whoaaa..195 grams prottein too much??

I usually log my items but dont check the analsis and when I did today i was shocked!  195 grams protein and 185 grams carbs.  I am going to list a usual day for me...please help me understand what i am doing wrong.  I am 5'4 125 pounds.  I eat 1900-2000 calories a day.

Breakfast: A protein pancake: 6.5 oz low fat cottage cheese, 2 tsp egg white, 30 grams oatmeal and a tsp of lite syrup on top

snack: egg white w/ string cheese, an apple

snack: banana

lunch: 4 oz salmon, 1 cup taboulleh (made with fresh tomato), a small salad

snack: 10 almonds

dinner: 6 oz chicken breast, taboulleh, salad, some veggie like zucchini

snack: plum

comes out to 1800 calories, 17% fat (35 grams), 42.6% protein (195 grams), 40.4% carbs (185 grams), fiber is 35 grams.

thank you!!!

If you're trying to build muscle that's an awesome diet!  Otherwise you may be damaging your kidneys a bit with that much of a high protein intake.  Try to eat more veggies and fruit, also try cereal (Kashi GoLean is extremely healthy).

That being said, I want to copy your diet because I'm a gym rat lately and need extra protein.  That breakfast is incredibly high in protein, is it any good?

I'm no expert but I don't think there should be anything wrong with too much protein. If your body doesn't like it, it'll probably go away with your next long trip to the bathroom. And if it does stay, it'll just add muscle, right? No harm in that.
Then again, this is just my opinion.

i think its pretty good..  it takes a while to cook up...you have to brown it on both sides so the outside it a little crispy and the inside is still a little soft.  Yummy...although my husband thinks it looks gross and refuses to try it.  Oh well..more for me =)

Long term consumption of lots of protein (in excess of 95g daily) can put you at risk of calcium depletion.  Your body uses calcium to metabolize proteins and will rob your bones to get it.  If you have other risk factors for osteoporosis, it is something to bear in mind.

Hey Lysistrata,

I'm a bit confused about protein.  I'm no protein whore but I've definitely upped mine since joining cc.  Where does the 95 g number come from?  Is that just for women or for whom.

I could use some advice too:)

yes that is too much protein if you are not using all of it.  you have to understand that protein derived from animals does not pass through your body like extra vitamins.  they stay and build up, which can result in cancers, osteoporosis, liver disease, etc.  so just be careful ya?

heres an article i often times reference in regards to eating too much protein.

whoa...didnt know that it can cause that much harm.  So instead of the protein how can I meet my daily calorie requirements?  I already have a high carb ratio..and adding fat doesnt make sense.  I eat veggies and fruits but to much 1800 calories worth.. I would be eating all day

Adding fat actually does make some sense. You need good fats to help your body absorb nutrients. The almonds and salmon are both great sources of good fats and omega 3s. Some olive oil or avocado would be great as well. If you need more calories complex carbs can help--more taboulleh, a sweet potato, etc.

It looks like you are doing great! --just a little high on the protein, but that should be easy to fix.

Take that article that star posted with a grain of salt.  It was written by a "holistic" doctor who is an advocate of alternative medicine/treatments and vegetarianism, and posted on an alternative medicine website.  I'm not discrediting it outright by default, but I have seen some absolute untruths and rediculous propaganda come from articles written for such websites.  I did a quick Google search for too much protein causes cancer and found no readily available information regarding that subject on anything that even resembles a reliable source.  I did however quickly find these articles regarding too much protein:

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/article s/nutrition/protein_2/

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.as p?articlekey=50900

hey now, be nice! i personally know that guy. hes an accredited dr and if you get anything out of that article its that the body does not let go of extra animal protein, but will let go of excess plant protein.  so if you get your protein mainly from soy then you're all good.

sorry, took it a bit personal.

i am already averaging about 30 grams of fat-- wont it be too much to add even more?

rene - the 95g number comes from a Nurse's Health study, which compared womens' diets over a 12-year period.  The study showed that the women who consumed the higher amount of protein had a 20% greater chance of having a broken wrist.

talilevy, I'd recommend replacing some of your meats and eggs with beans and lentils.  They will still give you protein, but also some carbohydrates, minerals and fiber.  A 40% carb ratio is not high at all, in fact it's pretty low; I've never seen a reputable recommendation lower than 50%, and many people eat more like 60% (I'm one of those).  A few more good carbs won't hurt you, and like librarygirl suggested, good vegetable fats.  It sounds like you eat extremely healthy foods, I would just suggest cutting the meat/eggs to 1-2 servings per day.

lysistrata...1-2 servings of meat/eggs a day is fine.  But what about the dairy..i know its also an animal product but is that included in the 1-2 servings?

Yeah, I'd include it, but it's less of a source than the meat.  Here is the thing:  your minimum protein needs are 46g a day.  One chicken breast has 43g ... nearly all of it!  You'll also get some protein from your egg whites, your cheese, the bulgar wheat in your tabouleh, your almonds, and the cottage cheese.  So it adds up quickly.  Maybe start by replacing your chicken breast with a bowl of black bean soup for dinner or some hummus on whole wheat pita bread.  I think just eliminating one meat serving a day would dramatically reduce your protein levels.

oh, and not to be outdone, here is the website I usually rely on:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/p rotein.html

The mayo clinic website also has some good information on protein and balanced diets.

On all of the food pyramids I've seen... Dairy was never in the same box with Meat...

I wouldn't include it, but that's just me...

I think there's lots of pyramids depending on how you classify the food.  Mayo clinic has several, and the "healthy weight" pyramid puts them together:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet /NU00190

You should swop places with me! I struggle to get enough protein because I don't eat meat or dairy products very often! I'm trying my best to eat more - your breakfast does look very high in protein. I may copy it in the future :P

I don't know whether eating too much protein is bad for you though but reading the replies about the calcium deficiancy, if I were you I would try to cut it down a little. :]  

Mayo clinic also recommends 3-7 servings (not 1-2)...

Thanks for posting that... I'd never seen anything other than the standard pyramid...

Sure.  You're right, it might be better to think in terms of 1-2 servings of meat/eggs only and 1-4 servings of dairy.