Proteins are one of the essential part of the a balanced diet, it’s needed for growth and maintenance of cells. All cells, body organs, cell membranes, muscle cells, hair, nails, skin, enzymes, hormones and everything in body has protein as a basic constituent. Though an essential part, high protein intake can be a great danger to health, so says a new study conducted by Valter Longo, Edna M. Jones Professor of Biogerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute.
The researchers examined a large sample of adults for nearly two decades and found that the diet rich in proteins during middle age increases the chance of dying of cancer by four times compared to a person with a low protein diet. Thus making the mortality rate comparable to smoking.
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Research proves that middle aged people who eat lots of proteins from animal sources including milk ,meat are not only susceptible to die from cancer, but are also more likely to die earlier. They are 74 % more likely to die of any cause within the study period than low protein consumers. Even people who ate moderate amount of proteins were still three times more likely to die of cancer than lower protein eater. It was seen that change from moderate to low levels of protein taken reduced the likelihood of early death by 21%.
Not only that but this study also draws other important conclusions. One is how biology changes as we age and how food consumed in middle age impacts a person’s life span. Before this, most studies considered adulthood rather than other age groups.
So how an increased protein consumption increases the risk of mortality? Protein controls the growth hormone IGF-1, increased levels of which is associated with cancer formation. The levels of IGF-1 start dropping dramatically after the age of 65, resulting in frailty and muscle loss. While high protein intake in middle age is associated with elevated risk of cancer (as there is no deficiency of IGF-I). In old age, it’s exactly opposite growth hormone levels decrease and more protein should be consumed to maintain the growth and repair of cells.
This evidence backs up the previous research that showed that mutation resulting in IGF-1 deficiency in subjects (all subjects were less than 5 feet tall) lowered the risk of cancer and diabetes.
The conclusion of the research is that low protein diet is useful in middle age, but in old age a high protein diet should be eaten because high levels of IGF-1 increases the mortality rate along with making a person vulnerable to cancer and diabetes (by disturbing insulin levels).
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But an interesting thing scientists observed was that plant protein seemed to have no such effects like increasing mortality risk due to cancer and diabetes like animal proteins do. The rate of cancer mortality also was not effected by changing carbohydrates and fat levels, proving that animal protein is the only factor contributing to above mentioned harmful effects.
Everyone has cancerous or precancerous cell at some point of their lives, but its the factors which increase the risk of cancerous cell division and its metastasis, one of the major factor being the high protein consumption.
Scientists advice not to take more than the recommend levels of proteins and in middle age, maintaining a low level of protein is advisable but don’t cut it down to the extent that it leads to malnutrition and most preferably fulfill your body’s protein requirements by plant proteins.
[Source: University Of Southern California | Image Via Goodfon]
The study classified a low protein intake as less than 10% of your daily calorie intake, normal between 10% and 19% and high 20% and above. If you estimate 2000 calories per day, that would be respectively less than 200 calories from proteins (less than 50g), between 200 can 380 calories (between 50g and 95g) and 400 or more calories (100g or more).
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So are all proteins dangerous in their high consumption?
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Only high or normal amount of animal proteins in middle age increase the susceptibility to cancer and other ailments, plant proteins have no harmful effects at all but you should still avoid taking more than recommended amount everyday.
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Hha. How much is recommended? Everyday i prefer beans and sometimes Groundnuts
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About 10-35% of your total calorie intake per day should be protein (Less if you in middle age and more if you are over 65). For adult women, it is 46 grams per day and for adult men its 56 grams.
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just on the news this am but those over 65 or 70 can have hi protein
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Yes, that’s because HGH levels drop dramatically in old age, thus eating more proteins will not increase the chance of cancer rather than it will be beneficial for proper growth of cells.
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Plant based sounds good to me!
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Yes, there are no harmful effects associated with plant proteins. Thanks for the comment. 😉
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Interesting, and like the theory. Your articles are affecting my dreams. Had a great invention last night only to wake and find it was an old invention after all.
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It’s good to know Sparkonit is part of dreams now. 😀
Thanks for sharing and being a part of this site! 😀
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They spray our vegetables and fruits with poison chemicals. Most snack foods have cancer-causing monosodium glutamate, fast food gives you heart attacks, and the Pacific Ocean has been poisoned by the Fukushima Nuclear disaster. Radioactive fish just can
t be good for you....
t know what to eat anymore. Maybe I`ll just eat my cigarettes…Now I don
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Haha ,you still can eat a little protein, organic veges and fruits, whole grains. etc.. 😛
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Yep we try our best but the problem is Earth contamination spreads in the land, water and air e.g. rain or gm seeds spreading in the wind.
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Of course, the hereditary aspect of cancer can’t be ignored: my beloved husband ate a wonderfully sensible diet, but cancer was rife in his father’s family, and it eventually caught up with him, too. Still, Ghazal, the mediterranean diet has long since proven this theory, in truth. 🙂
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Yes, you are right and if cancer is in a person’s genes, maybe even taking a little protein will only increase his chances of cancer earlier.
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we should pay an extra attention for our nutrition. Great knowledge!
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Yes, we should. Thank you for the comment. 😉
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Plant protein is always the way to go, but if you’re getting a little protein from a clean source i.e.. organic, grassed, ethically raised then I think you’re going to be ok.
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Yes, I agree. For growing age, a moderate amount is okay and even high amount is okay for old age ,as the research points out. It’s the middle aged people who need to sacrifice and eat less amount of animal protein.
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There are too many fads.
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People who take it serious will sure decrease the amount of protein they get from animals whereas it’s gonna be pretty hard for meat lovers.
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For some reason looking at the picture made me feel nauseated … confirmed by my body therefore! :p
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Well, certainly cannot deny after you’ve confirmed it. 😉
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Reblogged this on Shining Star.
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