Eating too much meat can harm the kidneys

The kidney is the organ responsible for filtering protein metabolism products such as urea, creatinine and uric acid. BS.CKII Ho Tan Thong, Kidney – Dialysis Unit, Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, said that when the amount of meat consumed exceeds demand, this organ has to work overload for a long time, thereby increasing the risk of functional decline. Doctors recommend eating a variety of foods, prioritizing white meat such as fish, chicken… and limiting the types of meat below.

Red meat

Red meat (beef, veal, lamb…) contains high protein content, which means that after metabolism, it will create a lot of nitrogen-containing waste such as urea and creatinine, which are excreted through the kidneys.

Consuming too much red meat causes the kidneys to work harder to process large amounts of waste and create many acidic intermediate products. This long-term condition can damage the kidneys and lead to a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), progressing to chronic kidney disease. Red meat can also increase uric acid, adding to the metabolic burden on the kidneys.

Animal organs

Organs such as liver, kidney, and tripe contain very high purine content. Purines, after being metabolized, will form uric acid. When uric acid increases, it can crystallize into urate crystals in the kidneys, causing inflammation and damage to kidney tissue, increasing the risk of kidney stone formation. This is also the mechanism related to gout – a disease that not only affects the joints but also causes kidney damage if prolonged.

Organ meats also contain a lot of saturated fat, cholesterol and phosphorus, contributing to increasing the burden on the kidney’s ability to filter blood.

Prepared meat

Processed meats such as sausages, cold cuts, canned meat, dried meat, bacon… often contain very high levels of salt (sodium) and many preservative additives (also known as inorganic phosphate). In particular, sodium increases water retention, increases circulating volume, leading to increased blood pressure.

Excess phosphate disrupts mineral metabolism, causing blood vessel calcification and kidney damage. In particular, phosphate from processed foods is much easier to absorb than natural ones, so the level of impact is also higher.

Grilled meat, fried at high temperature

Meat is cooked at high temperatures such as grilling, frying or pan-frying, and the scorched meat surface will create some unhealthy substances such as HCAs and PAHs. These substances cause oxidative stress, damage vascular endothelial cells and affect the microvasculature in the kidney. In the long term, inflammation and microvascular damage can impair kidney filtration function.

Dr. Thong noted that the above meats are not bad foods, but if eaten in large quantities and improperly prepared, they will increase the burden on the kidneys. The kidneys are mainly affected through three mechanisms, including increased filtration load due to too much protein, uric acid and phosphate metabolism disorders, and blood vessel damage due to salt and toxic substances. Therefore, people should reduce the amount of red meat in their daily menu, replacing it with fish and white meat. Minimize processed meat, prioritize steaming, boiling instead of frying, and control protein intake to suit your body condition.