Why is excess protein harmful?
The liver has to work hard to deaminate (remove the ammonia from) every amino acid molecule burned for energy. Following a high-protein meal, the liver is so full of this harsh ammonia that it has to engorge itself with fluid (blood) to dilute it. Slowly, the liver converts the ammonia to urea, a less harsh substance, which is sent to the kidneys to be excreted. The kidneys, forced to work overtime to eliminate urea, assimilate calcium from the blood to attain the appropriate acid/base balance range. The blood then steals more calcium from the bones in an effort to raise its calcium back to normal levels. The long-term result: Overworked liver and kidneys and calcium-depleted bones (osteoporosis), all because the body was forced to burn protein as a calorie source. Even high-protein diet advocates like Atkins and Sears admit excess protein can be harmful in the long-term. These are not diets for a lifetime, as a whole-foods, plant-based diet is. What is ketosis? When the body does not
