Can you get too much protein at once?

I found this protein drink that has 60 grams of protein per serving.  Is that too much to have at once or does it not matter?

MG

There are theories that we are not able to absorb more than about 30 grams of protein in one feeding......so the downside of using a product that claims to have 60 grams of protein is that you might not absorb it - and would basically waste it.......and more importantly....if you count it toward your daily total you might be undershooting. Susan

Yes, it is not safe to get too much protien at one time. All the protien is process by the kidney's and they can be damaged by working so very hard with daily doses of very high protien. I work in dialysis, and no one wants to be there with me.  While I've not heard about any serious problems with this, I only see people who's kidney's have shut down. I'd still recomend no more than 30 grams at one time.

It's not too much to have at once but you probably don't need that much at once.  It would probably mean getting more calories than you need at once.

Some people mistakenly believe that you can only absorb about 30 grams of protein at a time, but the ASMBS says that is just a myth.

However, we need a pretty steady supply of amino acids over the course of the day.  If you need 60 grams of protein a day and drink a shake with 60 grams for breakfast, that won't meet your protein needs for the entire day because you'll need more amino acids later.  You'd be better off doing a shake with 20 grams for breakfast, then having another 20 grams at lunch and another 20 grams at dinner.

Kelly

We only absorb 25-30 gms of protein per serving. THis has been on here since I joined almost 10 yrs ago. Check with your doc to see how much you/your pouch absorbs per meal. Alsok, getting in 60 gms of protein at one time would be a lot of calories for one meal. We need 65 gms per day =-spread out over 3 meals it's do-able. Check with your doc or nut but you'll only get about half that if you're a post op.

Pouches don't really absorb anything---intestines do. And the 25-30 gram thing is an old wives' tale, with no science to back it up.

The stomach does not absorb protein.  Protein is absorbed in the jejunum and in the ileum.  The stomach only absorbs water, ethyl alchohol, copper, iodide, fluroide, and molybdenium.

Additionally, the 25-30g protein/serving thing is a myth.  There is no set protein absorption amount.

Just drink half of it at a time.  It is not an old wives tale- every bariatric doctor and program you talk to will tell you that you cannot absorb it so it is just a waste to take in too much at a time.  I would drink half of it and then the next time you need something drink the other half. 

Many programs still advocate TUMS for calcium.

There is no protein maximum absorption amount because each person's absorption is different, and the body's absorption changes throughout the day.  It is also based heavily on the TYPE of protein ingested (ie you will absorb and utilize a complete protein better than an incomplete one, especially right before or after a workout).  Body mass also comes into play (ie fat mass versus lean body mass.

Just because many people say something is true, does not make it so.  Many thought the world was flat for a long time.

No, not every bariatric doctor will tell you that.  Those that are up to date on science will not tell you that.  The ASMBS will not tell you that, either.  It's a myth.

Kelly