This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Protein

For most people with normal functioning kidneys, eating too much protein shouldn't be an issue. But for those with an existing disease, it could be problematic.

When your body metabolizes protein, it produces ammonia, which is turned into a compound called urea. The urea is carried to the kidneys via the blood where it is eliminated in the urine, explained Kristin Koskinen, RDN, LD, CD. If you have a diseased kidney, it may not be able to handle the increase in urea, which can lead to urea build up.