Does eating a high-protein diet harm you?

You may wonder about the potential harm of protein intakes greatly in excess of the RDA. If diets high in protein rely mostly on animal sources for protein, they may be simultaneously low in plant sources and therefore low in fiber, some vitamins (e.g., folate), some minerals (e.g., Magnesium), and phytochemicals. Additionally, high protein foods form animals are often rich in saturated fat and cholesterol and thus do not follow the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans or the Food and Nutrition Board in terms of reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Excessive intake of red meat, especially in processed forms, is linked to colon cancer. There are several possible explanations for this connection. The curing agents used to process meats such as hot dogs, ham, and salami may cause cancer. Substances that form during the cooking of red meat at high temperatures (heterocyclic amines) may also cause cancer. The excessive fat or low fiber contents of diets rich in red meat in general may also be a contributing factor. Because of these concerns, some nutrition experts suggest we focus more on poultry, fish, nuts, legumes, and seeds to meet protein needs. I suggest the nuts, seeds, legumes if you really need to, and getting amino acids directly from fresh fruits and vegetables, ready for your organs to convert them into the many different proteins that we have in every cell in our bodies.
Some researchers have expressed concern that a high protein intake may overburden the kidneys by forcing them to excrete the extra nitrogen as urea. Additionally, animal proteins may contribute to kidney stone formation in susceptible people. To prevent these problems, there is some support for not exceeding protein needs. For instance, for people in the early stages of kidney disease, low-protein diets somewhat slow the decline of kidney function. Because preserving kidney function is especially important for people with diabetes and early signs of kidney disease, these people are advised against consuming a high protein diet. For people without diabetes or kidney disease, the risk of suffering kidney failure is minimal.
Based on the typical foods we eat in North America, about %70 of protein comes from animal sources. The most nutrient-dense source of protein is water-packed tuna, which has %87 of it's energy as protein. Other good sources are meat,poultry, fish, milk, and some mil products, beans, nuts, and seeds. Worldwide, %35 of protein comes from animal sources. In Africa and East Asia, only about %20 of the protein eaten comes from animal sources.

Here's an interesting video. Let me know what you guys think.

David Wilcock, David Wolfe & Nick Good Interview from Michael Mackintosh on Vimeo.

This is interesting, definitely worth further investigation.

Fiber

Average fiber intakes in the United States fall woefully short of the current adequate intakes set for various ages and genders. In contrast vegans and vegetarians among us routinely consume this amount or more, and the fiber intake of Paleolithic man has been estimated at about three to four times the current recommendations.

Some research studies support that stool size is protective against colon cancer and that fiber may be helpful for digestive diseases such as Irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. Many of the diseases of public health significance such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and constipation may be prevented or treated by increasing the amounts and varieties of fiber containing foods. Promotion of such a food plan across the lifespan by health-care professionals and subsequent implementation by our population should contribute to overall better health.
What better way to vary fiber intake than to make yourself a green smoothie everyday!

Special thanks to Perspectives in Nutrition for supplying some of this information.

Protein Metabolism

Protein Metabolism begins after proteins are degraded into amino acids. Why eat pure protein then? Why not just get your amino acids from fresh local produce? Save fuel in delivery costs, know where your food comes from, buy fresh and local if you can. Two great sources of inexpensive, delicious, fresh local greens and produce are Supercharge Foods and The South Madison Farmers Market. Supercharge foods will be offering their fresh greens all winter long.

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals, just another reason to eat a raw food lifestyle. There are clinical trials going on right now and more to come. Read the wiki link to see what phytochemicals are, why we need them daily and where to get them. Also read how processing destroys them.

Chef D Rawk

What do these things have in common?

While reading Perspectives in Nutrition I realized that we ingest things that can react with each other if combined. Common things and found in many common products. Further reading on these 3 common food additives leads me to this question. If food product A contains ascorbic acid on it's own, and food product B contains either sodium or potassium benzoate, and neither contains EDTA, will this combination then as stated in the wiki links, produce benzene? Complex question I realize but this then leads to many other questions about common food additives and if we ingest them together will they react chemically?

Ascorbic Acid

EDTA

Sodium benzoate