Eating a lot of protein might make your kidneys get worse faster, according to a big study that followed people over time.

Eating more protein might make your kidneys work worse over time, according to a big study that followed a group of adults.

If you're an adult who's overweight and has mild kidney disease, losing weight on a high-protein diet might actually help your kidneys a little over 8 months — even if you eat up to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight each day.

Eating a lot of protein might make kidney function get worse faster in people whose kidneys are already working too hard, but it doesn't seem to affect people with normal kidney function.

If you're overweight or obese and on a high-protein diet to lose weight, your kidneys stay just as healthy — or may even get a little better — even if you already have mild kidney issues, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes.

Eating a lot of protein every day — even more than 200 grams — won’t hurt your kidneys if they’re already healthy.