Traditional wisdom has said our bodies can only absorb 30 grams of protein at a time. However, current research refutes this claim. Our bodies utilize the protein whether we get it in several doses or all at once...although as a person with RNY, I need to have protein with each meal.

This article refers to one of the studies:

http://www.liftbigeatbig.com/2011/10/protein-absorption-myth-of-30-grams.html

JJ

Great question
Was wondering that too

Hi spotz! I was told by my nut consuming anything more than 30 grams of protein at one time is excessive. I was then told by my personal trainer who is also a nut that the body can absorb over 80 grams at a time. I never got a definitive answer.

My nutritionist that 42 g of protein at one time But i try to aim for more

Thanks to all for your replies! Just what I though, JJ! Thank you for the info and validation! I'm to up my protein by an additional 100 grams daily for post plastics healing. Just wanted to make sure I'm not "flushing" my money and protein away!

As an aside, my nails were peeling and when I increased my protein to 150 grams daily, they went back to their normal healthy state. Gotta get it to 200 grams daily. :o got 50 more to work in somewhere!

I asked the Doc how much is too much, here was his answer, someone who does not have a bypass should not go above 45g a day consistantly and not more than 15-20g per meal you can look that up at the mayoclinic.com. As a Gastric Bypass Patient we have malabsorbtion due to the nature of the surgery, he said in that case he wanted me to get anywhere from 60-80g and no more than 100g a day and up to about 30g per meal. I would be so careful you dont want to go over 100g consistantly as it can do a lot of damage to your organs, mainly your liver and kidneys. Again you can do a search at mayoclinic.com or even webMD.com

How do you manage to get in 200 grams of protien a day?

does that still hold true, even for us sleevers w/o malabsorption issues?

I dont know about the sleeve, but call your Nut's nurse and ask. Protein helps you lose weight because it helps with hunger at least in Lap Band.

But too much of anything can be really damaging to your organs...I took Vit. D before surgery 2000mg daily the Doc said I would probably have to bump up to about 10,000mg daily after surgery, but I am not taking any right now to keep it safe side, I have to get regular blood checks once a week for the next 6 weeks. Slowly increasing the amount. That is one reason I knew the answer I asked if taking too much protein would be damaging...

I think in JJ's link, it tells how to figure your own adequate protein requirement based on your lean body mass. That is what we need the extra protein for! If we don't get it, our bodies will burn our lean body mass (muscle) for fuel instead of our excess fat stores. Most physicians only have enough nutritional education to fulfill the requirement for graduation from medical school. That being said, I can only go by and share my personal experiences! My body does best including blood work that shows if there is a problem with overkill on the protein. I get 120 grams of protein daily as a minimum. No problems! The burn out on the kidneys does occur, but generally only with people who have weak or diseased kidneys to begin with. Just like sodium intake...if you have hypertension, a normal amount for a healthy person would have very bad effects on you!

The 200 grams I'm striving for is a temporary thing. I'll reduce it back to 120 grams daily in June, after healing up.

@ kellynaylor, I start protein at 5:00 am with decaf vanilla protein coffee with 23 grams, then every hour and a half I have at least 20 grams as a quest bar, Greek yogurt with protein powder at 40 grams, or decaf protein coffee. Sometimes for lunch or dinner, I'll have a grilled chicken breast or 3-4 oz grilled fish. I use slivered cucumber and Greek yogurt as a condiment. I call it a day at 8:30 or 9 pm, so yes, I'm breaking the no grazing rule. Please bear in mind that this is for a specific purpose, not just mindless knoshing! I've been working on getting to the goal of 200 grams for the last month or so. I think today is the first time I will make it.

I worried about the additional calories...1 gram of protein has 4 calories...and gaining weight. Happily, that has not been the case! My weight has remained perfectly steady. THAT has NEVER happened before! I do need to let you know that I keep my carb count silly low. For me, that is the key.

Great discussion! Thanks for joining in!
Spotz

Hi Spotz, I would love to know exactly what is in your decaf vanilla protein coffee with 23 grams. Does it have any artifical sweetener, and if so, do you think it would work with stevia? It wouldn great! Kim

Hi Kim! I use Dunkin' Donuts Decaf. Put 1 scoop vanilla bean truffle Syntrax Nectar in the coffee cup. Add just a couple of tablespoons of the coffee and stir like crazy to get the lumps out. Sort of like mixing corn starch and water to thicken gravy. Slowly add more coffee and keep stirring until your cup is full. I find that I don't need any additional sweetener. Stevia is my sugar substitute of choice. It does have a tendency to clump, so if you wanted really sweet coffee, I think I would put it in the cup with the protein powder then proceed as above. The Nectar is sweetened with Splenda. Only one protein powder I know of the is sweetened with Stevia and that would be the Jay Robb brand. Kinda pricey, but good! Should work in the coffee using the same technique.

I've used diet Swiss Miss cocoa mixed with protein powder, then added very warm water like the coffee to make protein cocoa too.

Enjoy!
Spotz

I don't agree, in fact I think your nail problem is a sign of too much protein, as the doctor had mentioned some side effects when I asked, but I dont want to upset you about it.

I just I think others on the site should be aware that there is a real danger with taking too much protein. Usually as a Bypass patient we are worried about getting enough in not about taking too much, but too much can be bad as well as getting too little. One only has to look at the effects of the Atkins diet when patients were overdoing it on Protein.

Thanks Spotz...I am going to check on the Jay Robb brand and give it a try. Have a good day! Kim

Man! My nails are thin and peeling too! I'm going to increase my protein and see if that helps.... :)