Lets talk about Malabsorption...

Hey Maysters! I saw my Nutritionist today. My scale read 178 (naked) at home, and 181 (clothed)on hers so I had a 5 pound loss in 3.5 weeks! WOOHOO! Anyway we talked about good stuff... At this stage in the game a loss of 1 pound per week is average we are absorbing more, but of course we do have a malabsorbtion factor, anyway the best news that I heard all day was.... that the "fact" that we only absorb 30 g of protein at a time is a MYTH!! I dunno, I know most of you had heard the same thing...so I'm looking for the source...let me know cuz I will throw 2 scoops of powder in my drink with the quickness!

I've heard it written and seen it debunked. I figured that I cannot seem to find out which it is so I judge it as gospel and eat accordingly. I do 1.5 scoops in a shake for 33 grams (close enough to 30). Figured I don't want to potentially, possibly, maybe waste the other half a scoop. Kathy

Well, I've heard that we rny-ers only absorb 30-50% also. I honestly don't know but I try to get a least one shake in each day just in case. I think the only thing we can do is find out what works best for us. I'd say that if you feel weak and tired and you're taking your vitamins, then try to up the protein and see if that helps. I think 75-90 grams seems to work for me (20 to 30 of those grams comes from shakes/bars). I found that I would tire pretty fast at 60 grams and I would stall on my loss. When I increased the grams to around 80 or so, my loss started again and I didn't tire as easily. Whether or not it was due to malabsorption... I just don't know.

It's not just bypass patients, it's the human body in any condition, can generally only absorb about 25 - 35 grams of protein in about an hour. I'll find the medical source for ya. Dawn

Sorry, forgot to say this too... To echo previous posts...BECAUSE we are bypass patients we are absorbing a percentage of that 30-some grams per hour, not sure I know the medical %, but will try to find it. That will ALWAYS be the case and our absorbtion rates will always be low. That's why eating protein first is so important. Dawn

thanks for the info Dawn!