Too much protein may harm gut health, surgeon warns

UK-based surgeon Dr Karan Rajan says diets heavy in protein but low in fibre can push undigested protein into the colon, where gut bacteria ferment it. This produces compounds such as ammonia, phenols and hydrogen sulfide, linked to inflammation and stress on the gut barrier, and can shift the bacterial balance. He stresses protein itself is not the problem; the imbalance is.