more protein = extrta thrist??

[runnermama]

Does more protein make you crave more water? I have never been a big water drinker (I have to force and remind myself to always drink more especially with running) but since I have cleaned up my diet the last couple weeks (no sugar, no starchy carbs, 100-140 g of protein) I have noticed that I am so thirsty and I am not doing any more cardio than before (just heavier lifting). I mean with the extra lifting, I am sweating a little more, but not enough to compensate for all that I crave.

It is causing me to get up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom. And each time, I have a FULL bladder. Should I be restricting my water intake in the evenings (I work out over lunch)? I don?t know for certain how many ounces I am getting per day, estimating around 64. Thanks!

[Defiant1]

It could. Protein acts as a diuretic and requires water for digestion.

[runnermama]

It could. Protein acts as a diuretic and requires water for digestion.

Thank you. I think I read somewhere also that diets high in protein are also hard on the kidneys, but I assume those are diets such as Atkins where carbs and good fats are not incorporated for balance. If it is true all around, maybe the thirst is the body's natural way of getting the water that is needed to flush out the kidneys.

I just didn't know if anyone else has experienced this.

[kelliewrx]

Wow, come to think of it, the same thing just started happening to me. I recently changed my diet to incorporate a lot more protein than before, and for the last week, I have been drinking A LOT more water than usual, and I was wondering why I've been SOOO thirsty. I have also been getting up 2-3 times in the middle of the night to go to the restroom. It never crossed my mind that it could be because of my new diet though. Interesting.

[Defiant1]

Some information just won't die. The protein/kidney thing is a total myth, in terms of people with healthy kidneys. Excess protein can be harmful to some people who have kidney disease, but in fact protein is beneficial to those with normal kidneys. An analog to the thinking would be to take the fact that fiber can be harmful to people with Crohns disease, and extrapolating that fiber is always bad for you.

There are other natural substances that are diuretics, including Vitamin C.

I won't even go into the Atkins thing. . There are more undying myths and unsubstantiated negatives about low carb diets than anything I think I've seen in the media.

[LyZnX]

- I use to drink a buttload of water before i started getting heavy on protein. Now that im so full off of it, i cant hardly get additional water down.

[Cristina78]

I get REALLY thirsty after I drink a protein shake. Within minutes, I am downing a bottle of water like it's the last one I will ever have. Glad I am not the only one!

[Islandtroll]

Happens to me too, in fact I always plan ahead, so I will have water with me when the feeling hits

[ctgblue]

when you eat more protein, you should drink more water
it does not act as a diuretic, but flushing the kidneys when on a higher than normal protein level is smart

the reason you are thirsty is that many times you are thirsty and you eat instead, getting a lot of fluids from foods, cut those foods down and your body craves water

rule of thumb, if you drink 16 oz of water and don't have to pee in 45-60 minutes, you are dehydrated

[Defiant1]

It actually does have a true diuretic effect. Protein binds fluids in the blood.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...19/ai_97390111

"Once you boost your protein intake, your thirst will most likely increase," Hensley explains. "Whenever you have an increase in protein, it has a diuretic effect on your cells--fluid moves from the cells into the bloodstream, triggering the hormones which signal the body that you need to drink more fluid."

Additionally, if increased protein intake is part of a low or lowered carbohydrate diet, each gram of carbohydrate (glycogen) holds 4 grams of water, so there may be an additional diuretic effect from carbohydrate reduction.