WHY you will drink protein and supplements forevah

** This is taken from a post by Rachel Hawkridge, a member of Graduate-OSSG and various other groups. Rachel has explained why we need to supplement protein as well as other nutrients better than anyone I know of. If, after reading this, anyone chooses not to supplement, then at least they're aware of what they're doing to their body and their health. ** Normal digestion involves chewing food in the mouth, where some simple sugar is absorbed, and an enzyme called amylase, which digests starch, is produced, and mixed with the food as it chewed. The food is swallowed, and in the stomach, it is mixed with hydrochloric acid, and enzymes pepsin, and lipase. The mixture is then churned together for one to two hours. The resulting mixture, called chyme, is then squirted, a little at a time into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, where it is mixed with bile acids and pancreatic enzymes. The duodenum is where the absorption of most of the calcium, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and fat soluble vitamins A, D, and E takes place. Simple sugars, whi*****lude table sugar (sucrose), fruit sugars (fructose), honey, and maple syrup, and the digested starches, are absorbed all along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. When we have gastric bypass surgery, or RnY, we bypass, or stop using, normal digestion, and skip over our duodenum, in favor of a tiny pouch, an always open stoma, and we introduce chewed food directly into the small intestine. The duodenum is the primary absorption site for protein, calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins A, B Complex, D, E. A large percentage of our magnesium is also absorbed in the duodenum, as well. These vital nutrients may be absorbed to some lesser degree further down the gut, but in much smaller amounts. Since we have so little, if any, digestion going on, the chance of any of these nutrients being absorbed from the food that we eat is very small. And since we eat such small amounts of food, even if we digested and absorbed all the nutrients from food, we would probably still be in trouble.

That's great information. Unfortunately for me, I am unable to do protein drinks or bars. They caused me severe constipation from about 4mths-9mths out and ended up creating very bad problems for me internally. I am still working with a colon/rectal surgeon to try to undo the damage that was done. Living in such terrible pain for weeks and months was nothing I would ever want anyone to have to go thru. I am hoping that my internal problems can be solved without botox therapy or even worse surgery to cut the muscle and try to repair the damage, but only time will tell. I am however, very good about taking my vitamins, calcium and b12. Tracy B 328/152 5'9"

Tracy - I had a problem with constipation as well and found myself impacted after my gallbladder surgery January 2005. I now have a rectocele and will require surgery to fix it. What I did find to resolve the constipation issue is I take 1000 mg of magnesium citrate every night before I go to bed. Specifically I use Solgar brand tablets and I grind up the tablets for better absorbency and take with water. I no longer have constipation issues. I drink at least 90 grams of whey protein daily, take 2300 mg + of calcium and the big C is gone. If you decide to give the magnesium a try start with 400 mg nightly and increase by 200 mg until diarrhea and then back off that 200 mg. I have tried magnesium citrate in capsules and it does not give me the same effect as doing the ground up tablets with water. Sandy

Thanks so much for the info Sandy! I will give it a try! Tracy B

hey Angel ... I've seen this post by Rachel on the Yahoo Grads list ... and she is rather awesome and I value her knowledge (even when she's taking no prisoners and giving it to me straight)! Thanks for posting, this, I think it explains a lot. Karyn

Angel, I've read this on the Grad board myself. I do thank my lucky stars for finding that board and gaining so much knowledge from Rachel, Julia, Michelle, Karen B. and a few more (to many to name). My surgeon was anti-protein supplements so I didn't do them early on. I lost lots of muscle and faced sheer exhaustion everyday. Once I started adding protein drinks and the list of supplements Michelle recommended I feel like a new woman. Dana

Dana, what Grad Board are you talking about? This is the only one that I come to, but I'd love to join in anywhere that I can gain more knowledge! Thanks~ Tracy B

Tracy, I can't email you, can you please send me an email and I'll send you the links to a couple of Yahoo OCSG groups I'm in. Long-term post ops, lots of info.

Hello gorgeous, how the hell are you? Love Rachels take/explanation on this - I grabbed it off the Yahoo/Grad board about 3 months ago and saved it to my favs to use as a explanation to those seeking the knowledge. I absolutely agree with you, it's one of the better writings out there explaining the ins and outs of it all. Another thing I grabbed off the Yahoo/Grads board (I think it was that board) is the actualy DRAWING they have of the stomach and intestinal track - showing you where various nutrients are absorbed. I'm a very VISUAL kinda gal when it comes to truly learning and absorbing information, so that one helped me a LOT. I've linked it to many of my friends along with Rachels write-up. Anyway - hope you're having a fantastic 4th of July? I'm heading to the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach, it's gonna be a day of RELAXING, just me and a girlfriend - blue skies, the ocean, warm breezes, sun, sand and memories waiting to be enjoyed and created!! Hugs - Lei

Is that you? Is it really you? Where have you been? We miss ya.......... Hugs Charlie