No, but…
The consumption of animal protein has skyrocketed over the past couple of decades. According to the World Health Organisation, the enormous surge in population growth, rising incomes and urbanisation has led to a growing demand for high-quality animal protein. Annual meat production was about 218 million tonnes annually between 1997 and 1999, and this figure is expected to increase to 376 million tonnes by 2030.
A high-protein diet has also become more popular in recent years. The Atkins Diet and the Zone Diet, for example, which focus on protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and eggs, are thought to combine rapid weight loss with the satisfaction of feeling full.
Many followers of high-protein diets have been warned that eating large amounts of meat could have a negative effect on their kidneys.
However, as long as your renal function is not impaired, there is no reason to worry that consuming large amounts of animal protein will overload your kidneys, says Dr Winnie Mui, a general practitioner at Doctor Lauren Bramley & Partners in Central.