{"id":167255,"date":"2025-09-29T03:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/167255\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T03:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:28:09","slug":"the-downside-of-eating-too-much-animal-based-protein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/167255\/","title":{"rendered":"The Downside Of Eating Too Much Animal-Based Protein"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting 10,000 steps a day<\/a>. Improving your VO2 max<\/a>. Putting berries on your breakfast<\/a>. What are the habits you embrace in an effort to live a long, healthy life? Certainly it\u2019s the routines we do regularly that impact our health the most. <\/p>\n

But there\u2019s one well-intentioned habit in particular that longevity experts say can actually take years off your life instead of adding more to it: eating too much animal-based protein. Thought a high-protein diet was a good thing? As doctors explain here, getting too much can backfire.<\/p>\n

Why Overemphasizing Protein Isn\u2019t Actually Healthy<\/p>\n

Before we get into why too much protein isn\u2019t good for longevity, it\u2019s important to note that the nutrient is absolutely important. Dr. Suzanne J. Ferree<\/a>, who is double-board-certified in family medicine and anti-aging and regenerative medicine, told HuffPost that it\u2019s especially important to get enough as we age. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe common theory is that we need to cut protein-rich foods as we age, but the research actually only supports this in younger people, not in those of us over 50,\u201d Ferree said. Scientific research backs this up<\/a>, showing that older adults need more protein than younger adults because our bodies naturally lose muscle as we age.<\/p>\n

So yes, protein is absolutely important. How much protein a person needs each day<\/a> varies based on one\u2019s individual health and needs, but the Food and Drug Administration recommends aiming for 50 grams of protein a day as part of a 2,000-calorie diet. The problem is that many people are eating more protein than they need. On top of that, Americans are overconsuming a specific type of protein that isn\u2019t all that healthy.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cExcessive<\/p>\n

Claudia Totir via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cExcessive consumption of animal-based proteins can actually accelerate aging and undermine cellular health, contrary to popular belief,\u201d said Dr. Monisha Bhanote.<\/p>\n

In general, there are two types of proteins: animal-based proteins and plant-based proteins. Research has shown<\/a> that plant-based proteins are healthier than animal-based proteins. Unfortunately, Americans are consuming more of the latter than the former.<\/p>\n

\u201cA common mistake is the overemphasis on consuming a high-protein diet, particularly one rich in animal-based proteins, with the belief that it is essential for longevity and muscle preservation. Many people assume that the more protein they consume, the healthier they will be, leading to an overconsumption of animal products like meat, dairy and eggs,\u201d said Dr. Monisha Bhanote<\/a>, a quintuple-board-certified physician and longevity expert. <\/p>\n

Most Americans are eating about 100 grams<\/a> of protein a day, double the recommended amount. According to a Dietary Guidelines for Americans report<\/a>, 75% of Americans meet or exceed the recommendation for meat, poultry and eggs. Bhanote says this is exactly what can take years off one\u2019s life. <\/p>\n

\u201cExcessive consumption of animal-based proteins can actually accelerate aging and undermine cellular health, contrary to popular belief,\u201d she said. She explained that the biggest reasons for this come down to two harmful compounds: advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).<\/p>\n

\u201cAGEs are harmful compounds that form when proteins or fats combine with sugar in the bloodstream,\u201d Bhanote said. She explained that animal-based foods \u2014 especially if they are grilled, fried or roasted \u2014 are high in AGEs. Research shows<\/a> that these compounds can accumulate in your tissues and, over time, can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are key drivers of cellular aging. \u201cAGEs damage proteins, DNA and other vital cellular structures, accelerating the aging process and contributing to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d Bhanote said.<\/p>\n

\"Plant-based<\/p>\n

Jenny Dettrick via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Plant-based proteins are “naturally low in AGEs and do not contribute to TMAO production,” Bhanote said.<\/p>\n

What about TMAO? Bhanote explained that elevated levels of TMAO<\/a> have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke \u2014 all of which obviously are not good for longevity. \u201cTMAO promotes the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries and impairs the body\u2019s ability to remove it, leading to inflammation and further damage to the cardiovascular system. This not only compromises heart health but also affects overall cellular function and longevity,\u201d Bhanote said.<\/p>\n

Related to the mistake many people make of overemphasizing protein in their diet, Raghav Sehgal<\/a>, a Ph.D. student and Gruber fellow at Yale University whose research focuses on human aging, told HuffPost that one common mistake people make when it comes to longevity is focusing on \u201cmiracle diets\u201d promising fast results. The biggie that\u2019s relevant here: the ketogenic diet<\/a>, which prioritizes fat and protein while minimizing carbohydrates. For many people doing keto, meat and eggs are hero foods; however, as previously explained, eating too many animal products can take years off your life.<\/p>\n

How To Use Protein To Work For You, Not Against You <\/p>\n

So, how should we approach protein with an eye toward longevity? Bhanote and Sehgal are of the same mind about this: Eat more protein-rich plants and fish.<\/p>\n

While fish certainly isn\u2019t a plant, it is thought of differently than animal-based proteins because it has a completely different nutritional makeup than meat, and scientific research has repeatedly shown benefits to human health when consumed regularly. Eating fish regularly has been associated with reducing the risk of premature death by 12%.<\/a><\/p>\n

Sehgal explained that plant-based proteins (such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy, nuts and seeds) are loaded with antioxidants, fiber and nutrients that keep our hearts healthy, reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases. \u201cThese foods are naturally low in AGEs and do not contribute to TMAO production, making them much gentler on your cells and overall health,\u201d Bhanote added.<\/p>\n

Scientific studies show<\/a> that having a diet that prioritizes plant-based proteins lowers the risk of mortality associated with cardiovascular disease and other causes. In other words, replacing animal proteins with plant proteins can add years to your life.<\/p>\n

While most Americans meet or exceed the protein recommendation for meat, poultry and eggs, 90% of Americans aren\u2019t meeting the recommended guidelines for seafood<\/a>. Sehgal told HuffPost that seafood high in protein and unsaturated fats supports brain health<\/a>, promotes hormone balance<\/a> and helps fight inflammation<\/a> \u2014 all of which contribute to longevity. <\/p>\n

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Thank you again for your support along the way. We\u2019re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Again, no one is disputing that protein is important. It\u2019s crucial to get enough and, as Ferree pointed out, it\u2019s especially important to get enough as we age. But other nutrients are important too, which is why Sehgal said the best diet for longevity is a balanced one that includes a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods. <\/p>\n

The benefit of eating a balanced diet full of plants certainly isn\u2019t revolutionary news, but it is backed up by many scientific studies. When it comes to longevity \u2014 and health in general \u2014 science-backed wins out over trendy and new. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getting 10,000 steps a day. Improving your VO2 max. Putting berries on your breakfast. What are the habits…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":167256,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[616,102,6636,9725,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-167255","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-diet","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-nutrition","11":"tag-protein","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}