Is Too Much Protein Bad For The Heart?
If gains are on the agenda, there's no doubt everything you eat is centred around protein. But can you eat too of the good stuff? According to new research, too much of the muscle-building staple can be deadly.
According to a new study published by the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, high protein diets among middle-aged men can increases the risk of heart failure.
After analysing the diet of over 2400 men aged between 42 and 60, researchers split the group into four, depending on their protein intake.
After tracking the participants for, on average, 22 years, results found 330 men had suffered heart failure.
RELATED: The Amount Of Protein That Will Max Out Your Gains
Alarmingly, the group with the highest protein intake was 33 per cent more likely to suffer heart failure than those with the lowest consumption.
Interestingly it was meat and dairy-based protein that posed men at greater risk - plant based protein only saw a 17 percent higher risk of heart failure.
“As many people seem to take the health benefits of high-protein diets for granted, it is important to make clear the possible risks and benefits of these diets,” says senior author of the study Jyrki Virtanen explained.
RELATED: 6 Protein Myths That Are Messing With Your Diet
Previously, research found that for maximum gains, it's recommended you eat 1.6 grams for every 1 kilogram of bodyweight.
If you think you're at risk, it's always best to check in with your GP.
