Remind me again - Where do we absorb calories?

Where in our new digestive track do we actually absorb calories?

Hi Chance,

I don't know that I an answer this question to a "T" but i can tell you what I know.

First of all, it is good to know how much you had bypassed.  All of us, even proximals, are missing our duodenum (the first section of the colon).  This is the part of the colon that absorbs some of the calories and nutrients but tends to love calcium, iron, and thiamine, vitamin D etc.. thus the reason why we get low if we don't supplement.  Over time the reamining colon will grow "villa" which are "finger-like" pertrustions in your colon and these little rascals will start grabbing on to more of the calories.  Our colons are smart and in time and will compensate.  However, vitamins never do get absorbed fully and thus the reason we must supplement for life.  I am 150cm bypassed (medial) and so I have part of my jugenum missing also.  A distal (200cm or more) will have even more of their jugenum missing.  So it is just nice to know what you are dealing with as more bypassed is less absorbtion of nutrients (not calories though later from what i understand).  

Does this help at all? This is the extent of my knowledge lol.

Edited to add, we absorb every carbohydrate we consume.  We do however (esp the first 2 years) malabsorb protein and some fat.

Excellent explanation!  I have  neat chart from my nut. that diagrams out just exactly what vitamins and minerals get absorbed the most in which places but don't have a clue how to scan it and change the file over in a way so as to be able to post it here. 

Too CI for words....

I have that chart too and instantly thought of it!!  It is wonderful that chart is.  I think I got it off PK's blog one time.  It's in a pdf file so it would have to be attached in an email I think.  I am not that computer savvy to know how to put it here either unless u uploaded it to maybe photobucket or one of those sites first.