How much protein can the body absorb at once?

KrazyKrissyy
KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
edited November 13 in Food and Nutrition
I've heard mixed replies about this (on other forums), anywhere from 30 to your entire day's worth. Am not sure what to believe nor what is accurate though. Long story short, because of my Crohn's and recent flare ups, I've decided to possibly give my gut a break from solid foods. I'm considering a diet of only shakes/smoothies for 1-2 weeks (maybe 3). I know it might sound difficult to sustain, but I would definitely choose this over the pain I've been experiencing lately. Is it ok to have 50-60 grams of protein in one shake/smoothie? Or is that too much protein for the body to absorb at once? I've also been trying to increase my overall calories which means my protein requirements increased as well.

Replies

  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    https://examine.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-can-i-eat-in-one-sitting/

    Tl;dr; Your small intestine can hold onto extra protein until it is needed.

    Does this include powders? Thanks for the link by the way, it was very helpful. Just saw nothing about whey/powders. Aside from that, thanks!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited November 2016
    https://examine.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-can-i-eat-in-one-sitting/

    Tl;dr; Your small intestine can hold onto extra protein until it is needed.

    Does this include powders? Thanks for the link by the way, it was very helpful. Just saw nothing about whey/powders. Aside from that, thanks!

    Protein is protein. Doesn't matter what the source is (at least for the purposes of this discussion).
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    https://examine.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-can-i-eat-in-one-sitting/

    Tl;dr; Your small intestine can hold onto extra protein until it is needed.

    Does this include powders? Thanks for the link by the way, it was very helpful. Just saw nothing about whey/powders. Aside from that, thanks!

    Protein is protein. Doesn't matter what the source is (at least for the purposes of this discussion).

    Alright, that's good to know.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I've heard mixed replies about this (on other forums), anywhere from 30 to your entire day's worth. Am not sure what to believe nor what is accurate though. Long story short, because of my Crohn's and recent flare ups, I've decided to possibly give my gut a break from solid foods. I'm considering a diet of only shakes/smoothies for 1-2 weeks (maybe 3). I know it might sound difficult to sustain, but I would definitely choose this over the pain I've been experiencing lately. Is it ok to have 50-60 grams of protein in one shake/smoothie? Or is that too much protein for the body to absorb at once? I've also been trying to increase my overall calories which means my protein requirements increased as well.

    I know we had issues in the past but I didn't know you are a crohnie ;) I have Crohn's as well. You said you ate tons of fruit and vegetables. For me fiber is a huge issue (I can't eat most of those without issues) and I'm permanently on a low fiber diet. If you find you can't live on shakes alone maybe try cooked to death carrots, squash, potatoes, white carbs like rice and bread. I'm jealous you can eat a vegetarian diet without dying ;)
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    I've heard mixed replies about this (on other forums), anywhere from 30 to your entire day's worth. Am not sure what to believe nor what is accurate though. Long story short, because of my Crohn's and recent flare ups, I've decided to possibly give my gut a break from solid foods. I'm considering a diet of only shakes/smoothies for 1-2 weeks (maybe 3). I know it might sound difficult to sustain, but I would definitely choose this over the pain I've been experiencing lately. Is it ok to have 50-60 grams of protein in one shake/smoothie? Or is that too much protein for the body to absorb at once? I've also been trying to increase my overall calories which means my protein requirements increased as well.

    I know we had issues in the past but I didn't know you are a crohnie ;) I have Crohn's as well. You said you ate tons of fruit and vegetables. For me fiber is a huge issue (I can't eat most of those without issues) and I'm permanently on a low fiber diet. If you find you can't live on shakes alone maybe try cooked to death carrots, squash, potatoes, white carbs like rice and bread. I'm jealous you can eat a vegetarian diet without dying ;)

    Lol its fine and thanks for the advice, and for pointing that out. That's probably why I've been having issues. The low calorie, high fiber veggies are starting to take a toll.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    An entire year I ate twice a day over 100 grams of protein and over 1200 calories per meal and kept my muscle mass with no side effects.
  • Grey_1
    Grey_1 Posts: 1,139 Member
  • gatzke123
    gatzke123 Posts: 48 Member
    Good thread !!!
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Your small intestine can hold onto extra protein until it is needed.

    No. Just no. Protein is broken up into amino acids and other chemicals, starting in the stomach and ending in the small intestine. These are then transported to the liver and distributed throughout the body where they are used in the construction of new proteins. There is no science to back up the idea that only a certain amount of protein can be eaten on one sitting or that excess protein is immediately stored as fat. A healthy small intestine can digest about 95% of the protein that goes through it, whatever that is.

    As I understand it, every day the body builds new proteins as needed from amino acids, estimated to be about about 250 grams per day (more than we eat). These new proteins are built from amino acids stored throughout the body. What we do when we eat protein is to restock the amino acid stores. The body reuses amino acids as much as possible, discarding only what is no longer usable or using/losing amino acids through things like skin shedding, hair growth, etc.
  • angelxsss
    angelxsss Posts: 2,402 Member
    Your small intestine can hold onto extra protein until it is needed.

    No. Just no. Protein is broken up into amino acids and other chemicals, starting in the stomach and ending in the small intestine. These are then transported to the liver and distributed throughout the body where they are used in the construction of new proteins. There is no science to back up the idea that only a certain amount of protein can be eaten on one sitting or that excess protein is immediately stored as fat. A healthy small intestine can digest about 95% of the protein that goes through it, whatever that is.

    As I understand it, every day the body builds new proteins as needed from amino acids, estimated to be about about 250 grams per day (more than we eat). These new proteins are built from amino acids stored throughout the body. What we do when we eat protein is to restock the amino acid stores. The body reuses amino acids as much as possible, discarding only what is no longer usable or using/losing amino acids through things like skin shedding, hair growth, etc.

    citation/qualifications?
  • flagrantavidity
    flagrantavidity Posts: 218 Member
    An entire year I ate twice a day over 100 grams of protein and over 1200 calories per meal and kept my muscle mass with no side effects.

    I couldn't imagine the smell, protein farts!
  • D4LB
    D4LB Posts: 601 Member
    Rule of thumb is normally between 25 to 30 but everyone is different.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    D4LB wrote: »
    Rule of thumb is normally between 25 to 30 but everyone is different.

    Myth. See the video linked above.
  • Dano74
    Dano74 Posts: 503 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »

    Norton is the end all be all of protein knowledge. Watch and learn from a Doctoral expert.
This discussion has been closed.