of protein increases the liver’s urea production and elevates glomerular filtration in the kidneys, which can accelerate issues in individuals with pre-existing renal conditions.
Nutritional Balance: Relying too heavily on a high protein diet often leads to dietary displacement, causing deficiencies in essential dietary fiber, micronutrients, and complex carbohydrates.
What Happens During Protein Digestion and Absorption?
To evaluate how much is too much, it helps to understand how your gastrointestinal tract and metabolic organs process dietary amino acids.
1. Mouth: Chewing the food is the first step in digesting protein. It begins mechanical breakdown. Salivary glands provide saliva to aid in swallowing and the passage of mashed protein through the esophagus.
2. Stomach: Releases gastric juices containing hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen which activates and turns into pepsin that digests proteins in the stomach. This denatures the proteins.
3. Small Intestine: Chyme containing digested protein is emptied into small intestine. The
