Does the body metabolise protein immediately after eating?

LumberJacck

So you have an apple, and within a few hours or so the body is using the remnants of the apple as a supply of energy. But does that happen when you eat protein? Or does the protein gets passed around the bloodstream and get used to repair muscles or whatever? If that is the case, then I shouldn't expect eating protein food sources (say, fish) to provide me with any energy, and (except say, from the fat within the fish), and I should use other food as well. Does anyone know?

Edit: for clarity, 'metabolise' means turn into energy.

sijomial

Protein isn't really a whole body energy source (amino acids are a major energy source for your gut though).
Whole body energy is mostly the "job" of carbs and fat.

The quickest energy source is glucose and it can be remarkably fast from ingestion to bloodstream, minutes not hours. That's why sports energy drinks primarily contain glucose.

Examine.com is a good resource to research protein usage and digestion.