Does a high-protein diet help “gain muscle and reduce fat”? Nutritionists urge kidney cancer patients not to consume too much protein

Protein is one of the three essential nutrients for the human body. Since it is widely rumored on the Internet that eating a lot of protein can help "build muscle and lose fat", many people have begun to pursue a "high-protein diet". However, nutritionist Hong Ruopu reminded that excessive protein intake may have the opposite effect, especially for kidney cancer patients, whose protein intake should be lower than that of ordinary people to avoid accelerating kidney failure and causing more serious symptoms.

Eating too much protein! The health of kidney cancer patients is in danger

The kidneys, also known as "kidneys", are important organs for the human body to eliminate protein metabolic waste. Kidney disease patients develop tumors due to abnormal proliferation of kidney cells, which causes a certain degree of damage to kidney function and also affects the normal metabolism of protein. Once kidney cancer patients neglect their diet and consume protein foods, it is easy to increase the burden on the kidneys, causing the kidneys to fail due to overwork, or even premature death.

The kidneys, also known as "kidneys", are important organs for the human body to eliminate protein metabolic waste. Kidney disease patients develop tumors due to abnormal proliferation of kidney cells, which causes a certain degree of damage to kidney function and also affects the normal metabolism of protein.

Kidney cancer patients should limit protein intake and give priority to high biological value

Currently, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recommends that the daily protein intake for healthy adults is 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, but kidney cancer patients should adopt a "low-protein diet." Hong Ruopu, a nutritionist at the Zhongxiao branch of Taipei City United Hospital, said that the protein intake of kidney cancer patients depends on the degree of renal failure. If the glomerular filtration rate is greater than 55 ml/min, the recommended protein intake is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day; if the glomerular filtration rate is between 55 ml/min and 25 ml/min, the recommended protein intake is reduced to 0.6 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Of the protein we consume daily, 1/2 to 3/4 comes from animal protein foods with high biological value, such as chicken, duck, fish, meat, eggs and milk; the rest comes from plant protein foods, such as tofu, soy products, whole grains and various fruits and vegetables.

Foods with high biological value protein contain complete essential amino acids needed by the human body. After being eaten, they produce less nitrogenous waste through metabolism and are more easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. Generally speaking, animal protein foods are mostly proteins with high physiological value; plant proteins are classified as proteins with low physiological value due to the lack of some essential amino acids. However, recent studies have confirmed that the quality of soy protein is comparable to that of milk and egg protein, and is also a high biological value protein food.

A low-protein diet that takes into account calorie supply, follow the nutritionist to eat the right snacks

Although a "low-protein diet" can help kidney cancer patients maintain kidney health, the patient's rice intake is also restricted under this principle, and there will be a long-term lack of calorie intake (each 1 gram of protein or carbohydrate can produce 4 calories respectively), causing the body to become increasingly weak and unable to continue fighting kidney cancer cells.

Although a "low-protein diet" can help kidney cancer patients maintain kidney health, under this principle, the patient's rice intake is also restricted, and there will be a long-term lack of calorie intake.

In this regard, nutritionist Hong Ruopu said that kidney cancer patients can use "low-protein starch" and an appropriate amount of "vegetable oil" to make snacks to provide the body with sufficient calories. Common low-protein starches include: sago, cornstarch, sweet potato starch, corn starch, orange starch, lotus root starch, water chestnut starch, etc., which can be used to make snacks such as crystal dumplings, meat balls, vermicelli, oyster omelette, cold balls, milk tea, fried vermicelli, pearl milk tea, etc. Vegetable oils and fats that can be selected include canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, camellia oil or sesame oil which are high in monounsaturated fatty acids.

【Low-protein dessert/lotus root starch sweet soup】 (1 serving)

• Ingredients: 15 grams of lotus root powder, 10 grams of white sugar, 20 grams of maltose, 200 ml of hot water.

• Preparation: Mix lotus root powder, sugar and malt starch evenly, then add hot water and continue stirring until it becomes a paste.

• Description: This sweet lotus root starch soup for one person contains 0.1 grams of protein and 170 calories, which can help patients with kidney cancer and chronic kidney disease to supplement their nutrition. The lotus root powder here can also be replaced by cornstarch, but patients who need to restrict water in their diet should use it according to the amount recommended by their doctor or nutritionist.

【Low-protein snack/scallion pancake】 (1 serving)

• Ingredients: 20 grams of orange powder, 20 grams of cornstarch, a little egg juice and chopped green onion, 10 grams of vegetable oil.

• practice:

  1. Pour orange powder, cornstarch and egg juice into a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons of cold water, stir well and set aside.

  2. Take a frying pan, add vegetable oil, heat it, pour in the batter and fry until cooked.

• Description: This snack contains about 1 gram of protein, 239 calories, and is low in water, making it particularly suitable for kidney patients who need to restrict water intake.