especially when someone starts upping their protein.
Whether it’s to build muscle, lose fat, or just stay fuller longer, someone always chimes in with:
“Be careful… too much protein is bad for your kidneys.”
Let’s clear this up.
Where This Even Came From
This warning started with people who already have kidney disease. And yes—in those cases, limiting protein can help.
But if your kidneys are healthy? That advice doesn’t apply to you.
There is no solid evidence that eating more protein damages healthy kidneys. None.
What Research Really Says. – and believe me I’ve done tons of it over my 20 years in dietetics
Plenty of studies have looked at high-protein diets—even double or triple the standard recommendations—and the results are consistent:
No harm to kidney function in healthy men or women.
A 2020 review in Advances in Nutrition backed that up. And a 2016 study had people eating up to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day—still no issues with kidney health.
So if your kidneys are working fine, protein isn’t the problem.
How Much Protein Do You Actually Need?
That standard “0.36 grams per pound” most people hear?
That’s the bare minimum to avoid deficiency. It’s not enough if you want to feel good, stay strong, or change your body.
Here’s a better range for most adults:
- General health: 0.55–0.75 grams per pound
- Fat loss or building muscle: 0.75–1.0 grams per pound
Example:
A 150-pound person would aim for 90–130 grams of protein per day.
A 200-pound person might need 110–160 grams.
Totally doable with balanced meals, snacks, and smart supplements like Devotion Protein.
Bottom Line
If you’re healthy, eating more protein is not dangerous—and it’s actually one of the best ways to support your goals.
Whether you want to feel stronger, stay satisfied, or improve your body composition, protein helps. And no—your shake isn’t ruining your kidneys.
Let’s stop fearing protein and start using it.
- Devries MC, Sithamparapillai A, Brimble KS, Phillips SM. Changes in kidney function do not differ between healthy adults consuming higher- compared with lower- or normal-protein diets: a systematic review and meta-analysis . *J Nutr*. 2016 Mar;146(3):592-602.
- Antonio J, Ellerbroek A, Silver T, Vargas L, Tamayo A, Buehn R, Peacock CA. A high protein diet has no harmful effects: a one-year crossover study in resistance-trained males . *J Nutr Metab*. 2016;2016:9104792.
- Morton RW, Murphy KT, McKellar SR, Schoenfeld BJ, Henselmans M, Helms E, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults . *Br J Sports Med*. 2018 Mar;52(6):376–84.
