Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been a steady advocate when it comes to busting certain myths about fitness.

In Schwarzenegger’s latest Pump Club Newsletter’s May 1st edition, he handled a myth that had long surrounded the fitness culture that consuming excess protein can cause organ enlargement in drug-free athletes.

“A 2019 paper argued that protein consumed beyond what your muscles can use might be redirected to organ growth, and the idea has since spread through nutrition forums and gym conversations as a reason to ‘be careful,'” Schwarzenegger wrote. “A new study finally tested it beyond the theoretical.”

Arnie’s verdict is simple: for natural bodybuilders, if protein intake is high, it is safer than the rumors suggest.

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The study, which was conducted for divided individuals into three groups, had young adults in the group who were bodybuilders using performance-enhancing drugs, natural bodybuilders, and recreationally active participants serving as a control group.

Imaging technology was used by scientists to measure the sizes of major organs.

Both groups of bodybuilders consumed a comparable amount of protein, exceeding 2.5 grams per kilogram of body weight daily. This is much higher than the usual recommended intake.

Unsurprisingly, the bodybuilders who used enhancement had the highest muscle mass, followed by the natural bodybuilders.

“Scientists found that eating more than 2.5 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight daily, over twice the standard recommendation, was not linked to enlarged internal organs in drug-free bodybuilders,” said Schwarzenegger.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals What Is Actually Causing ‘Bubble Gut’ in Bodybuilders

Arnold Schwarzenegger noted with utmost importance that the study found organ enlargement appeared in PED users. Although natural bodybuilders ate more protein than the control group, they had similar organ sizes to those of recreationally active individuals.

“The pattern is the point. Same protein, different drug status, different organ outcomes. That dissociation means high protein intake on its own doesn’t appear to be driving the change,” he wrote.

Other contraries point toward the reason behind the distended bellies. Mostly talking about Contrariwise, the use of growth hormones, insulin, and steroids.

“The ‘bubble gut’ you’ve seen on stage is more plausibly a pharmaceutical signature than a dietary one,” he stated plainly.

Fat gain caused by increased protein consumption was also touched upon. Schwarzenegger stated that individuals engaged in bodybuilding who consumed more than twice the amount of protein would not gain any extra body fat.

So the next time someone at the gym warns you about eating too much protein, the real question worth asking is, are they confusing what a needle does with what a meal does?

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