22/02/2025
🛑 Context Matters: Understanding Protein, Workouts & Kidney Health 🛑
As someone who runs a fitness program like The Brave Project, which promotes muscle as the organ of longevity, advocating for sufficient protein intake and resistance training, seeing posts like this can be frustrating—especially when they go viral without providing full context.
The post in the screenshots makes it seem like the person got sick solely because of high protein intake and workouts, but it leaves out important factors that actually contribute to kidney health issues, such as:
✅ Pre-existing conditions (undiagnosed kidney disease)
✅ Severe dehydration and poor fluid intake
✅ High blood pressure and poor metabolic health
✅ Medication overuse (NSAIDs, certain prescriptions)
✅ Genetic predisposition to kidney problems
📌 This is why context matters. Instead of blindly blaming protein and exercise, we should focus on the bigger picture—because posts like this, while well-intentioned, can create unnecessary fear rather than real awareness.
I was tempted to retaliate, but instead, I’m choosing to educate and spread awareness—not to defend what we do, but to fight confusion with science.
🔬 What Experts Actually Say 🔬
✅ Protein does NOT cause kidney disease in healthy individuals.
* Dr. Layne Norton, PhD in Nutrition: “Protein intake, even at high levels, does not damage kidney function in people with healthy kidneys.”
* Dr. Stuart Phillips, Ph.D., PhD in Protein Metabolism: “There is zero evidence that a high-protein diet harms kidney function in healthy people. In fact, protein plays a crucial role in muscle maintenance, metabolic health, and aging.”
* Research confirms that high-protein diets only become a concern for those who already have kidney disease.
✅ Workouts DO NOT cause kidney disease.
* Strength training and regular exercise improve metabolic health, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and support long-term health.
* Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, MD: “Muscle is the organ of longevity. Strength training and sufficient protein intake are the foundation for healthy aging. Avoiding muscle loss is KEY to preventing metabolic diseases.”
💡 The real risks to kidney health? Dehydration, uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and poor overall metabolic health—not simply protein and training.
🚨 What Actually Causes Kidney Problems?
If protein and exercise aren’t the culprits, then what is? Here’s what science says:
✅ 1️⃣ High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
* Chronic high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney damage. Over time, it weakens blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their ability to function properly.
* What causes high blood pressure?
* Excess sodium intake from processed foods
* Obesity and metabolic syndrome
* Chronic stress and poor sleep
* Lack of exercise and poor cardiovascular health
✅ 2️⃣ Poor Blood Sugar Control (Diabetes & Insulin Resistance)
* Diabetes is the #1 cause of kidney failure worldwide.
* When blood sugar levels stay high for long periods, it damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their ability to filter waste.
✅ 3️⃣ Dehydration and Poor Fluid Intake
* The kidneys need adequate water intake to help flush out waste products.
* Chronic dehydration increases the risk of kidney stones and can put unnecessary stress on kidney function.
✅ 4️⃣ Medication Overuse (Painkillers & Other Drugs)
* Overuse of NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin, etc.) can cause kidney damage over time.
* Certain antibiotics, diuretics, and blood pressure medications may also impact kidney function if used excessively.
✅ 5️⃣ Genetic Factors & Pre-existing Conditions
* Some people are genetically predisposed to kidney disease, making them more sensitive to diet, lifestyle, and medication.
* This is why blanket statements about "protein causing kidney disease" are misleading.
⚠️ The Real Issue: When Lack of Context Creates Confusion
Posts like the one in the screenshots get shared thousands of times, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary fear.
🚨 What’s the risk of incomplete posts like this?
* Scaring people away from proper nutrition and strength training
* Creating unnecessary fear of protein, even for healthy individuals
* Damaging the credibility of fitness professionals and nutrition coaches who do things right
💡 The post in question is not necessarily wrong—it’s just incomplete. And when incomplete information goes viral, it can cause more confusion than awareness.
✅ If you see posts like this, question them.
✅ Do your own research.
✅ Consult credible experts.
📢 To those who saw the viral post, fear not protein and workouts—fear the spread of incomplete information that leads to confusion instead of clarity.
With the rise of AI, Google, and open-access science, ignorance is no longer an excuse. The real issue isn’t protein—it’s blindly believing posts without fact-checking and seeking full context.
🚀 If this post resonates with you, share it. Let’s make science-based fitness go viral instead of misleading content.
