A fresh study warns that consuming high-protein diets, especially those where more than 22 percent of daily calories come from protein, may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, leading to heart health issues.
Using both animal and small-scale human trials, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh discovered that excess protein, particularly the amino acid leucine found in animal-based sources such as meat and eggs, triggers mTOR signaling in macrophages - key immune cells involved in arterial plaque formation.
