protein absorption?

[HezzieLee]

is it true that your body can only absorb 20-30g of protein at a time? and the rest turns to sugar?

I appreciate any info you can give.

[Ailuros]

I don't know a definitive answer but Protein Power gives a minimum protein requirement per meal of over 40g for some people (depending on weight). So presumably the Drs Eades think that for those people at least, that much protein is required for structural purposes.

If you're eating low carb, then a certain amount of protein will always be converted to glucose to supply those processes in the body that need it.

The PP books say that for most people eating excess protein isn't a problem, but there are a few who need to keep to the suggested levels to lose weight. And I know that insulin dependent diabetics take protein into account as well as carbs when calculating how much insulin they'll need, but I think the blood sugar response from protein is a lot less than from carbs. There will be a lot more about this side of it on Dr Bernstein's site.

[Cmint]

I have read this years ago about only eating 20 grams of protein a meal more in you are a body builder and have more muscle. When I am dieting and I am hungry at night (10pm) I would drink protein powder w/water 20 grams of protein, 6 carbs and it never effects weight lost.

[ElleH]

I've always heard that, too. But over the last year and a half I've gone from eating 3 meals a day, with roughly equal amounts of protein at each meal, to one "snack" at lunchtime and a nice BIG dinner. And now some days here and there, I don't even eat the "snack" lunch--just the BIG dinner.

It didn't affect my weight loss at all, kept losing right on to goal. And since I really like eating one larger meal each day rather than 3 smaller meals, it's been more enjoyable, too.

My calorie intake has remained pretty constant, went UP even, so I'm not eating less overall by eating fewer meals, which one might think would happen if one decreased meal frequency.

All that to say, my experience (and my reading on topics like Intermittent Fasting and caveman eating habits) tells me that our intestines are equipped to extract nutrients from our food over a LONG period of time (18-20 hours), whether we eat 6 times a day or once a day. Don't sweat it too much.