If you missed part one, read it here: The Protein Problem, Part 1: The Body's Protein Needs.
An overdose of protein, primarily animal protein, is one of the main reasons degenerative diseases flourish these days. Not only that, but too much protein can cause a lack of other essential nutrients. Robert O.Young, D.Sc., Ph.D., ND, even declares that "the over-consumption of animal protein presents a far greater threat to ones health than completely eliminating the ingestion of ALL protein (1). This is because there is a clear parallel between the consumption of animal products and the risk of degenerative diseases, where those who only eat a plant based diet are less likely to get degenerative diseases than those who eat animal products. Despite this fact, those who advocate a high protein diet "would have their devotees believe there is a worldwide conspiracy, including more than 3,500 scientific studies, involving more than 15,000 research scientists, reporting a relationship between the consumption of meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, with heart disease, cancer, kidney failure, constipation, gallstones, diverticulosis, and hemorrhoids, just to name a few" (2).
Animal proteins consist of more sulfur-containing amino acids than do plant proteins. When these amino acids are broken down, they release the acid in the body. Not only are sulfuric acids created, but also phosphoric, nitric, and uric acids. Dr. Young states that these acids "will not only shrink your brain but will also shrink your ovaries and your testes" (3). He explains that if the body cannot get rid of all this acid through the sweat, urine, feces, and breath, it has to neutralize it in the fatty tissues, which include the brain. The uric acids increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, fatty liver, gout, high LDL, and obesity (4). The reason for obesity is that the acids put oxidative stress on the mitochondria, and this stress signals the body to start storing fat no matter calorie intake (5). In one study, it was discovered that people who ate casein, the primary protein in milk, gained weight, whereas people who got the same amount of calories and the same diet, except they ate soy protein instead of casein, lost weight (6).
Animal protein also increases the total cholesterol level in the body, whereas plant proteins lower it. For example, in one study, casein increased the cholesterol level five times more than did soy protein. Similar results were seen in the comparison of lactalbumin, another protein in milk, and corn and soy protein. It is also interesting to notice that when animal protein was exchanged for plant protein, the cholesterol level lowered, and when the plant protein was switched to animal protein, the level rose again accordingly. (7)
Clearly, there is a relationship between animal protein and several common diseases. What is your reaction to this? Let me know your opinion in the comments!
Watch for The Protein Problem, Part 3: Protein and Strength coming soon!
(1) Young, Robert O., D.Sc., Ph.D., ND. "But Where Do I Get my Protein!?" March 28, 2012. http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/2012/03/but-where-do-i-get-my-protien.html (Accessed May 14, 2014)
(2) Fuhrman, Joel, M.D. "The Atkins Cancer Revolution." http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article2.aspx (Accessed May 14, 2014)
(3) Young, Robert O., D.Sc., Ph.D., ND. "Eating Animal Protein Shrinks Your Brain and Your Balls." November 1, 2009. http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/2009/11/eating-animal-protein-shrinks-your.html (Accessed May 12, 2014)
(4) Dr. Mercola. "Startling Research Findings: A Newly Discovered Cause of High Blood Pressure and Obesity?" May 25, 2010. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/25/startling-research-findings-a-newly-discovered-cause-of-high-blood-pressure-and-obesity.aspx (Accessed May 13, 2014)
(5) Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado. "Sugar, uric acid, and the etiology of diabetes and obesity." October, 2013. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24065788 (Accessed May 13, 2014)
(6) Greger, Michael, M.D. "Milk Protein vs. Soy Protein." September 5, 2010. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/milk-protein-vs-soy-protein/ (Accessed May 13, 2014)
(7) Campbell, T. Colin. "The Mystique of Protein and Its Implications." January 19, 2014. http://nutritionstudies.org/mystique-of-protein-implications/ (Accessed May 13, 2014)Labels: Health Articles
