[Queenofthenile]

On the subject of protein, I was reading an article in a health journal that said to find out how much protein your body needs you multiply .36 times your body weight and that is how many grams you need a day. If you eat more than that your body turns it into fat. Does anyone know if this is true? I also wonder why is it so important to eat so much protein after you have surgery? Is it because the body has to work harder to break it down resulting in a higher weightloss? I know carbs turn into sugar which then turns into fat if there is any excess carbs that your body doesn't use. Any thoughts anyone?
Esha

[BOOTS]

Well Doc Will Tell Us The Facts If This Article Is Accurate Or Not. But I Know With Wls We Dont Absorb Everthing We Completly Eat So Im Not Sure If We Can Use Those Calculations. Lets See What Doc Says.

[clancythecamper]

The protein issue regarding why it's so important was explained to me this way ~ you're body is burning fat, but since we are on such low calorie diets, the body will take what it needs to keep going from where ever it needs too. The whole protein thing is that you dont want your body to start taking muscle, especially your heart!!!! - so it's really important to get protein. I'm reasonably confident that a short period of time with less protein is probably not terribly harmful, but they want you to realize the reprecussions of not getting enough so that we are mindful to take care of ourselves. Doc, feel free to correct me if Im wrong, but this is what I was told.

[DocSanae]

The reason protein is so important is because basically, that's what our body is made of.
What actually is essntial, is called just that, the essential amino acids. There are 9 of them, and these, we can't make in our bodies. Others, we can, but these 9 we MUST get in from the outside--food--to maintain our body.
Adequate protein intake is required to replenish the supply that is lost through the protein turnover.
I don't have the list right on hand, but the 0.36g per lb is correct, if my memory's right.
On the average, men require at least 56g/day, and women 45g/day. With surgery, you will have less absorbtion, which is why the recommend amount is 60 g. Actually, some textbooks reccomend 60-75g per day, even for healthy people. However, too much protein--over 100g with the exception of certain cases like professional athletes-- will put a strain on your kidneys, as the particles from protein are diffused out as waste through the kidneys. Also, if yo have liver trouble, too much protein will put a strain there, too, as the nitrogen borken down from protein will accumilate as ammonia, and obstruct liver function.

And yes, just about anything extra will be changed into fat to be stored, as fat is our body's energy resevoir.