How to Eat Less Protein

If you have kidney or liver problems, you may need to learn to eat less protein so that toxic metabolites of nitrogen, ammonia or urea don’t accumulate in your body and affect your overall health. . By reducing protein intake, in the end, the workload of the kidneys and liver will be reduced and unnecessary stress on the body will also be eliminated. A low-protein diet should only be followed with the guidance and supervision of a physician.

Table of Contents

Identify Protein Sources in Your Diet

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Understand why you may need to eat less protein. If you have kidney or liver problems, such as when you were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, you may be asked to reduce your protein intake. As food metabolizes in the body, urea waste is formed. If there are kidney problems, urea may not be filtered out as it should. This accumulation of waste can be very dangerous to your health. ^{[1] X Research Source}

By reducing your protein intake, you’re also reducing the amount of work your kidneys have to do.
However, remember that protein is an important part of your diet and that you should only switch to a low-protein diet when recommended and under the supervision of your doctor.

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Identify foods with high-value protein ingredients. The first step to eating less protein is understanding where and how you get your protein in the first place. We consume two types of protein, high value protein and low value protein. Animal protein is a high value protein. Getting enough high-value protein is important for maintaining a healthy body. This type of protein generally produces less waste than low value proteins due to its amino acid balance. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Chicken, turkey, fish, red meat, eggs and pork are high-value protein foods.
Dairy products also contain high-value protein, but they also contain large amounts of phosphorus. As a result, you may need to reduce your intake of these products. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Identify foods with low value protein ingredients. Vegetable proteins are low value proteins because the essential amino acid content is lower than in high value proteins. ^{[4] X Source of Research} Some foods that contain this protein include cereals, breads, nuts, pasta, rice, pasta and dried beans. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Sometimes a high value protein rich in amino acids is called a complete protein and a low value protein is called an incomplete protein. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Always check food packaging to understand the protein content of that food.

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Evaluate your daily diet. Once you know the main sources of protein and their respective values, you can begin to analyze your diet and discover where and how you get your protein. If kidney or liver problems force you to reduce protein, don’t forget to discuss this analysis with your dietitian or doctor for guidance in developing a sensible and balanced diet. You can also use an online tool to get a rough idea. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Don’t cut protein out of your diet completely. The amount of protein to cut back will depend on your specific situation.
The amount of protein needed will change over time. Therefore, you need to work closely with your doctor to ensure that the diet is appropriate and supportive for your health condition. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
The diet also needs to meet your daily nutritional needs and so you can’t just cut it loosely.

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Know the recommended intake. When diagnosed with liver or kidney problems, the amount of protein you need to eat will be determined exactly by your doctor and dietitian. It may not be uniform from case to case but in general, with kidney problems you will likely be asked to take only 200 ml of milk as well as a serving of protein per day. This portion can be equivalent to 25g meat (including chicken and turkey), 40g fish, 1 egg, 25g cheese, 25g soy sauce or 75g tofu, lentils or chickpeas. ^{[9] X Research Source}

For adult men (ages 19-50), the recommended amount for people without kidney disease is 55.5 g per day.
For women of the same age, this figure is 45 g.
Men between 11 and 14 years old usually need 42 g and for women it is slightly less, at 41 g.
Men aged 15-18 years should take 55 g per day, women should take 45 g. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Reduce the amount of Protein in your Diet

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Gradually reduce protein intake. You can reduce protein intake by making some small changes to the way food is prepared. For example, when making chicken sandwiches, instead of large amounts of chicken, use only a few thin slices. Add more lettuce, tomatoes and salad to balance out the meat shortage and so you still have a delicious and filling meal. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Adding vegetables to eggs or minced meat can significantly reduce the protein content of a meal or snack.
You can increase the amount of soup by adding a low-value protein like rice. For cream soups, reduce the amount of milk and substitute with a lower value protein. ^{[12] X Research Source}
While prioritizing low-value protein is a good way to reduce your intake, you still need to ensure a balanced diet.

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Reduce the amount of high-value protein. To reduce the amount of high-value protein, you will have to cut meat in your diet. This doesn’t mean you need to get rid of meat entirely, but rather restructure your meals so that meat is no longer the centerpiece, but just a small side dish. You can also try not eating meat for a few days a week. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Consider going vegetarian because compared to animal sources, many plant protein sources are much lower in protein.
Always find a way to replace the calories from meat with other foods. For example, eat more vegetables and whole grains to make up for the reduced meat intake. Use vegetables and whole grains to fill you up, and remember to use healthy fats that don’t contain a lot of protein (like coconut oil, avocado, etc.).
If you like cheese, try using a small amount of cheese with a stronger flavor to satisfy your taste buds in a smaller amount. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Building recipes have been adjusted. You can create new versions of your favorite recipes for lower protein. For example, you can cook a low-protein version of a chicken salad. The usual recipe includes 3 cups of chopped cooked chicken, 1/4 cup of celery, 1 cup of red apples, 1/4 cup of pecans, and 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise.

You can adjust by changing the proportions of the ingredients.
Switch down to 1 1/2 cups of chicken and compensate by increasing the amount of celery to 1 cup. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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If needed, add calorie-boosting ingredients to your diet. If you reduce your protein intake, you run the risk of a calorie deficit. When planning your meals with your doctor or dietitian, they’ll take this into consideration and may suggest you add some calorie-fortified foods. These can include healthy fats like olive oil, salad dressings or sunflower oil.

Avoid adding too many carbohydrates to your meals to boost calories. Healthy fats are great calorie-boosting foods and offer many benefits to the body.
Honey, jam and other sweeteners can be added to foods and drinks to increase calorie intake.
If you have diabetes, make sure to talk to your doctor before adding these sugar-fortified foods. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Avoid foods high in sodium. High sodium levels can make it difficult for the body to control blood pressure and water intake. This is especially important if you have liver or kidney problems. Processed foods are often high in salt and, therefore, high in sodium. Fresh vegetables are a better choice. If in any doubt, seek advice or explanation from your doctor or dietitian. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. A low-calorie diet should be tailored to you and your health condition by a professional. Compliance with this regime is very important. It is indicated to balance the need to reduce high value protein while still providing the nutrients, minerals and calories you need.

If you must cut back on protein, your doctor may prescribe a supplement to meet all of your nutritional needs. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Maintain drinking water. Unless advised by your doctor, continue to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. As a result, your body is sufficiently hydrated and at the same time, limiting snacking. Sometimes we confuse hunger with thirst and so eat when we need to drink.

Reducing snacking makes it easier to cut down on protein. In general, you are advised to drink 1-2 liters of water per day. ^{[19] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Advice

Replenish mineral deficiencies caused by reducing or eliminating protein in the diet. These include amino acids, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3 and iron.

Warning

A low-protein diet should only be done in consultation with a doctor or dietitian.

Steps

Identify Protein Sources in Your Diet

Reduce the amount of Protein in your Diet

Advice

Warning

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