We Can Only Absorb Like 25 Grams Of Protein At A Time, Right?

Is it true that we can only absorb 25 or so grams of protein at a time?

I've never heard of this.  The only mineral I've heard that has limits for absorption is Calcium.

Hugs,
Ratkity

 That's a myth because of the bodybuilding world. There is only so much protein your body can utilize at one time for muscle regeneration. However, when you're body is done with that, it uses protein for gluconeogenesis (long word for the process of converting protein to glucose). 

That doesn't address bioavailability (the quality of the protein and how available it is for those processes) or the malabsorption of the DS. But basically, you can eat protein until your heart is content. If it doesn't get pooped out, it's used. That's how some of us got fat. LOL It would be nice if there was a max out point! Then you could eat one 4000 calorie meal a day and only worry about absorbing xyz amount of it. There is no maximum threshold for protein or glucose. It's just whatever is unique to your body and your DS. HTH

 It's a myth.  I've looked long and hard and I can't find a single paper on this or anything remotely scientific.

Someone said it and others repeated it until it became 'fact'.  It's just not true.

So, If I eat a 40-50 gram shake or protein bar, I can "count" all 40-50 of those grams on my protein count for the day?

I think I read about the only absorbing 25 grams on Vitalady's website.  eek.

 Well, you can probably only count 25... since we malabsorb about 50-60%. But that's DS math and doesn't really have to do with the protein itself. I was under the impression that we eat 100g of protein so that, in theory, we absorb 50-60 g. Which is what the average normie needs as part of their daily value. HTH. 

I think of the protein shakes as a supplement and those are better spread throughout the day. A 24-30 gram scoop tastes best to me and isn't overwhelming.

The explanation on Vitalady's website is good enough for me...along with my labs...and very little bounce back weight. She saw a report or study pre-Internet that stressed the 30 gram limit and she's always gone with that. I'm good with it too.
 
--gina

It's really too difficult to tell.  There are so many factors.

Bioavailability: how easily your body can use it.  Whey and eggs are more bioavailable than other sources.

Completeness: some proteins (from grains, vegetables, etc) are missing certain amino acids that your body cannot make on its own.

Malabsorption: how much is actually being digested to a form that can be absorbed in YOU?  It'll vary on the person.

I'd recommend just eating.  25 grams is a pretty good amount.  30g is the number I hear more commonly.  Both represent about 4-5 ounces of meat...which is a decent aspiration of what size portion you can eat as someone who no longer has most of their stomach.

As far as what "counts" -- keeping exact numbers is really a way to keep yourself accountable for putting protein first.  Because of the above factors, an actual number really means nothing.  100grams from eggs is totally different from 100grams from beans, so saying you ate 100g of protein isn't necessarily meaninful, except to say "I am putting protein before other macronutrients," which is what is important.

So, I wouldn't say that if you drink a 35g protein shake that 5g is wasted, but I also wouldn't recommend drinking a 100g protein shake at 6am and then no other protein the rest of the day simply because you met a quota.

Protein at every meal, keep it first in your mind, and sure, aim for 100g just to make sure you put it first and to make sure you are eating enough.  And of course, follow your labs.  If you are eating 100g and your labs say you're not eating enough, you need to eat more.

Simple and easy: just eat :)