Interesting piece of info I learned in this week in regards to protein and water

So we all know that post op life consists of a high protein diet and making sure we get enough fluids. Yes, we all know if we (or anyone) does not consume enough fluids dehydration occurs. What I didn't know is that eating high amount of protein actually increases the risk of dehydration. Now, I know at first our body isn't absorbing all the nutrients we eat but regardless, I found this interesting. Anyway, one of the classes I'm taking this semester is Introduction to Nutrition. It's been absolutely amazing. This week's chapter is on Protein and Amino Acids. I just read this and thought I'd share.

Some background so this all makes sense (lol):

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Speaking on a molecular level each amino acid contains an amino group, an acid group, a hydrogen atom and a distinctive side group all attached to a central carbon atom (amino means containing nitrogen). When an amino acid is broken down (this occurs when they are used for energy or to make glucose or fat), they are first deaminated or stripped of their nitrogen containing amino groups.

With me so far? (I know it's confusing) 

Two products are created as a result: ammonia and a keto acid.

Ammonia is a base and in excess it will upset the blood's critical acid-base balance. To prevent this from happening your liver combines the ammonia with carbon dioxide to make urea which is much less toxic. So the more protein you eat, the more urea your body produces. 

To get rid of the urea your liver cells release it into the blood, then your kidneys filter it out of the blood for excretion in the urine. To keep urea in solution, the body needs water so a person who consumes a high protein diet must drink plenty of water to dilute and excrete urea from the body. Without the extra water a person on a high protein diet runs extra risk of dehydration because the body uses its water to rid itself of the urea.

So for the science nerds out there like me, there's a bit of reasoning behind the importance and necessity of adequate fluid intake. 

Thanks so much for sharing this.  I didn't know that.

You're welcome. I wish I could just copy and paste everything from the book on here. This was actually one of the chapters I was looking forward to the most (the other being the carbohydrate chapter).

There is a lot of good information on protein quality too. Animal proteins are considered high quality proteins but at the same time they can be high in saturated fat so in addition to meat, seafood, eggs and dairy including soy, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes as protein sources is ideal.  Yeah, didn't realize that either. This class has made me re-evaluate my diet and in the process given me a headache! lol.

Question for you Kelly: I know that we eventually will start absorbing calories and such as a normal person does. Do you know if this includes nutrients (like protein) from foods? I know that the malabsorption of vitamins is forever because of the part of the intestine that was bypassed but I wasn't sure if protein fell under this category too. Thanks! :)

Nutrients can be divided into two categories - macronutrients (the big things, which have calories, like fat, protein and carbs) and micronutrients (the little things like vitamins and minerals).

We start absorbing all (or at least most) of our calories again because start absorbing the macronutrients again.  So yeah, protein, carbs and fats will all (or mostly) be absorbed.  They get absorbed all through our small intestine.

Thank you! 

Thank you for taking the time to post this. Valuable information !

Debb

That is interesting...and it really does make sense!

TFS!

Great post & follow-up conversation!