Kidney back pain has been linked to over consumption of protein.

  Many people in Canada and the US suffer from chronic and undiagnosed back pain, and even more experience sudden flare ups of severe pain that occur seemingly without cause. You may assume that your pain is caused from lifting something that was just too heavy or sitting inappropriately for a long period at a computer, but this may not always be the case.

  In today’s society there is a large focus on losing weight and building muscle. People are resorting to some rather off the wall fad eating plans, and while some can be effective for a short period of time, any kind of diet that limits the body’s nutrition can have sometimes strange and unexpected side effects.

  An example that has been coming up recently is the high protein and low carbohydrate diet. Though we have mentioned the dangers of this diet previously, it is important to understand that the issue isn’t eating too much protein, it is consuming much more protein than carbohydrates. Your body needs carbohydrates in order to break down the proteins you consume, and limiting your carbohydrates when consuming large quantities of protein can seriously harm your kidneys. If you are noticing that your lower back hurts after grabbing an extra protein shake or if you eat a big steak the day before, it could be your kidneys causing the pain.

  If you are concerned about eating too much protein, make sure you are balancing it out. Your body actually requires more carbohydrates than protein, the daily breakdown being like a 1 2 3 rule. You need 1 times the fat, 2 times the protein and 3 times the carbohydrates. So, if you know that you’ve consumed 10 g of protein, your body would require 15 g of carbohydrates and just 5 g of fat. Also, if you are bulking up by eating increased protein, remember that you cannot drink enough water! The key to avoiding protein related lower back pain is hydration and moderation.